The realization that he'd walked into a trap hit Ye Fan like a physical blow. Fury boiled within him, but a flicker of caution doused the flames.
No, charging in recklessly wouldn't work. He needed a plan, one that didn't involve unleashing his demonic energy. The moment he did, their little trap would undoubtedly spring, most likely with Xia Qingwu emerging from the waterfall to join the fray. That wouldn't be pretty.
Escape, then. That was the priority. But how? Both Wang Li and Xiangyi were formidable opponents, their cultivation levels on par with his own. Without access to his full demonic arsenal, he was on the back foot.
Frustration gnawed at him. This wasn't supposed to be this difficult!
His eyes darted around the clearing, searching for an opening. Then, a mischievous grin spread across his face. He wouldn't go down without a fight. With a practiced flick of his wrist, Ye Fan unleashed a barrage of talismans from his storage bags.
These weren't your average paper charms. A burst of light erupted as the talismans activated, transforming into writhing serpents of pure elemental energy. A fiery serpent, a churning water serpent, and a thick earth serpent – each pulsed with raw power, aimed directly at Wang Li and Xiangyi.
Caught off guard, Wang Li and Xiangyi were forced to react quickly. Wang Li, ever the quick thinker, reacted with his usual bravado. His sword techniques, infused with his Yin-Yang Attribute, flowed seamlessly as he weaved through the elemental onslaught. He sliced through fire serpents with chilling Yin energy, while deflecting earth serpents with powerful bursts of Yang.
Xiangyi, on the other hand, adopted a more aggressive approach. Her metal-attribute sword techniques turned her weapon into a whirlwind, effortlessly slashing through the serpents. Sparks flew as metal met earth, while defiant clangs echoed as she met the fiery serpents head-on.
The distraction bought Ye Fan precious seconds. With a burst of movement, he soared towards the waterfall – the weak link in their plan. In his mind, this was where Xia Qingwu and the Xia Family guards were hiding. A daring plan formed in his head. If he could take Xia Qingwu hostage, escape would be a breeze.
However, underestimating your opponent is a grave mistake that cultivators often learn the hard way. In this case, Ye Fan's mistake was failing to notice the shimmering barrier around the waterfall – a well-concealed array formation meticulously placed by Wang Li and Xiangyi.
As Ye Fan neared the cascading water, a jolt of energy slammed into him, sending him hurtling backwards. He landed in a heap on the ground, his face contorted in a snarl of frustration and disbelief. The barrier, invisible to the naked eye, held firm, a testament to Wang Li and Xiangyi's meticulous preparation.
Meanwhile, Wang Li, having dealt with the elemental serpents, wasted no time. With a resolute expression, he flew towards Ye Fan, his sword humming with a potent blend of Yin and Yang energy. He raised his blade, channeling his spiritual energy for a devastating attack – Pure Yang Sun Slash.
A blinding ball of light, condensed from pure Yang energy, materialized at the tip of his blade, promising obliteration.
Caught off guard, Ye Fan's eyes widened in panic. Dodging wasn't an option. With a desperate snarl, he raised his own broadsword in a last-ditch attempt at blocking. The impact was brutal. The Pure Yang Sun Slash slammed into his blade with a deafening boom, sending a shockwave rippling through the clearing.
Ye Fan, his arms screaming in protest, felt himself being propelled backward. His boots dug into the earth, leaving deep furrows as he struggled to maintain his footing. The force was immense, but a flicker of a devious plan ignited in his mind.
With a barely perceptible movement, he channeled a sliver of demonic energy into his sword, just as it met Wang Li's attack. The surge of demonic power was like a hidden explosion, propelling him even further back, but crucially, obscuring the source of the energy.
From behind the waterfall, Xia Qingwu, hidden within the array formation, witnessed the exchange. She saw the demonic energy flare, a faint but unmistakable signature.
However, the clash of blades and the chaotic flow of energy made it impossible to discern who initiated it. Was it Ye Fan, or Wang Li trying to frame him?
Ye Fan, launched into a tumbling flight by the combined force of the Pure Yang Sun Slash and his own demonic boost, used the momentum to his advantage.
As he slammed back onto the ground, he reached into his storage bag with a determined glint in his eyes. Then he muttered an incantation before crushing a talisman.
