Dongfang Mingyue stared blankly.
Just as the three women wondered who this fellow was and how he dared to boast so brazenly in front of them,
she was thinking about the ancient zither the young man had put away, wondering how he could play such a melody and sing such a song. Who was he?
While the four women were still in shock, a man in gray suddenly appeared in the courtyard.
Just as Dongfang Mingyue was about to ask where the zither music had come from...
Nalan Liuli spoke up. "Senior Brother Niu, what brings you here?"
Niu Fen, his face dark and a spirit sword in hand, froze. Looking at Nalan Liuli, who had shrunk a whole lot, he cried out, "Junior Sister, how did you end up like this?"
Nalan Liuli was taken aback.
Then she giggled. "I drank the spirit wine that old man gave me, went to sleep, and woke up like this... But what are you doing here, Senior Brother?"
Niu Fen clearly hadn't expected his junior sister to have such an extraordinary encounter.
But his mission clearly wasn't to come looking for Nalan Liuli. He was here to capture Wang Xian.
With a metallic ring, he drew the spirit sword in his hand and pointed it at Wang Xian beneath the tree.
"I'm here for the little thief!"
Before the four women could speak, he roared, "Wang Xian killed Dongfang Jian of Qifeng Academy, Nalan Fengyun of the Cloud-Piercing Sword Sect, Liu Xiaoxiao of Hundred Flowers Valley, and Jiang Shan of the Yin-Yang Sect..."
Dongfang Mingyue stared blankly. The mournful zither music still seemed to echo in her ears, and the image of the young man playing the instrument had yet to fade.
Then a name, like a thunderclap, cleaved through her thoughts...