Surround Them

At the exit of Hundred Flower Valley, Bi Cong and his three companions found a table by the window in a nearby teahouse and sat down. They chatted idly, drinking tea and waiting. After more than two hours, Tan Fei suddenly put down his teacup and gestured towards the window. The four casually turned to look.

A group of people dressed in the Qingguang Sect attire passed by the window and headed towards the city gate. Leading them were six elderly men walking side-by-side, followed by a man and a woman. The man had a gloomy face with bruises on his cheeks, while the woman was strikingly beautiful, her face expressionless, and her figure curvaceous. This man and woman were none other than Liu Zhengguang and Qu Ping'er. Behind them followed ten people of varying ages.

Jing Zuo stuck out his tongue and chuckled softly, "It seems that the Qingguang Sect has been scared by Yue Qianchou. They need so many people to escort someone back."

Bi Cong shook his head and said, "It's not that they're scared by Yue Qianchou. It's probably because the Qingguang Sect knows that Liu Zhengguang and the disciples of Fu Xian Island have fought, and they're afraid that the people of Fu Xian Island will retaliate. That's why they sent so many people to pick them up. Otherwise, a mere Core Formation stage Yue Qianchou wouldn't have made them do this."

Jing Zuo laughed and said, "How could the mighty Fu Xian Island be so petty? You are truly judging others by your own narrow-minded standards."

"Tsk tsk! Apart from Liu Zhengguang and Qu Ping'er, I can't tell the cultivation level of any of the others. They are obviously at least at the mid-stage of Core Formation. The six elders in front might even be at the Nascent Soul Realm," Tan Fei said.

Wu Licheng frowned and said, "What exactly does Yue Qianchou want to do? With the opponent's lineup, it's probably not so easy to negotiate."

Jing Zuo laughed and said, "I never expected that the four of us would actually do something like tailing someone. Yue Qianchou has really made a fool of himself."

"Of course, they don't even give face to Qiu Wuyuan of the Ten Thousand Demon Palace, the number one sect in the demonic path. Do you think they have any influence?" Bi Cong said slowly.

"Stop talking, they've left the city, let's follow them!" Tan Fei suddenly said.

The group glanced at each other, then immediately got up, paid the bill, and left the teahouse. After they left Hundred Flower Valley, they saw the Qingguang Sect members already riding a flying magic Law Artifact and flying away into the distance. Bi Cong opened the lid of the porcelain bottle in his hand, nodded to the three of them, and the four of them flew away on their swords, following at a distance.

Within Utopia, Yue Qianchou immediately sensed the movement of his Essence Blood. He raised an eyebrow, opened his eyes wide, and said, "Yun Chang, you all get ready. I'll go out and take a look."

When he reappeared, Yue Qianchou appeared out of thin air behind Bi Cong and the other three on his sword. The four turned around, slightly surprised by the commotion; when had he caught up? Yue Qianchou moved to Bi Cong's side, flying alongside the four, and turned to ask, "What's going on?"

Bi Cong replied, "There are eighteen people in total, all on that flying magic Law Artifact in front. Besides Liu Zhengguang and Qu Ping'er, there are six elders who are estimated to be at the Nascent Soul Realm stage, and ten others who should be at least at the mid-Core Formation stage. What are you planning to do?"

Yue Qianchou didn't reply. His eyes were fixed on the flying Law Artifact in the distance. He narrowed his eyes slightly and connected with Guan Yu in his mind, saying, "Flying pursuit, prepare First Company!"

In Utopia, Guan Yu waved his hand and shouted, "Flying pursuit, First Company, prepare to move out!" At his command, the first group of people below the stage stretched out their right hands and placed them on the shoulders of the people in front of them, and placed their left hands on the shoulders of the people to their left, forming a continuous line of the entire First Company.

Yue Qianchou enveloped them with his Divine Sense, instantly turning the entire First Company around and silently appearing behind the five people. With a wave of his hand, Yue Qianchou pointed directly at the flying magical Law Artifact in the distance and made a gesture of encirclement with his fist.

The First Company commander, receiving the sign language, nodded and then gave the same signal to the two Platoon Leader beside him. He pointed his finger directly at the flying Law Artifact in the distance, then made a sweeping gesture with both hands, indicating an encirclement. The two Platoon Leader leaders nodded in acceptance, waved their hands, and led their two groups to separate from the main force and rush forward in pursuit. The First Company then led the remaining platoon directly forward.

Bi Cong and his companions, seeing Yue Qianchou gesturing wildly, were unsure of his intentions when they suddenly heard the sound of rushing air from either side. Before they could react, two groups of five people, each clad in black, revealing only their eyes, passed by on either side. Just as they were stunned, another group of similarly dressed people swept past overhead. Judging by the speed with which they flew, their cultivation levels were undoubtedly higher than the five people present.

