Demoness, where are you Fleeing to?
Chapter 432 - 350: So let’s cross swords (Double monthly tickets required!)_1

Chapter 432: Chapter 350: So let’s cross swords (Double monthly tickets required!)_1

"Yurou?" A wave of tension seized Li Xuan, and with a puzzled expression, he asked, "What happened to Yurou?"

He wondered what could possibly happen to the technical fanatic who rarely left their doorstep.

And in Nanjing, who would dare make a move under the watchful eyes of Earl Chengyi’s powerful family, the Li?

"About twelve days ago, upon hearing of your ambush incident at the canal, Mother was deeply worried and sent Yurou off to Capital City to protect you,"

Su Zhaojun spoke solemnly, "However, shortly after Yurou left, contact between her and Earl’s mansion had been severed. I know Yurou’s character; cool on the outside but passionate within, she values relationships and loyalty deeply. She would never leave without a word, especially considering the kindness that Mother has shown her, thus with her trail going cold five days ago, we discovered signs of battle and blood near the Capital City."

Li Xuan’s face darkened instantly, his eyes exposing a fierce radiance as he asked, "Where did the battle take place? Sister-in-law, did you uncover any clues?"

"The site wasn’t far from the suburban Capital City, near the region of Tongzhou. Numerous concealed weapons were found at the scene. A few of our old contacts from Earl Chengyi’s mansion informed me that the Shenqi Union had dispatched a large number of elite men near the suburban area of the Capital City just a few days ago,"

Su Zhaojun knitted her eyebrows, "I have around seventy to eighty percent certainty that Yurou’s disappearance is related to them. Yurou, the rightful heir of the former Peacock Manor, holds in her possession the secret technique to produce the ’Great Five Elements Magnet Miejue Needle’, something the Shenqi Union has always coveted."

"Shenqi Union?" Luo Yan also entered the door and asked in confusion, "But as far as I know, most of the ’Great Five Elements Magnet Miejue Needles’ in circulation on the market are produced by the Shenqi Union."

Su Zhaojun shook her head as she explained, "This Miejue Needle comes in five different grades, with each individual grade possessing a power tenfold greater than its predecessor. The Shenqi Union only knows of the methods to create the first three grades of these needles. Leng Yurou, however, masters the ’Great Five Elements Magnet Miejue Needle’ in its entirety and also has the Secret Techniques of the Peacock.

The reason that she hid her identity back when she was a child and stayed in our family is to escape from the Shenqi Union. However, her identity was leaked recently and they started to track her again."

"They are courting death!" A surge of anger and murderous intent flashed in Li Xuan’s eyes. Although concerned, his primary worry was Leng Yurou’s safety: "Can Sister-in-law ascertain whether Yurou is alive or not?"

"She should still be alive. Like us, Yurou has also left a piece of soul fire in the ancestral temple at home. As long as the soul fire does not extinguish, it means she’s still within this world."

While mentioning this, Su Zhaojun cast a peculiar glance at Li Xuan.

If it were a usual time, she absolutely would have made a playful comment targeting her younger brother-in-law. Mrs. Liu’s way of doing things was to practically raise Leng Yurou in the manner of a betrothed child bride.

However, seeing the severity of the current situation, Su Zhaojun did not have the spirit to joke, she said gravely, "The Shenqi Union consists of twelve factions which primarily engage in hidden weapons and machinery. The Union is abundant with masters and financial power. If I were to go alone, it would prove difficult to retrieve Yurou. Thus, I am seeking your advice—"

Before she could finish her sentence, Li Xuan was already on his ’ordinary dragon colt’, "Yan, I leave all affairs in your hand at the Shenyi Department for a few days."

Having said so, the man and the horse transformed into a fleeting stream of light, rushing out of the mansion gate. The prowess of this Demon Qilin exceeded that of the dragon colt by at least tenfold.

Su Zhaojun frowned. She realized that the current Li Xuan, whether in terms of his cultivation or his role, was far superior to his past self.

