Chapter 55: The Truth and the Fall

The atmosphere in the private room became tense. Nangong Muyun was shocked when Song Hongdao recognized her identity at a glance.

Xiao Qing was unaware that the woman in white before her was Qin Luo’s mother, her mother-in-law. Upon hearing Song Hongdao mention his sister-in-law, she momentarily assumed that she was an old relative of his.

Uncle Song is a ninth-level expert. How could his family members have fallen so low as to sell their looks at Tianxiangfang?

Nangong Muyun quickly calmed down. She knew that if she made a move now, even if she and Jiang Qingyu joined forces, they wouldn’t be able to hurt him in the slightest. However, judging from Song Hongdao’s smiling face, he clearly didn’t want to make a move.

Jiang Qingyu felt the same way; she only regretted not having brought her sword with her.

"Sit."

Song Hongdao gestured, and Bodhi, who was sitting on the chair, immediately stood up. As the leader of the Eighteen Venerables, the fat-headed and big-eared Bodhi perfectly embodied the word "greasy." With his trembling body of fat, he stood next to Xiao Qing with a fawning expression, which made Xiao Qing frown.

Nangong Muyun and Jiang Qingyu exchanged a glance but made no move.

"I know you’ve been secretly investigating Qin Zheng’s death." Song Hongdao didn’t seem to care about the two men’s reactions, but his words shocked the three women in the room.

Upon hearing the familiar name, Xiao Qing finally realized what was happening. Looking at the two masked women in front of her, her eyes began to light up with excitement.

"Actually, there’s no need to go to so much trouble." Song Hongdao smiled.

"Just ask me in person, and I will answer you to the best of my knowledge."

Upon hearing this, Nangong Muyun’s lips curled into a slight, disdainful smile. "After hiding for over a decade, you’re finally being open about it?"

Jiang Qingyu didn’t waste any words and went straight to the point: "Fine, then let me ask you, is Qin Zheng’s death related to you?"

Song Hongdao seemed oblivious to Nangong Muyun’s sarcasm, and turned to Jiang Qingyu, saying, "Qin Zheng, I killed him."

These words shocked everyone present.

"No, it’s impossible..." Xiao Qing covered her mouth tightly, her eyes filled with disbelief.

"Uncle Qin wasn’t possessed by the Demon Lord..."

She didn’t finish her sentence because Nangong Muyun and Jiang Qingyu had already taken off their masks.

The overwhelming true energy instantly filled the entire room. The two women from the Nangong family had red eyes; this earth-shattering news made it impossible for them to remain rational.

This thing is called a "boundary".

Song Hongdao paid no attention to the imposing presence of the two people in front of him. His tone was calm, as if chatting with an old friend. In front of him was a black chessboard suspended in the air, with faint glow flowing among the crisscrossing white lines.

"I used it to trap dozens of high-level cultivators from Xuanhuo Peak, leaving Qin Zheng and Xiao Tian to monopolize the Demon Lord."

"Why?" Xiao Qing was the first to react. At this moment, her eyes were filled with tears, and she had unknowingly come to Nangong Muyun’s side.

The three women stood side by side, each possessing a unique and stunning beauty that left Bodhi, who stood to the side, utterly infatuated.

"I was born for the sword. There can only be one sword master in the Glazed Realm, and that is me." Song Hongdao’s eyes were firm.

"Kill them and I can control the destiny of the sword path alone. Why wouldn’t I do it?"

Raising an eyebrow, Song Hongdao continued, "As you have all seen, my progress has been rapid since their deaths."

"I kill you!"

A delicate shout rang out, and the White Cloud Sword pierced through the air. Nangong Muyun took a step forward, caught the White Cloud Sword in mid-air, and without pausing, her entire body transformed into a graceful and decisive arc, heading straight for Song Hongdao.

"Clang!"

A pleasant, soft sound rang out, and Nangong Muyun, filled with resentment, saw Bodhi with a lewd grin on his face.

He actually blocked the fierce sword strike with the Buddhist beads in his hand!

"Fairy Baiyun has such big breasts!"

Bodhi leaned forward and took a deep breath, enjoying the unique fragrance of the Phoenix Spirit Body immensely.

Before Bodhi could even savor the moment, everything went black, and he was kicked aside by Jiang Qingyu, who was right behind him.

Unlike Nangong Muyun, Jiang Qingyu was extremely anxious at this moment. She knew very well that this attack would have no effect on Bodhi. The White Cloud Sword could be controlled by thought, but her sword was a soulless object. Looking at Bodhi standing up amidst the mess, the words suddenly echoed in her mind: "A copy is still a copy."

Xiao Qing stood frozen in place after hearing her father’s name, the loud noise failing to rouse her from her shock.

"Great legwork!"

Bodhi wiped away the recent bloodstains and walked step by step to Song Hongdao’s side. Looking at Jiang Qingyu in front of him, he said, "It’ll be really fun to fuck her if you set her up like this!"

