The group led by the alliance leader had already lost their fighting spirit. Without bothering about anything else, they hurriedly mounted their horses and fled in a sorry state.
Some people were too severely injured to mount their horses, but the others didn't care. They left them there as rocks rolled down and crushed them. A thick layer of dust billowed up, and several horses galloped away quickly.
Blood slid down the fingers and dripped onto the carriage board. Big beads of sweat rolled down the cheeks. The alliance leader closed his eyes and gasped. The bumpy carriage shattered his lifelong image of being a just and upright figure.
Wang Chengyang, injured, was driving the horses with all his might. He gritted his teeth and looked at the alliance leader, saying, "The Wanku Valley has already been surrounded by our guards..." Before he could finish his sentence, more than a dozen black - clad secret guards blocked their way.
Wang Chengyang turned to look and his face paled instantly.
How could this happen? Where were their own people? And where did these people come from?
"Break through," the alliance leader gritted out these words through his pain.
How absurd! As the prestigious alliance leader of the martial world, he now had to cower because of just a dozen small secret guards. It was simply a joke!
Wang Chengyang gritted his teeth, drove the horses to protect the alliance leader, and led several seriously injured followers to break through the encirclement. Although they managed to break out, the secret guards still followed behind their horses. They drew their long knives from their waists and chased after them like a gust of wind...
The setting sun dyed half of the land red. The carriage bumped along, and the curtain fluttered in the wind.
A delicate hand gently lifted the carriage curtain. A pair of almond - shaped eyes quietly watched the scenery outside. The lush grass bent to one side with the wind, now covered in a hazy red hue, exuding a unique sense of desolation that was scattered in the air by the wind.
In the capital city, she had been married three times and divorced three times. The last time, she was even married off to an old temple. And that was just the beginning. She never thought that later she would be involved in the martial world. From pretending to be the alliance leader's wife, to being a substitute for Yun Ruo, to the Pingshan Assembly later, and protecting the Rebirth Fruit... And now, was it really all over? Could she return to her previous ordinary life, continue to tell stories in the teahouse, stroll around the capital city, and accompany her parents care - free?
"Is the scenery beautiful?" The melodious voice like the sound of a zither came from the opposite side.
Su Xiaoliu turned her head and looked up.
Zhong Fengyue, dressed in spotless white clothes, was sitting quietly. Somehow, he had taken off his white - veiled hat. His extremely beautiful face was charming and alluring. His ink - like eyes as clear as jade were looking at her. Under his high - bridged nose, his rosy diamond - shaped lips curved into a heart - warming arc. His long black hair was gently tied up with a silver crown, and a few strands hung down on his neck. As the carriage bumped along, the jade ornaments on his waist swayed slightly, making a crisp sound. Beside his slender hand was the green - silver Heavenly - Bestowed Sword.
Zhong Fengyue was still Zhong Fengyue, the white - clothed young man she had met on the flower boat. Although he had the same face as Situ Qianyue, in her heart, the one who had married her was Situ Qianyue, the poorest man in the world.
Inside the carriage, the silver bells tinkled softly. Apart from that, there was only the quietness when the two of them looked at each other.
Her small diamond - shaped lips curved upwards. Su Xiaoliu quietly looked at him, her almond - shaped eyes twinkling. She nodded gently.
"Yes, the scenery is beautiful."
And the person, is also beautiful.
The old valley master had practiced the Nine - Demon Skill for twenty years. He had become numb to human feelings and could no longer distinguish right from wrong. All that was left in him was full of hatred and resentment. And this time, that mountain had truly fallen, burying him and all his grudges of more than twenty years. It was all predestined in his fate. From the moment he started practicing the demonic skill, it was doomed to be a long and fruitless wait.
Su Xiaoliu resented and hated him because he had killed Feng Yufei. She also blamed and felt guilty about herself because it was all because of her that such an ending had come about.
The Rebirth Fruit was planted in the Duhen Langya. The eldest sister said that in less than half a year, the Wanku Valley would bloom with flowers again.
Feng Yufei's body was buried forever in that peony field. When Su Xiaoliu went to the field again, all the peonies had withered, as if they were following their master away. From then on, there was no more sound, only a sense of regret left.
Three years later, the Wanku Valley had returned to what it used to be, but the old friends were no longer there.
A broken mirror could never be restored to its original state. Everything was like a reflection in a mirror and a moon in the water, so illusory that it was just an empty dream.
The eldest sister, Chang He, and Mo Xin didn't come to see them off. Only Chu Weixin came. She was wearing a light - cyan silk dress. There was a piece of green jade on her fair wrist. Her long black hair was tied up. Her cold eyes were hazy like smoke, just like when they first met. But he didn't step forward. He just stood in the distance and watched quietly.
When the wind blew through the valley, the coachman led the horses and stopped in front of her. Su Xiaoliu and Zhong Fengyue in white clothes got into the carriage together.
Su Xiaoliu looked back, but that green figure suddenly turned around and left, gradually disappearing into the clouds and mist. She could no longer find it.
The white - smoke -缭绕 mountains were barren, with no grass growing. Inside the Wanku Valley, there were only dead trees and stubborn rocks, a desolate and lonely scene. And the place where the carriage was gradually going was a place with faint green mountains, winding flowing water, floating water chestnuts and duckweeds, and clear reflections of reeds. There was a vast expanse of white mist, and the mountains stretched for miles.
She thought that she probably would never come here again.
The carriage curtain was lowered. The carriage wheels rolled over the soft soil path, leaving two long tracks.
Without peonies, without phoenix trees, without phoenixes, even if the empty valley was full of flowers all over the mountains...
It was no longer the Wanhua Valley.
The gilded incense burner was emitting curling smoke.
Behind the curtain, a man in a dark - red long robe was sitting quietly on a sandalwood chair. The gorgeous robe was embroidered with crabapple flowers. He was wearing a black cloak outside the robe. The cloak hid his face in the darkness, only showing half of his flawless white face. His black hair was scattered and hung in front of him. Under the sleeve embroidered with golden patterns, his hand had long and slender fingers. The red jade finger ring on his thumb was shining with a crystal - clear luster.
"The pain of losing a beloved daughter must be heart - wrenching. It's good that Island Master Tang is willing to accept this deal," the melodious voice came from behind the curtain and was very clear in the empty room.
The young scribe in white brocade clothes and a tall hat standing opposite leaned forward slightly and bowed his head, saying, "Sir Fangxie, are you planning to overthrow Alliance Leader Zuo with the help of Island Master Tang and Old Man Wei?"
The slender fingers gently rubbed the red jade finger ring. Under the black cloak, the jade - like thin lips parted slightly, and he slowly said, "I just set a trap. Whoever is willing to jump in can jump. Even without Island Master Tang and Old Man Wei, the alliance leader would still have to step down."
The young scribe looked up slightly and looked at Fangxie behind the half - silk curtain. He didn't quite understand what he meant, but it was not appropriate for him to ask further. He lowered his head and said, "I heard that in the battle at the Wanku Valley, the alliance leader's side was badly defeated. Then they were intercepted by the people sent by Sir Fangxie. Now he has returned to the manor to recuperate. It is said that the alliance leader is most afraid of hearing the three words 'Rebirth Fruit' now. Presumably, the matter of the fight for the Rebirth Fruit has also subsided. But the alliance leader is seriously injured. I'm afraid his right hand will never be able to hold a sword again..."