Twin Dimension Yin-Yang Mirror: Attaining immortality through the martial path
Chapter 231 - 201: Overt Sniping, Covert Stabbing, Absolute Reliance

Chapter 231: Chapter 201: Overt Sniping, Covert Stabbing, Absolute Reliance

Qingyang City, West Gate City Tower.

Zhou Ping’an’s eyes were distant as he gazed at the cavalry formation slowly approaching the city like dark clouds, faintly hearing the sounds of battle. He let out a long breath and turned his head, "Little Jiu’er, you and Snow Girl stay here and watch; don’t leave the city."

"Brother Ping’an..."

Little Jiu’er obediently "hmm"ed, opened her mouth but then said nothing more.

In her large eyes, however, seemed to be many unspoken words.

And Xiao Xue, the maid standing beside her, was also tightly clutching the hem of her clothes, her delicate hands with veins faintly standing out.

"Don’t worry, your sister is fine.

Although her cultivation is one level lower than those opposite her, the realm of her Wave Subduing Blade Technique is extremely high. For a time, she will be in no danger."

Zhou Ping’an turned his gaze towards the far distance, where the densely packed cavalry seemed like a tide. The corner of his mouth curved into a faint cold smile.

These people played a good game.

Unfortunately, not only did they underestimate Lin Huaiyu’s strength,

but they also gravely underestimated their own.

He called out loudly, "Tang Lin’er, Gu Dashi!"

"Present."

Beneath the half-closed city gate stood five hundred elite cavalry and two thousand infantry soldiers, all silently arranged in formation, holding their breath and ready for orders.

Leading them were none other than Tang Lin’er and Gu Dashi.

One was a Cavalry Commander, and the other an Infantry Commander.

Compared to the time when Zhou Ping’an had just taken over the City Defense Army,

this "rabble" now had the air of the world’s elite troops.

Each one was focused and full of vigor.

The way they looked at Zhou Ping’an was also one of extreme fervor.

This was certainly not because the training results were outstanding, but because of the Tiger Talisman’s blessing.

It was that miraculous.

"You will stand by, ready to advance at the sound of the drum; once I break through the enemy commander, regroup with me immediately to sweep through the remnants of the enemy."

"Yes..."

Over two thousand five hundred men replied in unison, their voices shaking the western part of the city with a buzzing sound.

Within the city, high-ranking officials and commoners alike had stern expressions upon hearing this roar.

Although they didn’t know what was happening, their hearts were all suspended in anxiety...

In these times of military chaos...

The Imperial Court was unsettled.

Add to that, rebels were arising from all corners.

It was said that the western frontier troops were also suffering defeat after defeat, losing territory and cities, bringing disgrace and humiliation to the nation.

No matter one’s status or wealth, everyone had their hearts hung with worry.

Fearing that one day, if the Daqian Dynasty were to collapse, they too would suffer.

Zhou Ping’an glanced back one last time at the still prosperous and peaceful city, chuckled lightly, then, becoming like a wisp of light smoke, he leaped over the city wall.

Stepping through the air like ripples on water, he flashed across several tens of meters and into the vast wilderness outside of the city.

...

Three li away from the city.

Eight hundred elite cavalry had formed an arc, with both wings slightly leaning forward and a deep dip in the center.

As the young commander dressed in shining armor and wearing a jade crown started the charge,

"Capture the Third Miss, don’t hold back when you strike, draw your bows."

Following Lin Xiao’s command as he pointed forward with his tri-edged double-sided sword, a resounding ’twang’ was heard as all around him bows were drawn...

Arrows flew like rain, aimed at the faint cyan figure ahead.

At this moment, Lin Xiao was feeling some regret.

Previously, he was worried about injuring Lin Huaiyu and merely wanted to delay or perhaps capture her alive to hand over intact to Fang Yu, the true disciple of Cloud Water Sect.

He hadn’t thought of striking a fatal blow.

When he did strike, he had held back some of his strength.

And the result?

Fighting from the mountaintop to down below, he and Fang Congwen, both in the True Qi Realm and considering themselves formidable, whether fighting together or in turns, were completely unable to break through the defensive circle of a girl aged eighteen.

"Ninth Turning of Wave Subduing, combining hardness with softness," Lin Xiao said, his eyes narrowing into thin slits.

He watched as around Lin Huaiyu’s body, the blade gleam waved like azure water, illuminating the space within three feet of her.

It was all admiration in his heart.

A perfect circle at three feet, impenetrable by anything.

The dense rain of arrows, screeching as they neared the blade light, either changed direction or were reflected back...

Twisted by the blade gleam, most of the arrows broke into pieces, piling around Lin Huaiyu.

Around that mass of azure and aqua light, there was also a vague glow of a sword, roaring as it struck.

With each contact, it retreated, evading and curving around her.

In just the blink of an eye, it had made more than a dozen moves around Lin Huaiyu.

The attack was ceaseless, like Floating Clouds and flowing water, extraordinarily splendid, giving off a feeling as if it could penetrate anything.

That was Fang Congwen.

He was from the Cloud Water Heavenly Sect...

Although not even considered among its disciples, as the confidant and personal boy-servant of the True Disciple Fang Yu, he naturally had received the true teachings.

At this moment, operating the Drifting Cloud Steps, his body turned into white clouds, seemingly unreal yet solid, incomparably light and swift.

The Cloud-Tailoring Sword in his hand was even more elusive, showing only the shadow, not the edge.

If an ordinary person from Jianghu faced such stepping techniques and swordsmanship, they’d probably lose their head without even seeing clearly the figure of their opponent.

But, facing Lin Huaiyu,

all his subtle martial arts were of no avail.

Just like a mouse trying to catch a turtle, he didn’t know where to start.

