When Lu Zhengchun, accompanied by Chen Ping'an, anxiously rushed over with the precious armor and the sword manual, they first crossed the Covered Bridge and came to the east bank of the stream. The woman of the Clearwind City Xu family looked at the armor she had longed for in her dreams, and had the little boy hand Chen Ping'an two bags of gold-refined copper coins.
Then, she raised her eyes to look at the Mountain-Moving Ape holding Liu Xianyang hostage, and smiled. "The sword manual will be delivered right away!"
When Lu Zhengchun, holding the sword manual in his hands, hurried up to the Mountain-Moving Ape, the little girl on its shoulders beamed like a flower as she took the manual. She rubbed her small hands together, but after flipping through a few pages, she instantly flew into a rage and puffed out her cheeks. "Grandpa Yuan, you're all wrong! This sword manual can only be inherited by the Liu family bloodline. It's useless for us to take it!"
At that moment, a young man appeared on the Covered Bridge, slapping his thighs with laughter. "Summit-Surpassing Mountain, what a bunch of blockheads! How could you ever compare to our Thunder and Lightning Manor? Has the sword stuck in your ancestor's forehead been pulled out yet?!"
The Mountain-Moving Ape recognized this person—it was that despicable wretch from Thunder and Lightning Manor, Liu Baqiao!
Liu Baqiao still felt it wasn't enough to vent his anger, and with a pointed tone, he indignantly shouted, "Liu Xianyang, my good brother, I'm coming to save you!"
Liu Xianyang wore a blank expression. "Do we even know each other?!"
The Mountain-Moving Ape's eyes bulged with fury. Summit-Surpassing Mountain and Thunder and Lightning Manor were mortal enemies! Liu Xianyang was the sword manual, and the sword manual was Liu Xianyang. Since he had already hooked up with Thunder and Lightning Manor, if they couldn't get the sword manual, no one else would either!
With that, it threw a heavy punch, striking Liu Xianyang until his body bent like a bow and his flesh and bones shattered!
Blood gushed from Liu Xianyang in a horrific, unbearable sight!
Wang Jing and Chen Ping'an both split their eyes with rage and screamed, "No!!!"
Liu Xianyang collapsed limply to the ground, as if every bone in his body had been smashed to pieces!
Liu Baqiao on the Covered Bridge laughed so hard he doubled over. "Sorry... you old beast, I got it wrong, I don't know Liu Xianyang..."
Just at that moment, a fire dragon leapt out from beneath the Covered Bridge, hurtling straight toward Liu Baqiao.
Liu Baqiao twisted his body, summoning his natal flying sword from between his brows to pierce through the fire dragon's body, allowing him to escape.
He landed triumphantly atop a tall tree by the stream, looking quite pleased with himself.
Then he fled into the distance and vanished!
A dead silence fell over the surroundings!
The red-robed little boy's innocent, silvery laughter shattered the stillness.
"Hahaha! Brilliant! Mother, you don't need to hold me back anymore. Now that our Clearwind City has obtained the armor, it's time for me to settle accounts!"
The Clearwind City Xu family member and the Mountain-Moving Ape across the stream exchanged a glance, and then both vanished, taking the boy and girl with them...
Lu Zhengchun stood in a daze. Chen Ping'an darted frantically to the stream bank, scooped up Liu Xianyang, and burst into a howling, choking cry. "Help! Someone save him... they've beaten someone to death..."
Lu Zhengchun was dumbstruck. Years ago, when he and his younger brother Lu Zhengyang had joined forces and nearly beaten Liu Xianyang to death, it was precisely this kind of crying for help from Chen Ping'an that had allowed Liu Xianyang to cling to life!
Blood! It was all blood!
He was going mad! His head felt as though it was about to explode!
He pulled the jade hairpin from his hair, instantly letting his locks tumble loose as he let out a long, howling roar to the heavens like a madman!
Finally, he drove the sharp jade hairpin straight into his chest. Countless memories flashed through his mind, and he muttered to himself, "It turns out it wasn't just me; our Lu family is a joke, a colossal joke. Unmatched at bullying our own, yet when facing formidable enemies, we can protect nothing! Little brother, I'm coming to join you. In the next life, let us drink wine and chat merrily once more, step out of the small town, and share our grand ambitions together..."