A blinding light enveloped him, followed by a sudden stillness. When the light faded, Ye Fan was gone. Wang Li and Xiangyi, who had regrouped after the exchange, were left staring at the empty clearing, a mixture of frustration and disbelief etched on their faces.
"He got away," Xiangyi muttered, her voice laced with disappointment.
Wang Li slammed his fist into his palm, a grimace on his face. "Damn it! We were so close!"
He cast a defeated glance at Xia Qingwu, who emerged from behind the waterfall, her expression unreadable. "Did you see it?" he asked, his voice low.
Xia Qingwu nodded, her eyes narrowed in thought. "There was a flicker of demonic energy. But it was too chaotic to tell for sure who used it."
Wang Li sighed, his shoulders slumping in defeat. Their plan, so meticulously crafted, had crumbled at the last moment. Ye Fan, cunning and desperate, had managed to escape their trap, leaving them with nothing but unanswered questions and a renewed sense of urgency.
"That was a clever trick he used to foil even this plan of ours," Xiangyi said, her voice grim. "We need to come up with a new plan, and fast."
Wang Li nodded curtly. The weight of their situation pressed down on them. They couldn't afford another failure. Ye Fan, fueled by his desperation and paranoia, was becoming a dangerous adversary. They had to expose him, to silence the lies that threatened their very lives.
An awkward silence settled over the trio. The sun dipped lower, casting an orange glow on their tense faces. Xia Qingwu broke the silence, her voice laced with concern. "What about my family, Wang Li? Ye Fan knows we're working together. He'll use his influence to smear the Xia Family name."
Wang Li understood her worry. Ye Fan, cornered and desperate, would lash out. He slammed his fist against his thigh, a frustrated groan escaping his lips. "Damn it," he muttered, the weight of the situation settling heavily on him.
He looked at Xia Qingwu, determination flickering in his eyes. "We'll deal with him," he promised, his voice firm. "The Xia Family's reputation won't be tarnished by Ye Fan's lies."
Xia Qingwu raised an eyebrow, a hint of skepticism in her expression. "How?" she challenged. "What can we possibly do against his accusations?"
A sly grin spread across Wang Li's face. "We take the offensive," he declared. "Before Ye Fan can spread his lies, we expose his own hypocrisy."
He leaned closer, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "Remember his little marriage proposal?"
A flicker of surprise crossed Xia Qingwu's features. "The one he requested my mother?"
Wang Li nodded. "Exactly. Now, here's what we do. The Xia Family will issue a public statement, one that will make Ye Fan squirm."
Xia Qingwu listened intently as Wang Li outlined his plan.
The Xia Family would announce, to the entire cultivation world, Ye Fan's audacious proposal – his attempt to marry into their esteemed lineage by claiming the hand of Xia Qingwu, the sole heiress. More importantly, the announcement would reveal the Xia Family's firm rejection of this proposal and their return of the exorbitant dowry gift – the legendary Silver Ice King Heart.
Understanding dawned on Xia Qingwu's face. A brilliant smile lit up her features. "That's genius!" she exclaimed. "By making this public, we turn the tables on him. When he starts accusing us of demonic alliances, people will scoff. They'll see it for what it is – a petty revenge tactic because his marriage proposal was rejected."
The beauty of the plan lay in its simplicity.
It was the truth, a powerful weapon against propaganda spoken by Ye Fan. Moreover, Ye Fan had no concrete proof of Xia Family's alliance with demonic cultivators like Wang Li. He only had his own fabricated narrative.
This announcement would expose him as a scorned suitor, his accusations fueled by wounded pride rather than any factual evidence.
A wave of relief washed over Wang Li. They had a fighting chance. "Exactly," he confirmed, a satisfied smirk playing on his lips. "We'll expose him for the fraud he truly is."
With a final glance at the waterfall, they emerged from the clearing. Turning to Xia Qingwu, Wang Li announced, "I'll accompany you back to the Xia Family Manor. We need to get this announcement out as soon as possible."
He turned to Xiangyi, his expression turning serious. "Xiangyi, I need you to do something important. Go back to the hidden residence in the Broken Sword Kingdom. Find Aunts Yaqi and Ruyan, and stay with them for now. Keep them safe."
Xiangyi's eyes hardened with a steely resolve. She understood the gravity of the situation. "Of course," she said while keeping her voice firm. "I'll take care of them. Don't worry."