"They... they actually came!"
Ah San leaned against the window, gripping the wooden frame so tightly that it creaked in complaint.
"Who?" Qi Zongbi's junior brother, who had confidently sitting in the shadows as his contingencies took hold, furrowed his brow even deeper, sensing that events were unfolding in a way that was beyond his expectations.
Seeing that Ah San still wasn't answering and had a troubled expression, the person in the shadows finally lost patience. He stood up and walked over to look outside the window.
"Who exactly are that man and woman?"
Ah San gulped and said with some difficulty, "Nihil-ranker, Impending Sword, and... my junior sister, Heaven-ranker Alluring Elegy..."
The junior brother of Qi Zongbi fell silent. After a moment, he asked, "You knew they were coming to find trouble with Qi Zongbi all along, didn't you?"
Ah San nodded silently.
"Then why didn't you tell me?!" The withered man suddenly grabbed Ah San by the shoulder, as his emotions flared. "Why?! You're ruining my plans, don't you know that?!"
Ah San shrugged his shoulders lightly and freed himself from the man's grasp. "Calm down and listen to me. I encountered them outside the Imperial Capital a few days ago and even fought Impending Sword Baili Gucheng.
"He seemed injured and couldn't hold on for more than a couple of moves. After some fighting, his injuries worsened too. I assumed that in their condition, they wouldn't be able to come again, so I didn't tell you. I just didn't expect..."
"Didn't expect, didn't expect, didn't expect! There are too many things you martial artists don't expect!" the shadowy man shouted like a madman!
"You didn't expect that?! You're just protecting your damned junior sister! Now, I'm going to send Uncle Fu to kill her—"
The hysterical voice abruptly stopped.
The attic suddenly fell silent. Ah San was already holding a large black umbrella against the withered man's neck. Behind Ah San, Uncle Fu was holding a long, strange weapon, and pressing it against Ah San's chest.
Ah San ignored Uncle Fu behind him, tilting his head to ask Qi Zongbi's junior brother, "What did you just... say?"
The junior brother of Qi Zongbi did not respond, merely grinning wickedly at Ah San.
There was another moment of silence before Uncle Fu tried to ease the tension. "Young master Ah San, listen to this old man... Now is not the time for this.
"If you want your junior sister to survive today, then Qi Zongbi cannot die. So what you should do now is go downstairs and stop her from getting involved in this."
Ah San's breathing became heavier. After a moment, as if he had made up his mind, he snorted coldly and lowered his weapon first.
Qi Zongbi's junior brother spread his hands.
"Isn't that better? Now that the situation has changed, our plans must change too. Stormqueller hasn't come up yet, and Tranquil Stream won't avoid a fight with Impending Sword.
"Ah San, since you don't want your junior sister to die here, go and stop her, don't let her intervene, and help Tranquil Stream take care of Impending Sword.
"Uncle Fu, go face Stormqueller. No matter what happens, do not let him get near Qi Zongbi."
"Hehe..." Uncle Fu grinned. "Rest assured, young master, I'll bring Stormqueller's head back to you."
Without a word, Ah San turned and headed down the stairs.
On the first floor, Qi Zongbi knelt on a meditation cushion with his hands clasped together, about to bow to pay his respects. Hearing the commotion outside, he frowned and asked, "What's going on outside... is it Stormqueller Ye Beizhi?"
Tranquil Stream Yi Anzhi looked toward the gate, but there was nothing to be seen there, only the occasional screams of the guards could be heard. He shook his head and said, "No, it’s not Stormqueller... sword qi as sharp as that does not belong to him."
Qi Zongbi furrowed his brow deeply, pondered for a moment, and then said, "Let’s go and take a look."
Once outside, Yi Anzhi shielded Qi Zongbi behind him. As soon as they glanced around, they were confronted with a ghastly scene... pools of blood and severed limbs were scattered all over the plaza.
Most of the guards were lying in pools of their own blood, while the few survivors instinctively retreated, their hands trembling so much it seemed they could barely hold onto their swords.
In front of these guards was a column-shaped tornado about three zhang thick, and at its center, a young man with a head full of snowy-white hair was walking forward step by step with a sword in hand.
"It's him?!" The moment Yi Anzhi saw Baili Gucheng, his eyes widened in shock. "This sword qi... within three meters, the whole world is an enemy... it's him!"
"Within three meters, the whole world is an enemy..." Qi Zongbi murmured these words and then suddenly understood. "Are you saying that person... is Impending Sword Baili Gucheng?!"
At the mention of this name, Qi Zongbi immediately realized the whole story. North Watching Pass had always been Impending Sword Baili Gucheng's reverse scale, and it was one of the three cities that were to be sacrificed in his plan. Thus, it was not a surprise that Impending Sword would come to find him...
"Then you..." Qi Zongbi turned to Tranquil Stream Yi Anzhi beside him, but stopped short of finishing his sentence.
Yi Anzhi sensed Qi Zongbi's lack of confidence in him and sneered. "Isn't it just sword qi? It can't harm me. Don't worry, with me here, he can't hurt you."
As soon as Qi Zongbi and Yi Anzhi stepped out, Baili Gucheng noticed them. He turned toward Yang Lu in the distance, pointed at the two, and asked, "Is that Qi Zongbi?"
Yang Lu instantly pointed at Qi Zongbi, who was standing at the entrance of the Suantian Shrine, and shouted, "That's him! That old man!"
Baili Gucheng confirmed his target and turned to focus his gaze on Qi Zongbi. Qi Zongbi grew uncomfortable and felt the hairs on his body stand on end under Baili Gucheng's intense stare, but Yi Anzhi stepped sideways in front of him, protecting him from Baili Gucheng's line of sight.
Baili Gucheng frowned as he saw someone step protectively in front of Qi Zongbi. Raising his eyes, he saw a handsome young man who clasped his hands in greeting when they locked eyes.
Who is this person? Qi Zongbi's guard? What is he up to?
As Baili Gucheng was evaluating the situation, he saw the heroic-looking man walk toward him and stop three zhang away. The man said, "I've long heard of the famous Impending Sword Baili Gucheng. I am Yi Anzhi, and I am a swordsman too, so I'd like to test my skills against you!"
As soon as the words were spoken, Baili Gucheng saw Yi Anzhi somehow pull out a silver snake from some unknown location and send it flying straight toward his face!
Baili Gucheng's expression changed drastically. He urgently retreated, realizing he had fallen into the heroic-looking young man's trap.
Earlier, he had assumed Yi Anzi stopped three zhang away like any ordinary person because he was afraid of the whirlwind of sword qi. Astoundingly, it was all a deliberate act to lower his guard, allowing Yi Anzhi to launch a sneak attack.
Yi Anzhi was incredibly cunning!