Chapter 224
Chapter 224: Lending Aid
A brief silence filled the small courtyard atop the sheer mountain cliffs, and then Zheng Yun Feng finally spoke, his voice slow and steady: “I understand your intentions, junior sister. The Great Li Heavenly Brocade Guard is like an egg striking stone and will certainly reap what they’ve sown. You and I, bound by our sect’s unity, should stand firm together. In this battle, we shall erase the Great Li Dynasty’s Heavenly Brocade Guard from existence.”
Hearing his words, the gentle voice of the woman within the courtyard softly replied: “Senior brother, your righteousness is admirable. I know your birthday draws near, so as a small token of my sincerity, tomorrow I shall instruct my disciple to present a Divine Origin Pill as a gift. I hope senior brother will accept it kindly.”
At these words, Zheng Yun Feng, encircled by golden Qi, visibly trembled. In a low, earnest tone, he replied: “Junior sister, you’ve truly troubled yourself. The Divine Origin Pill is exceedingly difficult to refine; it enhances Heavenly Union Resonance and refines martial dao essence. Such a rare treasure—I shall gratefully accept it.”
He continued firmly, “Rest assured, junior sister. I myself shall personally take action and assist you in eliminating that former commander of the Great Li Heavenly Brocade Guard.”
From the empty space within the courtyard, the surrounding Qi gently stirred as the woman’s voice whispered back: “My heartfelt thanks, senior brother.”
As her voice faded, the invisible Qi formed into a clear shadow, soaring swiftly upwards until it vanished into the dense clouds pressing down from above the mountain’s peak.
…
Hundred Refinement Peak and Hundred Refinement City were separated by a mere twenty li. Riding swiftly under the starlit sky, the Grand Madam and her entourage of martial dao masters had already covered more than half the distance.
Yet at this moment, the sound of urgent hoofbeats thundered from the darkness ahead.
A rider raced forward through the misty gloom, holding high a flaming torch and rapidly approaching the Grand Madam’s group.
“Madam, he is from Hundred Refinement City Lord’s Manor,” an Elder from the Enforcement Hall informed respectfully, observing the approaching rider.
“For someone to ride in such haste at night, there must be urgent news. Halt him and inquire,” the Grand Madam spoke with a voice cold and commanding.
The City Lord of Hundred Refinement City was none other than her eldest son, Zheng Shang Zong. No matter the situation within Hundred Refinement City, she naturally had the right to question and intervene. Besides, she held a suspicion deep within her heart—the rider’s frantic pace could very well be connected to the death of Zheng Zi.
At this moment, the martial expert who had earlier been dispatched by the silver-haired elder from the City Lord’s Manor to deliver news to Hundred Refinement Peak immediately recognized the formidable group led by the Grand Madam. Hastily pulling hard on his reins, the rider’s steed reared up, its high-pitched whinny piercing through the silent mountain road.
Swiftly dismounting, the expert from the City Lord’s Manor knelt, his expression grave and voice trembling slightly under the gaze of the Enforcement Hall elder who asked, “Has something happened in Hundred Refinement City?”
“Reporting to Elder… City Lord Zheng has been murdered!” the martial expert said heavily, lowering his head further in distress.
At once, complete silence overtook the mountain road.
In the next instant, the carriage behind the Enforcement Hall elder exploded violently, reduced to powder. The Grand Madam, her lavish robes billowing, flashed forward in a terrifying gust of Qi, appearing instantly beside the kneeling martial artist.
The martial expert abruptly felt himself lifted by a terrifying force, floating helplessly mid-air as the Grand Madam’s voice roared beside his ear: “Repeat what you just said!”
Face flushed scarlet, struggling beneath the crushing martial Qi, he choked out the words again, “We found… City Lord Zheng and two elders… murdered in the street outside Hundred Fragrance Pavilion…”
Scarcely had he finished when another terrifying surge of energy flung him through the air, hurling him into a nearby mountain gully with a thunderous crash.
“Impossible! This is absolutely impossible!” The Grand Madam’s face turned stark white, shaking her head vehemently. “Shang Zong was a Heavenly Union Expert; how could he be killed so easily?”
The two Enforcement Hall elders exchanged looks, disbelief and shock spreading across their faces. Gradually, their expressions darkened, realizing that under their formidable presence, the martial expert from the City Lord’s Manor would not dare lie.
Yet it was utterly inconceivable—first Zheng Zi, and now Zheng Shang Zong had also been slain. Such tragic events had occurred within Fallen God Peak’s territory. What had truly happened in Hundred Refinement City? Who dared strike down both the Peak Lord’s sons, the City Lord and his younger brother, in such rapid succession?
One of the Enforcement Hall elders quickly moved, retrieving the martial artist from where he lay injured. After thoroughly questioning him again about the situation in Hundred Refinement City, the Grand Madam, overhearing every word, began to tremble violently, nearly collapsing from the devastating news.
Losing two sons in a single night—no one could endure such immense grief easily.
“Who was it? Who dared!” the Grand Madam’s face twisted horribly, a furious, murderous aura nearly materializing around her. Yet her eyes were flooded with a grief she could not hide, visibly aged beyond measure in an instant.
“Grand Madam, please calm yourself,” one of the elders gently consoled her, while the other spoke gravely, “This incident in Hundred Refinement City clearly goes beyond a simple dispute in a pleasure house. It seems the enemy seeks confrontation with Hundred Refinement Peak, or even the Peak Lord himself.”
Earlier, the message from the courtesan at Hundred Fragrance Pavilion clearly stated the murderer of Zheng Zi had arrogantly challenged the Peak Lord directly, demanding he personally seek revenge at the pavilion.
Though the elders had doubted the murderer’s sincerity—believing such words to be mere bravado—the deaths of Zheng Shang Zong and two elders now proved this foe was formidable.
“Continue onward… to Hundred Refinement City,” the Grand Madam fiercely commanded, suppressing her anguish. “Whoever killed my sons—I shall tear them apart!”
White hair streaming, she violently struck aside a disciple from Hundred Refinement Peak, seized his horse, and galloped furiously toward the city, her madness unleashed.
Seeing her reaction, the two Enforcement Hall elders exchanged solemn glances. “Follow her immediately. If the murderer remains in Hundred Refinement City, we’ll assist Grand Madam and cut them down.”
“Anyone daring to oppose Fallen God Peak will have their sect annihilated and family wiped from existence!”
With that, the two elders swiftly led the experts from Hundred Refinement Peak onward, closely trailing the grieving, vengeful figure of the Grand Madam.