He felt that although the opponent’s martial arts realm was much lower than his own, that mass of blade light around her was like the surrounding water, seeming only a thin layer at a glance. But when one really attacked, it felt like sinking into a bottomless sea.

No matter how much he probed, he couldn’t reach the bottom.

What was most unbearable was the extremely powerful repelling force hidden within that mass of azure blade light.

A few times he had tried to force his way through the blade circle, not only failing to wound the enemy but nearly being hurt by the Wave Subduing Blade Gleam himself.

However, the better his opponent’s sword technique,

the angrier he grew in his heart.

Why should she?

"Lin Huaiyu, aren’t you going to surrender?" he said. "Given the strength of your Qi-Blood, how much longer can you hold out?

Once Lin Sanfu has captured your little sister, what can you possibly do?"

Fang Congwen, seeing the attack was getting nowhere, had a glint of cold light flash across his eyes as a venomous strategy formed in his mind.

"If you surrender now and drop your sword, you can at least avoid injury, and in the future, you might even gain the young master’s favor and have a slim chance to live.

Otherwise, when I chop off your arms and scar that exquisite face of yours, presenting you to the young master, you’ll be nothing more than a tool for his replenishment..."

"Are you jealous of me?"

Listening to Fang Congwen’s sinister words, Lin Huaiyu’s face remained calm and cold; her eyes seemed to see through the ways of the world.

Her figure slightly swayed, and she drifted another twenty yards toward the city walls.

The sword light never stopped.

Yet, she spoke indifferently.

"So you’re that favored child by Fang Yu’s side, who learned this swordsmanship and stepping technique through his doting?"

"Bitch, you’re courting death."

He roared in anger, "Lin Xiao, hold back no longer! I’ll take the responsibility with the young master; even if she’s killed, she’s killed. A melon forced off its vine isn’t sweet.

No, let’s cripple her first, then strike her dead...

I want this wretch to watch as I grind her sister into mincemeat and see if she’s still defiant!"

Fang Congwen’s raging shouts hadn’t even died down when suddenly, a long ripple appeared in the air.

As the ripple emerged, it was invisible, colorless, and without bringing the slightest sound of wind.

Only when it came within ten yards could one see the sharp distortion of light, and the rapid evaporation of air.

"What is this?"

Though Fang Congwen was cruel-natured and appeared hot-headed, he had risen from a mere pageboy, defeating many competitors to become the sole favored one, and was long accustomed to being cautious and observant.

As for his own safety, it was always on high alert.

At this moment, an immense fear rose from within.

As a corner of his eye caught the ripples.

Something was wrong, and his body reacted reflexively, rocketing into the air like a firework.

In that sudden moment of alarm.

Fang Congwen believed that, at this moment, his Drifting Cloud Steps had reached a divine level of execution.

He became like a floating cloud, his intention like flowing water.

Where his heart directed, his body followed...

Even Lin Huaiyu had to admit that Fang Congwen’s speed at that moment was frighteningly fast.

With a blink of an eye, he had already left her line of sight.

Lin Huaiyu abruptly looked up in shock, her mouth agape...

Fang Congyun had leaped into mid-air.

And at this time, he had drastically changed.

Not that his face had altered in any way.

But rather, his proportions were completely different...

His upper body was still neat and tidy, his face meticulous, his lips tinted with pale rouge, and his eyebrows long and delicate.

However, everything below his waist, from his hips downward, had vanished into thin air.

All that was visible in the billowing of his robe was the scattered mist of blood.

"Ah..."

A sky-shaking scream echoed over the plains.

It overwhelmed the sound of the quickly approaching elite cavalry and the war cries.

Fang Congyun only felt the bone-deep pain in his lower body when he landed.

He hadn’t even fathomed what attack he had sustained.

How his Protective True Qi and powerful physique hadn’t held up for a moment.

A clear and melodious voice rang out from afar.

"You, who sell your ass, what can you sell now?"

With even his ass gone.

Surely there was nothing left to sell.

Upon hearing these words, Fang Congyun felt that the physical pain could scarcely suppress the agony in his heart.

"I... I, you... you..."

His rage caused him to spew fresh blood from his mouth, falling to the ground and convulsing with pain, yet powerless to retaliate, his words stumbling.

Lin Huaiyu, on the other hand, turned her head sharply upon hearing that voice, her face blooming with a smile, like a lotus flower in the snow, brightening the world around her.

"Ping’an, I knew you wouldn’t leave me behind."

The joy and affection in her voice were palpable, even from dozens of yards away.

Zhou Ping’an still felt his heart tremble at the sound.

He thought to himself that the Third Miss rarely flirted,

But when she did, her words could lighten one’s bones by three taels,

Like a soft brush gently sweeping over the soles of the feet, making his skin crawl.

No one knew just how much Lin Huaiyu had thought during this short escape,

How worried she was for Little Jiu’er and the others facing danger,

Or even whether Zhou Ping’an’s sudden disappearance meant he had left without a word.

All sorts of emotions surged within her.

Lin Huaiyu had simply forced them deep into her heart, relying on one person, one sword, to embark on the road back home.

She wanted to save her little sister, and she wanted to see an ending.

Less than three miles away from the city,

She didn’t know how many sword strikes she had launched, how many deadly attacks she had blocked.

Even her extraordinary Qi-Blood was beginning to wane.

To call it the end of a spent force might be an exaggeration, but if the fight continued like this, she wouldn’t last much longer.

With all these negative emotions piling up, and facing a ruthless and cunning opponent like a wolf, like a fox, one could only imagine the pressure.

But the moment she heard Zhou Ping’an’s voice,

The Third Miss felt as if she were floating on clouds...

’He has come, and now, the matter should come to an end.’

Never before had Lin Huaiyu clearly seen her own heart, that the young man had already crashed into it unknowingly, and had long become her support.