However, impulsively rushing out without making any preparations puzzled her. His recklessness even managed to surpass her own.

"Let him go," Luo Yan said, crossing her arms and watching outside of the gate, "You should worry about Shenqi Union. Your young brother-in-law is now someone whom they can’t afford to offend under any circumstances."

As she finished speaking, she covered her mouth with her hand and yawned, a helpless expression on her face, "That jerk, he left a heap of public affairs for me to handle again."

Su Zhaojun was half-doubtful as she hurriedly followed up. However, Li Xuan’s speed on horseback was too fast. By the time she went outside the mansion, Li Xuan had disappeared.

※※ ※※

The main sector of the Shenqi Union was located atop a small mountain one hundred twenty miles north of the suburban Beijing. The mountain, initially unnamed, was later known as Artifact Mountain after the Shenqi Union established their base there.

The time was deep in the night, yet the identity of Li Xuan as the Liudao Division and his Feiyu Suit along with his Xiuchun Knife came in handy. They allowed him to smoothly exit the Chaoyang Gate and dash toward the foot of Artifact Mountain.

Li Xuan rode recklessly toward the mountain top, startling dozens of Shenqi Union guards along the way. These guards, with bewildered expressions, intended to intercept him, but the speed of his kirin surpassed their reaction time.

It wasn’t until he stood before the grand entrance of the Shenqi Union that he dismounted from his horse, under the wary watch of a dozen Shenqi Union Wu cultivators.

"Where is your Union Leader? Li Xuan of Jinling has come to pay a visit today!"

With his hand on his waist knife, Li Xuan stared coldly at the entrance in front of him while his Grand Air Thunder Sound resonated deeply, sending shockwaves throughout the area within ten miles—up and down the mountain. The disciples of Shenqi Union were all in agonizing pain, with blood seeping from their ears.

However, even after waiting for about half the time it takes to brew a cup of tea, the large vermilion door showed no sign of opening.

At this point, Li Xuan’s eyes became even more disdainful.

"Li Xuan of Jinling has come to pay a visit!"

The rumble of this thunderous voice surpassed the previous one, shattering the stone lamps located on both sides of the stone steps into dust!

The grand entrance remained sealed, with no response. Instead, a multitude of figures emerged from the high walls and towers on both sides. Over a hundred harquebuses and heavy crossbows pointed directly at Li Xuan.

Li Xuan, seeing this, merely chuckled coldly. Without any sign of fear, he drew his ’Bixue Leique Sword’ a fraction of the way out of its sheath. A dreadful Yi of the sword filled the area.

"Where is the master of Shenqi Union?"

This time, his voice was a shade lower, integrating his sword Yi into it. This led to countless tiny sword marks appearing on the great entrance and stone wall. These marks were over a few feet deep.

At this moment, the entire Artifact Mountain fell silent, and one could hear a pin drop.

Li Xuan patiently waited for another half pot of tea, and then took a step forward.

’Three strikes and you’re out!’ He had shown ’courtesy’, now he must resort to ’force’.

At that moment, the large door finally slowly opened. A middle-aged man with a plump body, wearing a prominent wealthy attire, appeared at the door with a smile, "May Earl Jingan forgive me. It’s late into the night and we were in sleep. I didn’t expect Earl Jingan to visit so late, I’m sorry for not welcoming you sooner."

After exiting the big door and giving a quick sweep of his gaze, he said with a faint smile, "Earl Jingan, your anger is great. May I ask why you have come and why you are so imposing?"

Li Xuan looked at him indifferently, "Where is your leader? Are they too scared to meet me?"

"Our leader is away on business." The middle-aged man responded with a smile, seemingly not bothered by Li Xuan’s rudeness, "I am Wei Shumeng, the chief steward of the Shenqi Union. You can talk to me if you have any issues."

"That’s fine." Li Xuan put the ’Bixue Leique Sword’ back into its sheath for the moment, "Return my maid, Leng Yurou, to me."