Jiang Qingyu felt Bodhi’s burning gaze lingering on her private parts. She was filled with shame and anger and struck out with her palm again, but Bodhi, who was laughing, dodged it.

"I’ve long heard that the Empress is also a master swordsman, so why don’t I see you carrying a sword?"

Bodhi’s gaze swept over Jiang Qingyu, finally settling on her private parts, which were surrounded by pearls and gold thread. He asked, "Hidden?"

His response was a sharp sword strike from Nangong Muyun. Bodhi’s expression changed, and he awkwardly curled up to barely dodge the attack.

"Luckily I don’t have any hair, haha!" Bodhi touched his head, still feeling lingering fear from the sword that had grazed his scalp.

This sword strike also made him abandon his playful intentions. Looking at Nangong Muyun who was attacking again, a cold smile appeared on Bodhi’s lips.

The prayer beads in his hand instantly emitted a dazzling light. Bodhi chanted a mantra, and the Vajra Seal immediately enveloped his entire body. After a soft sound, Jiang Qingyu, who was about to make a move, suddenly stopped.

She saw that the White Cloud Sword in Nangong Muyun’s hand was pressed firmly against Bodhi’s forehead, but under the protection of the Vajra Seal, the sharp sword could not advance even an inch further.

Before this, Jiang Qingyu had always thought that if the two of them joined forces, they could at least fight Bodhi to a standstill, but she did not expect that they would not even be able to put up a fight now.

Bodhi’s eyes were closed like a Buddha’s. When he opened them again, his eyes were clear and bright, and all his previous lewdness and infatuation had vanished.

With a powerful palm strike, Nangong Muyun, who was gathering all her inner energy to thrust forward, had no time to dodge. Amid Jiang Qingyu’s unwilling cry, Nangong Muyun’s delicate body was sent flying by the palm strike, crashing straight into the wall behind her.

After a loud bang, Bodhi heard a young boy’s earth-shattering roar.

"Master!"

After Da Niu saw Nangong Muyun’s face clearly, his eyes instantly turned red. Looking through the large hole in the wall, he saw Bodhi, whose body was radiating golden light.

I’ll skin you alive!

His entire body transformed into a black lightning bolt. Da Niu smashed through the wall and threw a punch at Bodhi, but stopped in mid-air when he came into contact with the golden light surrounding him.

Undeterred, Da Niu threw another punch, his massive fist creating ripples on the golden light surrounding Bodhi.

Bodhi watched with great interest as the boy roared weakly before him, wanting to see just how much strength he had. But the crazed Niu did not stop at all. After dozens of powerful swings, the skin on his fists had cracked, and a faint smell of blood filled the air.

"Autumn Sounds."

Qin Luo leaped out, his sword shadows enveloping Bodhi in a sky full of light. Countless sword blades struck the golden light protecting his body, producing a series of rapid and brief soft sounds.

The sound of autumn is like rain, and the force of a punch is like thunder.

Qin Luo and Da Niu used all their strength to attack Bodhi, completely unaware of the old man and the girl standing in the corner of the room.

"Qin Luo!"

Seeing Qin Luo on the verge of losing his mind, Xiao Qing finally came to her senses. The familiar voice finally made Qin Luo pause slightly.

Ten years had passed since they last met, and Qin Luo never imagined that their reunion would be under such circumstances.

She was still so beautiful, and a bright light suddenly flashed in Qin Luo’s angry eyes.

"Sister Xiao?!"

Xiao Qing’s expression was complicated, a myriad of emotions welled up in her heart, and two clear tears once again streamed down her face.

Before they could exchange heartfelt words, Qin Luo turned around and saw Da Niu, who was still fiercely attacking. His fists were stained red with blood, and his flesh was mangled as he swung them, but he seemed to feel no pain as he continued to punch Bodhi.

A series of loud noises rang out, and Bodhi, who was surrounded by golden light, suddenly changed his expression. He suddenly saw that the boy in front of him who was waving his fists also had golden light flowing around him.

Although the golden light was very weak, it was extremely pure. A look of doubt flashed in his eyes. He had no intention of playing with this unknown boy any longer. With a burst of true energy, his palm, which was adorned with Buddhist beads, seemed to lightly touch the boy’s chest. However, the boy’s body flew backward like an arrow and fell straight down next to Nangong Muyun.

Qin Luo was about to draw his sword again when Bodhi struck him with a palm, sending him flying. He instantly felt his internal organs and bones being shattered. If it weren’t for the powerful life force of the Azure Dragon Technique, he would have fainted almost immediately.

Before Bodhi could catch her breath, Nangong Muyun came again with his sword. Jiang Qingyu, anxious, suddenly saw the withered branch in Qin Luo’s hand and her eyes lit up.

"Qin Luo!" Jiang Qingyu called out to Qin Luo, who was struggling on the ground.

Struggling to open his eyes, Qin Luo first saw Da Niu struggling to stand up, and then, following the sound, saw Jiang Qingyu looking anxious. Their eyes met, and Qin Luo instantly understood. With all his might, he threw the dry branch in his hand at Jiang Qingyu.

