Mu Qingye leaped down from the roof, landing lightly beside Zhao Mingxuan. His eyes quickly assessed the situation: they were surrounded from three directions, with almost twenty enemies.
"The only way is to break through the eastern flank," Mu Qingye said softly but firmly.
Zhao Mingxuan gripped his sword tightly. The night wind carried the sound of light footsteps drawing closer.
Without warning, two men in black charged from the front. Zhao Mingxuan twisted his wrist, his sword sweeping in a semicircle.
*Clang!*
Two attacks were instantly parried, and his knee struck one opponent's chest, sending him flying backward.
Meanwhile, Mu Qingye raised his sword-a slender, bluish-silver blade with a thin, curved edge and a lotus-shaped engraving at the hilt.
The moonlight made its blade gleam coldly, as if merging with its owner's calm yet deadly aura. The sword's name was Xuejian, Snow Sword.
With graceful and deadly movements, Mu Qingye lunged to the right. His sword danced quickly, every thrust aimed at a vital point with extraordinary precision.
One enemy tried to parry, but Xuejian's blade slickly deflected, slipping past his defense and carving a wound on his neck-thin but enough to instantly fell the man.
"Don't let them escape!" someone shouted from the rooftop.
Three archers fired from above. Zhao Mingxuan pulled Mu Qingye behind a stone pillar. Arrows pierced the ground, narrowly missing their feet.
"You take the left, I'll open a path on the right," Zhao said quickly.
Mu Qingye nodded. He raised Xuejian, swirling it in a small circle in the air. As he moved forward, a burst of sharp energy from the blade seemed to cleave the air. Two enemies collapsed simultaneously before they could react. His movements were clean and silent.
However, strangely, even though they struck the enemies, they were still alive and seemed to be invulnerable.
Mu Qingye suddenly realized he was in the Dark Sect's territory. Mu Qingye flew through the air, over the rooftops, followed by Zhao Mingxuan.
"We could have killed all of them, why run away?!" Zhao Mingxuan growled.
"Don't be reckless, they are not easily killed."
Zhao Mingxuan angrily sheathed his sword.
"But you still look so relaxed," he retorted.
"Learn to control yourself. You want them dead, but you'll be the one to die first."
He looked down, observing the bloodstains on Zhao's leg. "Humans and human puppets are hard to distinguish."
Zhao Mingxuan fell silent, looking at the painful wound on his leg.
"They attack according to meridian points, and no matter how many times you stab them, they won't die."
Mu Qingye tore his clothes and wrapped them around his wrist.
"There are almost hundreds of them, so it will be difficult to fight them? Even if the Emperor comes down?" Zhao Mingxuan asked.
Mu Qingye turned quickly, glaring at Zhao Mingxuan.
"In Tianxia, there are many great martial artists. Human puppets are nothing to them."
"Yeah, yeah, I believe you. Don't look at me like that. You're terrifying, damn it!"
Mu Qingye simply left Zhao Mingxuan behind. He went to meet someone.
"Master!" he called.
"Mu Qingye, you have 7 days left, and from your current position, is 7 days enough to reach Tianxia City?"
Mu Qingye knelt quickly, bowing his head as if pleading. "I will depart now, please help me, Master!"
"You want to leave your friend?"
"I don't want to trouble anyone anymore."
Yi Wuji chuckled. "But you're troubling me."
"If Master is unwilling, I can go alone," Mu Qingye said, stepping away.
"Mu Qingye, return to Guazhou first. I will hold off the human puppets here. After you return, you can go directly to Tianxia City. Your adoptive parents are waiting."
Mu Qingye smiled slightly. He immediately ran and mounted the horse his master had prepared.
He rode the horse. The darkness of the night stretched before him, but his steps were unwavering. More and more human puppets were roaming around, attacking anyone, but Yi Wuji was ready to hold them back.
Meanwhile, Zhao Mingxuan, who had overheard the conversation between Mu Qingye and the mysterious man, became even more intrigued.
"I could become famous if I roam around outside," Zhao Mingxuan said with a small smile. He wrote a letter and sent a pigeon to Yongki.
"Brother Mu, you truly are a man full of secrets..." he mumbled, re-positioning his sword and sheathing it on his back.
He began to mount his horse, following the direction Mu Qingye had taken.
"How interesting. If I can find the secret to killing those puppets, wouldn't I become a legend?" he thought, his eyes burning with ambition.
Meanwhile, in Shuyi, Yi Wuji stood on the city gate.
"Hold on, no one is allowed to leave this place," he said with a small laugh.
But they continued to advance, intending to attack. With one move from Yi Wuji, they retreated several steps.
"His energy has entered the divine realm," their leader thought.
"In that case, I guess you are Yi Wuji."
"Hahaha, you're right," he chuckled.
Magistrate Han from behind the gate was silent. He looked up at Yi Wuji. Why was someone from the palace here? He quickly moved back to his residence to send a letter.
'Master, the Tianxia person has arrived. Where should I go? If I get caught, I won't stay silent! Even relying on the Dark Sect won't work. Yi Wuji has arrived!'
After sending the letter, Han Wuqing packed his valuables and treasures. He took his eldest son and wife to leave as quickly as possible.
"Father, we can't escape. At least let's confess our mistakes and beg for the emperor's mercy," Han Li said.
"Beg for mercy? Do you want to see your father and mother be beheaded?!" Han Wuqing roared. He immediately pulled his son and wife inside.
"Coachman, let's go."
"My husband, what if we get caught?" Lian Yi asked.
"Just be quiet. They will fight, and this is our chance to escape."
"You're betraying the Dark Sect. Father, it's better if we tell the truth and ask the emperor for help."
"Han Li, you must understand! The emperor won't help us. Grand Minister Feng Yuan is already dead because of this! Will there be any pardon?!" Han Wuqing roared, massaging his throbbing forehead.
"What? Wasn't his execution scheduled for next week?"
"I don't know for sure, but Grand Minister Feng Yuan passed away a month ago."
"Impossible."
"If Minister Feng is truly gone, then why is Yi Wuji only coming now? Is this just the emperor's ploy?" Han Wuqing wondered, confused.