Letting out a cold snort, Xu Ziling made a back flip. Not only to avoid the ruthless-without-equal sword attack, he also flew over Fu Yan's head, and pressed both palms down.
Fu Zhen was still being carried away by his backward inertia. His face alternated between red and white, and temporarily was powerless to meet the attack.
Fu Yan's momentum had already diminished, plus his power was half a notch below Fu Zhen. Seeing his older brother was beaten back by Xu Ziling using only one finger, his courage turned cold, and was secretly thinking about retreating. However, how could he retreat now? Thereupon he had no choice but to brandish his beak sword into a thin disk of sword shadow, while bending down his knees to guard against the attack from above, no longer trying to attack but only trying to protect himself.
Seeing that even in such a bad situation he was still able to maintain a leak-proof defense, Xu Ziling cried inwardly that he was very lucky. If his strategy had not been brilliant, which prevented the two brothers from forming a siege against him, quite possibly this day next year would be the anniversary of his death. Therefore, he did not dare to tarry either.
One palm struck down on the ground, the other palm turned into finger jab, the tip of his finger pushed the blade of the sword. Borrowing the reaction force, Xu Ziling soared vertically into the air.
Suddenly a spear flashed by from the sky.
After taking a quick glance, Xu Ziling nearly abandoned his plan to stay and stake his life, because the attacker was precisely his archenemy, Wang Bodang.
Were it not for his brutality against Susu, there was great possibility that Susu would not have married Xiang Yushan, and her life's happiness would not have been in such a predicament.
This man definitely had excellent martial art skill. Upon applying his power, the pair of flexible spears in his hand became curved like a bow, plus when the spears sprang up again, the elastic force added the intensity of the attack that it was difficult to resist.
Furthermore, the timing and the angle of attack was so accurate without the slightest error, so that Xu Ziling, who was still soaring in the air, had no choice but to go all-out to deal with it.
However, it was not clear whether Xu Ziling had already anticipated this move, but his palm strike to the ground happened to be effective. Utilizing the backlash force, Xu Ziling traversed sideways and landed some distance away. With several leaps, he disappeared behind some roof tiles.
Wang Bodang landed on the alley; together with Fu Zhen, two brothers, they looked at each other helplessly, their eyes were filled with frustration and amazement.
Who would have guessed that with the three men's combined power they still failed to hold him back?
※ ※ ※
Dong Shuni furiously said, "What's the emergency that you frightened me? Do you want me to marry that lecherous old man Li?”
Kou Zhong was shaken inwardly, Xu Ziling guessed it right: in order to deal with the currently most powerful Li Mi, Li Yuan and Wang Shichong had stricken a political marriage deal. The ‘goods' was precisely Luoyang beauty, Dong Shuni, whose fame spread out in all directions.
After taking care of the threat from the west, Wang Shichong would have a free hand in dealing with Li Mi, while the Li Clan would be just as happy to sit on the mountain and watch the tigers fight.
All these were planned by Li Shimin; it's just that he did not think that he would be the person Shi Feixuan would choose, and that in the future he would contend against Li Jiancheng for the throne.
Actually, what kind of person was Li Jiancheng? He has always been arrogant and headstrong, certainly he would not give up that easily.
If this news leaked out into Li Jiancheng's ears, it would be difficult for Li Clan to maintain good faith and solidarity.
Too bad this brilliant scheme could not be put in practice, because Xu Ziling would absolutely not be happy if Kou Zhong ever employed this kind of dirty trick. Much less the news came from him.
Kou Zhong simply had to let nature take its course.
Paper cannot wrap fire, sooner of later Li Jiancheng would find out about this matter.
The city gate in sight, Dong Shuni pulled him to stop; probing Kou Zhong, she asked, "Have you found a way?”
Kou Zhong was awakened from his deep thinking, "This matter involves many complex issues; let's talk about it tonight!” he replied perfunctorily.
How could Dong Shuni know what went through Kou Zhong's head had nothing to do with eloping? She happily said, "Tonight, early xu hour [7-9pm], wait for me at Rong Fengxiang's mansion house's back door. I will try to sneak out. Don't leave without me!”
Astonished, Kou Zhong asked, "Who in the world is Rong Fengxiang? Where does he live? What are you doing there tonight?”
Dong Shuni snappily replied, "Such a famous person like Rong Fengxiang you don't know, yet you dared to hang around Luoyang? In Luoyang, he has both money and power, Da Jiufu [first maternal uncle] is even jealous of him to some degree. Here, eight out of ten casinos belong to him. His daughter, Rong Jiaojiao, is in good term with me, we are known as ‘Luoyang's Two Beauties'. Today is the auspicious day for his fiftieth birthday; therefore, he is holding a feast at his house. Do you understand?”