The four were taken aback. Bi Cong asked in astonishment, "Is this the power you mobilized?" Yue Qianchou nodded.

The group on the flying Law Artifact were the people sent by the Qingguang Sect to bring Liu Zhengguang back. Liu Changqing, the Qingguang Sect Master, doted on his grandson. Upon receiving the message that his grandson had been beaten by the people of Fu Xian Island, he was angry but helpless, as Fu Xian Island was far too powerful for the Qingguang Sect to handle.

For safety reasons, Elder Wu Baoru five other Nascent Soul Realm elders, was specifically instructed to lead ten Core Formation stage disciples to retrieve Liu Zhengguang. As Liu Zhengguang's dao companion, that is, his wife, it was only natural for Qu Ping'er not to come and see what was happening since her husband had been beaten.

The group aboard the flying magical Law Artifact suddenly heard flying sounds from both sides. Looking around, they immediately saw two teams of people dressed as assassins sandwiching the Law Artifact in the middle. Wu Baoru, the leader, knew something was wrong. Although the flying Law Artifact they were riding in could carry many people and was suitable for long-distance flights, it was not suitable for fighting against humans. It would be terrible if they were attacked in the air.

Over the years, the Qingguang Sect had honed its combat skills through its battles against the demonic path. The members drew their swords simultaneously, calmly facing their surroundings, showing no sign of panic despite being outnumbered several times over. Wu Baoru surveyed the area, his gaze settling on a clearing in the forest below. He pointed and said in a deep voice, "Go down!"

An elder immediately piloted a flying Law Artifact and swooped down. Upon landing, everyone jumped out, and the Law Artifact was quickly retracted. The group formed a circle, surrounding the sect leader's grandson and Qu Ping'er. Two teams of black-clad men immediately followed, cutting off the Qingguang Sect members' retreat. The remaining opening was then closed by another team of black-clad men who arrived shortly after. Thus, the Qingguang Sect members were completely surrounded.

Wu Baoru glanced around, secretly surprised. Among the men in black were many whose cultivation levels he couldn't even fathom, and quite a few were at the late Core Formation stage. If a fight broke out, his side would have no chance of survival. Steadying himself, Wu Baoru immediately recognized the Company Commander as the leader of this group. He clasped his hands in a respectful greeting and said, "Who are you all? What is your purpose in stopping my Qingguang Sect on the way? Has my Qingguang Sect offended you all?"

The Company Commander, whose only visible feature was his eyes, coldly scrutinized him without uttering a word or giving an order to attack. A group of men in black surrounded them, ready to attack at any moment, yet refraining from doing so.

Seeing that the man in black remained silent, Wu Baoru glanced around and said with a hint of anger, "Friends, what exactly do you want? If you have nothing to say, please make way and let us leave."

"Haha!" A laugh rang out, and Yue Qianchou Bi Cong the other three, who had arrived late, landed on their swords. The men in black who were surrounding them immediately made way for the five of them, and then quickly surrounded them again. Yue Qianchou strolled around and said with a smile, "Elder Wu Baoru, it's been many years! How have you been?"

Bi Cong and his three companions, however, were scrutinizing the men in black, secretly trying to figure out who they were. Wu Baoru paused, her chest heaving, and sneered, "Yue Qianchou, is it really you? You're really not dead?"

"I'm standing right in front of you right now, didn't you see everything? What, are you disappointed that you didn't force me to my death back then?" Yue Qianchou laughed.

Surrounded by his Qingguang Sect, Liu Zhengguang was furious and roared, "Yue Qianchou, you've gone too far! I'll fight you to the death!" He tried to rush out, but several disciples grabbed him and wouldn't let him go no matter how much he struggled or shouted.

Yue Qianchou gently raised his hand, pointed at him and sneered, "You ignorant fool, what are you yelling about, you dead eunuch? You know what 'going too far' means? Back when I was in the Qingguang Sect, why didn't you ask yourself if you were going too far? Let me tell you, back in Hundred Flower Inn, I personally stripped you naked and castrated you. How was it? Being a eunuch for so many years must have been great?"

The Qingguang Sect members were stunned. Even Qu Ping'er, who had always avoided eye contact with Yue Qianchou, looked up at him. Thinking about it, it was indeed possible; he had been at Hundred Flower Inn the year Liu Zhengguang had his accident. Upon hearing this, Liu Zhengguang trembled with rage and exclaimed, "It... it was you? It was you! I'll kill you!"

He finally realized the culprit behind his androgynous transformation, and one can imagine his feelings. He immediately roared, disregarding his own life, and charged out to seek revenge.