Wang Jing beat frantically against the barrier of light surrounding them, leaving shocking, bright red handprints blooming like plum blossoms upon it.
On the ground, a little yellow book was rustled by the spring breeze, flipping open page by page until it finally stopped on a certain chapter.
The content upon it slowly shifted, eventually converging into three distinct images: one was Shakyamuni in his mercy, cutting off his flesh to feed an eagle beneath the Bodhi tree;
Another was a single fist shaking the heavenly mountains, sending surrounding demons fleeing in panic before finally submitting to the teachings of the sages and turning over a new leaf!
At that moment, the system chimed: "Ding! Loading complete! Now upgrading to Beacon Fire Number One. What I say, you learn. The heavens and earth collapse, yet I, Wang Jing, have but a single fist. Call me Fist Daddy, Daddy's daddy!"
On the northern side of the Covered Bridge, the barrier of light slowly dissipated, and Qi Jingchun's voice drifted over, seemingly laden with boundless fury. "Wang Jing, I've changed my mind again. You may leave!"
Half a golden locust leaf sprang from Wang Jing's shoulder, while another half-leaf drifted from Chen Ping'an's palm. The two halves merged into one in mid-air, and with a flash of golden light, they fell into the depths of Liu Xianyang's heart and vanished!
A solemn and weighty voice rang out. "What are you staring for? Take Liu Xianyang to the Yang family's apothecary!"
Wang Jing leaped to the stream bank, hoisted Liu Xianyang onto his back, and headed toward the apothecary in the town!
On the southern side of the Covered Bridge, Ruan Qiong was holding back his furious daughter, Ruan Xiu.
Ruan Xiu's eyes bulged with anger as she snapped furiously, "Dad, it's one thing for you to sit by and do nothing, but I am going to avenge Liu Xianyang!"
Ruan Qiong wore a bitter expression as he comforted her. "The locust leaf has protected his heartline; Liu Xianyang's life is not in danger!"
Hearing this made Ruan Xiu even angrier. "What do you mean his life is not in danger? Dad, you stood by and let outsiders commit murder—you're an accomplice too!"
Hearing such unfilial words from his own daughter, Ruan Qiong instantly burned with anger. He raised his hand to strike, but stopped halfway and dropped it awkwardly.
Instead, he slumped down onto a stool, looking as though he had unspeakable difficulties, and finally said with bitter hatred, "Xiuxiu, if you dare to go, don't ever acknowledge me as your father again!"
Ruan Xiu clenched her fists, looking menacing as she marched closer. The words "I won't acknowledge you" had barely reached her lips before she swallowed them back.
"I won't strike, but I can go see Liu Xianyang, surely that's allowed!"
Ruan Qiong let out a long sigh and nodded. "I'll go with you!"
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Inside the gauze curtains, the old shopkeeper of the Yang family apothecary was drenched in sweat, a basin of hot water at his feet filled with blood-stained rags that looked utterly shocking.
Liu Xianyang's body was wrapped in clean cloth, layer after layer.
Outside the curtains, Wang Jing and Chen Ping'an stood numbly, their eyes filled with anxiety.
After a long while, the old shopkeeper walked out, looking utterly exhausted. A clerk handed him a towel, and he wiped the sweat from his forehead over and over again. "Liu Xianyang's life has been saved, but whether he lives or not will depend on himself!"
Chen Ping'an asked anxiously, "What does that mean?!"
Wang Jing said nervously, "You mean he might be bedridden forever—paralyzed, hemiplegic, unable to get up?!"
The old shopkeeper was startled for a moment, then nodded. "You aren't far off."
"Old Yang, why didn't you show yourself?!" Ruan Qiong arrived with his daughter Ruan Xiu and spoke up.
The old shopkeeper replied, "You shouldn't ask that..."
Ruan Qiong shook his head and went in first to check on Liu Xianyang.
Chen Ping'an bolted out, heading to the backyard of the Yang family shop to look for Old Man Yang.
At that moment, Old Man Yang was lying on a rocking chair, leisurely smoking his dry tobacco. Knowing Chen Ping'an had arrived, he spoke up, "Go on. Liu Xianyang is better off dead!"