"Catch the sword!"

The withered branch in mid-air was caught steadily by Jiang Qingyu, who flew over. A familiar feeling came over her, and Jiang Qingyu’s delicate body instantly turned back, and she and Nangong Muyun fought Bodhi together.

Amidst the flashing swords and the clash of true energy, Qin Luo felt as if his eardrums were about to explode. He was finally held in Xiao Qing’s arms as she arrived, and he squinted his eyes, trying to see what was happening in the room.

"Jian Qing! Bai Yu!"

With a delicate shout, Nangong Muyun unleashed a sword strike imbued with countless sword energies, instantly creating gusts of air that shredded the entire second-floor room. Suddenly, Qin Luo, who had been looking up at the empty space above him, could even see the setting sun gradually sinking over the lake.

Faced with the all-out offensive of Nangong Muyun and Jiang Qingyu, Bodhi could no longer remain calm and collected. Even with the golden light protecting him, he dared not take all the attacks again and had to start dodging and weaving.

"Sword Turbidity! Drifting Fluff!"

As the three clashed and their true energy converged, the White Cloud Sword in Nangong Muyun’s hand began to sway in the wind like a small boat. This sword technique of using the opponent’s strength against them was the best way to exhaust their stamina. Jiang Qingyu tacitly withdrew some of her strength, preparing for a sudden burst of power at the last moment.

Da Niu had already stood up and looked at the three people fighting fiercely in the air. He was somewhat unwilling to give up and wanted to leap high into the air, but he found that he couldn’t muster any strength no matter what he did.

This was his second fight since coming down the mountain, but it was the first time he felt a deep sense of powerlessness.

This feeling of helplessness suddenly reminded him of the scene where his father was devoured by the black tiger in the forest. A furious roar full of resentment rang out. Just as Qin Luo was about to stop him, he saw Da Niu suddenly leap up again and fly straight towards the three people in the air.

The three high-level cultivators clashed, and Da Niu, who had exhausted all his strength, was sent flying again by the chaotic air currents after just one contact. His falling body smashed through the second-floor floor. Amidst the mess of wood chips, he got up again and leaped into the air a second time. His indomitable spirit even made Song Hongdao, who was standing to the side, sigh softly.

He leaped up again and again, only to be slammed to the ground again and again. Da Niu seemed oblivious to Nangong Muyun’s distressed attempts to stop him. It wasn’t until all his meridians were severed and all his joints were shattered that he finally closed his eyes in the chaotic little building, unwilling to accept his fate.

Qin Luo endured the pain and released his divine sense, but suddenly felt that the breath of the big Niu downstairs was getting weaker and weaker. A shrill roar came out, and Qin Luo in Xiao Qing’s arms was already sobbing uncontrollably.

Nangong Muyun, who was in the air, seemed to have run out of strength. After swinging her sword once more, she slowly descended and came to Da Niu’s side.

Seeing that only Jiang Qingyu was left in front of him, Bodhi felt the pressure decrease significantly. But then he heard Jiang Qingyu chuckle. Confused, Bodhi suddenly shouted that something was wrong!

As Jiang Qingyu gripped Qin Zheng’s withered branch once more, scenes from the past flashed through her mind.

An uninvited guest within the palace walls, a fleeting glimpse amidst the vast army, Jiang Qingyu’s delicate body, floating in the air, gradually arched, accompanied by a delicate shout. Bodhi saw Jiang Qingyu before him seemingly transformed, leaping high into the air carrying ten thousand sword lights.

"Starfall!"

Upon hearing those two familiar words, Qin Luo raised his head and, through the tears in his eyes, saw Jiang Qingyu in the air, seemingly transforming into a shooting star as she rushed straight toward Bodhi.

"May I be like a star and you like the moon, with all my tenderness as the shadow of a sword".

As soon as the sword was drawn, Jiang Qingyu seemed to return to the day she first met Qin Zheng.

Bodhi in the air was startled just by hearing the name of the sword. As he watched the sword lights streak across the sky like shooting stars, he knew he couldn’t dodge them and had no choice but to face them head-on.

Qin Luo could no longer see the two figures in the air. He could only feel that the small building he was in was being smashed to pieces by sword lights. The small building, which was intact just a moment ago, was now broken into pieces and was about to collapse in the lake.

After an unknown amount of time, the sword shadows in the air finally dissipated, and Qin Luo saw Jiang Qingyu slowly land. Behind him came a loud bang, the sound of Bodhi, whose fate was unknown.

"Cough cough... Thank you very much, old sword master... for saving me..."

Bodhi, looking disheveled, sat up and spat out a mouthful of black blood.

Jiang Qingyu looked shocked and slowly turned around, looking at Bodhi in disbelief.

How is he still alive?!

Qin Luo was also startled. He saw that the Bodhi on the ground was talking to the old man in the corner, but he had never noticed that the old man had made a move.

Song Hongdao ignored Bodhi, bypassed Jiang Qingyu, and went straight to Qin Luo.

"Hello, my name is Song Hongdao, your father’s killer."