"Grab him!" Wu Baoru and shouted. Several of his men held him down tightly. Now was not the time to act rashly.

Wu Baoru glanced around and said in a deep voice, "I heard you joined Fu Xian Island. So, these people are all disciples of Fu Xian Island. Well, besides Fu Xian Island, which other sect in the Cultivation World can readily mobilize such a group of experts? I really didn't expect it! Fu Xian Island, the number one sect in the world, would actually do such a despicable thing to attack my Qingguang Sect. It's extremely despicable!"

"What is Fu Xian Island anyway!" A voice came from a nearby hilltop, startling everyone. Who was it? They didn't even respect Fu Xian Island. Wu Baoru and the others were slightly taken aback, but then they were overjoyed. The newcomer dared to say such things; clearly, they were at odds with Fu Xian Island. They hadn't expected there to be a third-party force here. This might be their Qingguang Sect's chance to survive.

"Who is this senior here? I am Wu Baoru from the Qingguang Sect. I respectfully welcome you to uphold justice." Wu Baoru bowed to the source of the voice.

Bi Cong and the other three realized something was wrong and looked at Yue Qianchou. They saw him looking at the Qingguang Sect members with a mocking smile, and they all looked towards the mountains and forests behind them.

From the woods on the hillside came the sound of horses' hooves, and a figure rode down the mountain indistinctly among the trees. It was a burly middle-aged man dressed in a blue robe and a blue turban, with a long beard and a ruddy complexion. His phoenix eyes swept over the crowd with an air of authority without anger. He rode slowly toward the group.

His mount was eye-catching, with a bright chestnut coat and eyes that seemed to gleam with an eerie light. Its size was particularly striking; it was more than twice the size of a typical tall horse, with bulging, full muscles that rippled across its chest, making it truly magnificent. The crowd had never seen such a large horse before, and the sight of the rider seated on it was truly awe-inspiring—what an imposing presence!

This man was none other than Guan Yu, Guan Yun Chang. He dismounted, and the man in black made way for him. From then on, those who didn't know his background finally realized that the newcomer was also Yue Qianchou's men. Guan Yu sat upright on his horse, coldly sweeping his gaze over the Qingguang Sect members, and said in a deep voice, "Where are the people from Fu Xian Island? Who just sent me to uphold justice?"

Wu Baoru utterly speechless. Yue Qianchou glanced at Guan Yu, who was sitting high beside her, feeling very displeased. She thought to herself, "What kind of Demon Path is this broken horse that my sister is teaching? Doesn't she know that this broken horse and I don't get along? Damn it! He's all grown up, but he's stolen the old man's thunder."

Wu Baoru scrutinized Guan Yu with a serious expression, only to suddenly realize that although this man appeared imposing, he was actually the weakest among them in terms of cultivation. He couldn't help but sneer, "So, whoever it is, is just a late-stage Foundation Establishment!"

Guan Yu slightly opened his phoenix eyes and said arrogantly, "Sharp-tongued, you'll be crying later." Then he looked at Yue Qianchou and asked, "Boss, what's the plan?"

Yue Qianchou stared at Qu Ping'er in the crowd of the Qingguang Sect members and said indifferently, "You still haven't spoken. Don't you know why I'm here? Don't you want to give me an explanation?"

The Qingguang Sect members looked in the direction of his gaze and found that it was Qu Ping'er. They looked at each other in confusion, wondering what this had to do with her.

Upon hearing this, Qu Ping'er trembled, her face turning deathly pale. She sadly raised her head, shook her head, and said with a bitter smile, "You know everything now, isn't that enough? What else do you want me to explain?"

Yue Qianchou clenched his fists, took a deep breath with his eyes closed, and then exhaled, saying, "The promise from back then! I want to know why this happened? I want an explanation."

Bi Cong and the other three exchanged glances. Yue Qianchou was a true brother; what he said was indeed true! The Qingguang Sect members' eyes flickered, and they vaguely guessed what was going on.

"You slut! You shameless slut! You cheated on me!" Liu Zhengguang roared again. Although his body was restrained by his men, his legs were still mobile, and he immediately kicked Qu Ping'er in the stomach. Qu Ping'er groaned in pain as she was kicked to the ground, her hair disheveled. She bit her lip, clutching her stomach, and slowly got up.

A sharp pain shot through Yue Qianchou's chest, and a voice as cold and ruthless as if it had sprung from the deepest hell rang out. "Wu Baoru, you better control that little bastard. If he dares to speak rudely, lay a hand on you, or interrupt my questioning again, I will immediately send you to see the Old Ancestor of the Qingguang Sect!"

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