Kou Zhong said with a laugh, "Since he is a Jianghu celebrity, of course I know how to find his house. But when you slip out and do not see me, it would be best if you find a second man to elope with you, because I might have been beaten to dead by a bunch of vicious nuns and monks!”
Unwilling to be bothered by her any longer, fast as lightning he slipped away, leaving the furious Dong Shuni stomping her feet, yet was unable to do anything to hold him down.
※ ※ ※
The crumpled paper was crushed into pieces by the internal energy, and the breeze scattered it into the Luo River.
Under the sunlight, the water of Luo River glittered brightly, while continuous stream of passenger ships and cargo boats came and went.
Xu Ziling sat on the dike of the Luo River, basking in the sun. He was completely relaxed, putting the trouble of the Jade Annulus of He Clan totally out of his mind.
He was well aware that after going through the bizarre encounter the previous night, he had made a very important breakthrough in his pursuit of martial art excellence. Otherwise, he would not be here enjoying the sunshine and the tranquility of the enchanting scenery of the busy downtown area.
Some distance away to his left, the flow of pedestrians and carriage on Tianjin Bridge spanning the Lou River had been steadily increasing, but it seemed to be in another dimension that had nothing to do with him.
Right this moment, someone was coming behind him.
Without needing to turn around to look, Xu Ziling knew that it was Li Jing; he sighed inwardly.
Li Jing came over and sat down beside him. Fixing his gaze at the Luo River, he sighed and said, "Just hand me that thing!”
Xu Ziling replied indifferently, "Since when did you become Shi Feixuan's spokesperson?”
Li Jing said bitterly, "I know that you are mad at me because of Su Mei. But I have always regarded her as my good Meizi, I had never had man-woman feeling toward her. Just like you and Kou Zhong are my good Xiongdi; therefore, now I have no choice but to advise you to return something to its rightful owner.”
With a cold laugh Xu Ziling said, "Whether anyone wants to do something or decides not to do a certain thing, it is very easy to find words of explanation and excuses. It's just that in this kind of thing, it is difficult for outsiders to intervene. I just want to ask you one thing: did Li Shimin ever send Yang Xuyan to assassinate Xiang Yushan?”
Li Jing had never expected Xu Ziling would ask such question. After staring blankly for half a day, he responded, "This matter involves Qin Wang's classified information. I, Li Jing, earn my salary from others, there are certain things that I am not at liberty to speak out.”
Actually, by saying that, he had indirectly admitted it.
Xu Ziling spoke heavily, "And now, did Li Shimin send you here to advise me to surrender something?”
Displeased, Li Jing said, "How could Qin Wang be that kind of person? Besides, he basically does not have any desire to obtain the Jade Annulus of He Clan. I just worry about you, and I just found out that you have the ability to turn into someone else, but I could only hide it in my heart, and do not dare to tell Qin Wang. You ought to understand that I am hard-pressed from left and right!”
Laughing aloud, Xu Ziling said, "Since we are not brothers anymore, you are free to do anything you want.”
Li Jing sighed and said, "I understand your feelings. Actually, it was also due to Su Mei's matter that I am having a very bad misunderstanding with you guys. But public matter is public matter, personal matter is personal matter; the Jade Annulus of He Clan is something that you must not touch. Even if you obtained it, what good would it bring you? So much so that even if you gave it away, nobody would dare to accept it; why bother then?”
Toward Li Jing's earnest and well-meaning advice, Xu Ziling only felt disdain; he coldly said, "If Li Shimin really does not have any interest to obtain the Jade Annulus of He Clan, and there is no more gratitude and grudges between us, won't that mean we no longer have anything to talk about?”
Li Jing stood up suddenly. Her tiger-body stood erect, his eyes flickered with cold rays. Fixing his gaze on the layer upon layer of buildings on the opposite bank, he spoke in heavy voice, "Since Ziling is determined to be like this, I have nothing more to say. But no matter what, we all are brothers. I just want to say something, and I do hope you'd listen.”
Recalling the trials and tribulations they were going through together in the past, Xu Ziling was overcome with emotions. Smiling wryly, he said, "Please speak up!”
Li Jing said, "Currently, the land under the heavens is all split up and in pieces, disaster of war never ends; in the end, the victims are the common people. We are men with lofty aspirations; we must choose brilliant master to serve, so that the whole world will be reunited once again. And according to my many research, only Qin Wang is worthy to be such person; Shi Feixuan's opinion is no different than mine. By saying this, I hope you understand what I mean? Virtuous cause of today, any personal feeling ought to be set aside.”