Upon hearing this, Wei Shumeng paused, then shook his head, "I don’t know any Leng Yurou. If your maid is lost, you should go find her yourself. Why come to our Shenqi Union?"

"I don’t want to waste time with words." Li Xuan’s eyes, cold as a knife edge, looked at Wei Shumeng, "Hand her over."

Wei Shumeng frowned, "Earl Jingan, evidence is needed in everything. Do you have any proof that Leng Yurou is here in our Shenqi Union?"

The hand that Li Xuan held his sword with gradually tightened, "I don’t want to repeat myself. Give Yurou back to me."

"You——"

Anger finally surfaced on Wei Shumeng’s face. But as he tried to speak, he felt an extremely chilling intent radiating from Li Xuan.

The sword hadn’t unsheathed yet, but the murderous aura it brought made his Divine Consciousness hurt.

Wei Shumeng immediately changed his tone, "Could you please wait for a moment, sir, let me find out what’s going on and I will get back to you?"

Li Xuan’s expression remained cold: "I will only give you a quarter of an hour."

Wei Shumeng’s eyes grew intense as he hurriedly entered the gate, and the large red door was closed shut behind him.

Wei Shumeng had quickened his pace again, walking to the main hall of the Shenqi Union. This hall contained fifteen chairs, seats for the twelve factions of the Shenqi Union, the leader, and the two chief stewards.

When Wei Shumeng entered, seven of these chairs were occupied.

"What happened?" Asked a robust man sitting in the highest seat. He was wearing a green armor with three scars on his face, his aura daunting, "What did the young man say?"

"He was demanding and wanted to coerce us into handing over Leng Yurou."

Wei Shumeng sat down in the hall, "In my opinion, his character is arrogant and disrespectful. He doesn’t seem easy to negotiate with."

The man in the green armor scoffed, "If he’s hard to talk to, then let’s keep him waiting for a while."

"But I fear he won’t let things go so easily." Wei Shumeng sighed, "In my opinion, it would be best if the leader would meet him. After all, he is the second son of Earl Chengyi and has been made an Earl by the Court himself. He’s also been appointed the guardian of Neo-Confucianism. He’s a typical young man who’s risen to fame, despising everyone else. If we don’t give him even a little respect, I fear there will be a confrontation."

"Even if we meet him, will he give up on the girl? Or can we return Leng Yurou to him?"

The man in the green armor didn’t care and looked mocking, "If he has the guts, he would’ve overthrown us today."

"Exactly! Even if there’s going to be negotiation, it should be Earl Chengyi, Li Chengji, who should be coming to talk."

The man that spoke this sentence was a pale and thin man sitting on the left side, "Moreover, when we decided to act against Leng Yurou, we were prepared to offend their family. So what if we offended Chengyi’s mansion? Others may fear their family, but what’s there for our Shenqi Union to fear?"

Wei Shumeng gave the Shenji Building’s owner from Luoyang, Bai Zheli, a serious look, his brow furrowed slightly.

But at this time, not only Bai Zheli, but the rest of them in the hall also showed mocking smiles.

"I also think we should not meet him, I do not believe that brat would dare to take action."

"Even if there’s a confrontation, so what? Beat him up and throw him at the door of Chengyi’s mansion, and ask Earl Chengyi how he raised his child."

"Scared by the bluffing of a brat? If the leader really meets him today, I’m afraid our Shenqi Union would be the laughingstock."

Wei Shumeng thought about what they said, smiled, and thought to himself that perhaps he had been intimidated by Li Xuan’s aura.

He, Wei Shumeng, was actually frightened by the words of a young man. It was indeed embarrassing.

Outside the door of Shenqi Union, Li Xuan opened his half-closed eyes, looking at the sky.

The quarter-hour deadline had arrived, but the large red door in front of him showed no signs of movement.

Clink!

With the sharp ringing sound of metal vibration, the ’Bixue Leique Sword’ suddenly unsheathed. An overwhelming sword aura blasted forth, reducing the gate in front of him, along with the wall, to dust.