Chapter 167: The Turning Tide: Li Xianhuan and the White Death's Dragon Cry Cloud
Chapter 167: The Turning Tide: Li Xianhuan and the White Death's Dragon Cry Cloud
Shangguan Jinhong rose to his feet and strode out of the pavilion, letting the cold rain soak him.
"I've always thought Bai Xiaosheng was a waste of talent," Shangguan Jinhong said nonchalantly.
"Oh?" came a curious reply.
"The Heaven's Mystery Rod possesses extraordinary power, but its wielder lacks the fortitude to match. He could never be a true match for either of us," Shangguan Jinhong added.
"I see."
"However, I've always been curious," Shangguan Jinhong said, his eyes narrowing as he fixed his gaze intently on Li Xianhuan.
Li Xianhuan remained silent, knowing that Shangguan Jinhong would continue.
"I wonder if your throwing knives truly never miss their mark," Shangguan Jinhong said, his eyes alight with a mixture of cold determination and fervor. "Between you and I, who is truly the best in the world?"
Li Xianhuan lowered his gaze, his voice calm. "You'll find out soon enough."
As his words hung in the air, a heavy silence fell between the two men.
The wind howled, carrying with it a palpable aura of murderous intent.
Just as Shangguan Jinhong and Li Xianhuan were about to engage, a frail, elderly figure emerged from the edge of the forest, interrupting their impending clash.
Sun Xiaohong's eyes lit up with relief, and even Li Xianhuan couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.
However, as Li Xianhuan relaxed, Shangguan Jinhong did not take the opportunity to strike. He sensed the elderly figure's gaze fixed upon him, watching his every move.
"Grandfather!" Sun Xiaohong cried out, rushing into the arms of the Heaven's Mystery Old Man and bursting into tears.
The old man gently stroked Sun Xiaohong's hair, his eyes shifting to Shangguan Jinhong. "My will is indeed weak, so there is no need for you to concern yourself with me."
Shangguan Jinhong remained silent, his earlier nonchalance replaced with a more cautious demeanor.
While he did not hold the Heaven's Mystery Old Man in high regard, the presence of the renowned throwing knives changed the equation.
Nevertheless, the old man's position was far enough that Shangguan Jinhong believed he could still kill Li Xianhuan and then deal with the old man afterward, confident in his ability to maneuver and respond.
Thus, Shangguan Jinhong maintained his composure and redirected his attention back to Li Xianhuan.
...
"Grandfather, I thought... I thought..." Sun Xiaohong's voice trembled as she clung to the old man.
The Heaven's Mystery Old Man sighed. "I apologize, my dear. I am not a match for Shangguan Jinhong, but my intention was to wear him down. Unfortunately..."
"No regrets, no regrets!" Sun Xiaohong shook her head vigorously, refusing to let go of the old man. But when her eyes caught sight of Li Xianhuan, she started in surprise once more. Hurriedly releasing the old man, she asked anxiously, "Then what about him? What will happen to him?"
Sun Xiaohong's eyes sparkled with an idea. "Grandfather, what if..."
The Heaven's Mystery Old Man whispered reassuringly, "Rest assured, everything has been taken care of."
...
On the field, both Shangguan Jinhong and Li Xianhuan had set aside the psychological impact of the old man's appearance. However, just as they were about to resume their confrontation, they sensed another surge of killing intent.
In the next moment, Jing Wuming appeared at the edge of the forest, dragging a distraught Lin Xian'er with him.
He was much closer than the old man, and if the old man dared to make a move, both he and Shangguan Jinhong could kill Li Xianhuan in an instant!
And so, the deciding factor in this battle became Jing Wuming.
Lin Xian'er, her hopes shattered, had screamed out Jing Wuming's true intentions. In response, he had tossed her aside, leaving her at Shangguan Jinhong's feet.
Shangguan Jinhong, however, showed no interest in Lin Xian'er and kicked her away, sending her tumbling toward Li Xianhuan.
Sadly, Li Xianhuan made no move to help her either.
At this moment, Lin Xian'er, once an ethereal fairy, had fallen from grace like a dog in the mud. She could have lived a comfortable life, but now she couldn't even die with dignity.
Then, Shangguan Jinhong and Jing Wuming's auras merged once more, trapping Li Xianhuan firmly in the center of their deadly alliance.
...
Sun Xiaohong's hands had grown cold, and she could not discern any signs of hope for Li Xianhuan.
Clad in coarse blue clothing and wielding a simple longsword, his eyes were like fiery swords piercing through the rain, his sharp aura firmly guarding Li Xianhuan's flank.
Shangguan Jinhong's expression turned solemn and cold as he regarded Ah Fei with gravity.
Jing Wuming's gaze also changed, filled with anger and jealousy.
However, Li Xianhuan laughed, his laughter warm and happy.
"You're here."
"I'm here."
"Are you sober now?"
"I've figured it out."
Li Xianhuan laughed, and Ah Fei joined him, but Lin Xian'er couldn't bring herself to smile. After Ah Fei's arrival, he hadn't spared her a single glance.
Lin Xian'er suddenly felt icy cold, not from the winter chill, which her inner strength shielded her from, but from the chill that arose within her own heart.
...
The current situation had become a two-on-two battle, with Shangguan Jinhong and Jing Wuming facing off against Li Xianhuan and Ah Fei.
The sides were evenly matched!
In the forest, a pair of anxious eyes watched from the shadows. She wanted to step out, but worried that her presence would distract her beloved.
Moreover...
Did she even have the right to stand by his side?
Although the misunderstanding had been cleared up, she was already a wife and mother. The one who deserved to be at his side was that brave young woman.
Lin Shiyin looked at Sun Xiaohong, who was standing with the Heaven's Mystery Old Man, but her thoughts drifted to the image of Li Xianhuan rushing into Xingyun Manor, battered and bruised, with Tie Chuaniao in his arms.
Lin Shiyin's heart twisted with bitterness. "If only time could turn back..."
Behind Lin Shiyin, Long Xiaoyun grit her teeth, her gaze complex as she looked at Lin Shiyin, then at Li Xianhuan facing off against Shangguan Jinhong in the rain. Her admiration for Li Xianhuan was tinged with hatred for her father.
"Why... why didn't my mother marry him? Why isn't he my father?"
Not far from Lin Shiyin and Long Xiaoyun, Long Xiaoyun's father, Long Xiaoyun, stood in the rain, his expression a mix of hope and trepidation as he watched Lin Shiyin. He felt dejected and disheartened.
"What have I been doing all these years?"
"I tried to be a good husband and father, but..."
Long Xiaoyun sigang sighed and looked at Li Xianhuan, who was facing off against Shangguan Jinhong. "I owe you a great debt, but today I will repay it all!"
In the next moment, Long Xiaoyun's figure shot out, startling Lin Shiyin and Long Xiaoyun.
"Xiaoyun, take care of your mother!"
"Shiyn, live on well!"
Long Xiaoyun burst out of the forest, his silver gun moving like the wind, piercing through the rain and stirring up a water dragon as he charged at Shangguan Jinhong with unwavering determination.
"Brother!"
Long Xiaoyun shouted, "Let's fight side by side once again!"
...
To everyone's surprise, Long Xiaoyun closed in on Shangguan Jinhong, only to be struck down by his palm, his body serving as a shield that blocked Li Xianhuan's intended strike.
As Long Xiaoyun fell to the ground, Shangguan Jinhong's aura surged once more, leaving no gaps for Li Xianhuan to exploit.
The onlookers were stunned into silence.
(End of Chapter)
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