Chapter 40

In the fragrant April, when peach blossoms were in full bloom, Ling Xiao and Xiaoming, two young boys barely in their teens, were desperately running through the vast fields filled with the sounds of birds and the scent of flowers. They were ordinary kids from the special training camp of the Jinyiwei, never striking at their opponents' vital points during battles, always leaving a bun for the younger siblings who had no food, and both were very smart, knowing that one should hold the guard's hands while the other strangled him when escaping!

It was precisely because they were smart that they knew it was almost impossible to escape safely with the Jinyiwei's capabilities. However, understanding was one thing, and doing it was another. Life should always be filled with hope to be happier.

To increase even the slightest chance of escape, the two boys ran in different directions with great默契 (默契 means默契, but in this context, it can be translated as 'coordination' or 'understanding'). They both knew that doing so would only delay the time it took for them to be found, but sometimes the world was just so unpredictable.

Ling Xiao met Ling Lingfa during this limited time, and Xiaoming seemed to have a different encounter as well. Once, when he asked Qinglong, Qinglong vaguely indicated that Xiaoming had better luck than him!

Ling Xiao did not press further. Though they had shared life and death, they were ultimately just fellow sufferers. Now, as they met again, they naturally recalled the resolute moment when peach blossoms were in full bloom.

Ling Xiao was about to wave a greeting but saw Xiaoming put his finger to his lips, gently shaking his head and pointing to Ye Gucheng. Ling Xiao smiled in understanding and continued to focus on the scene.

"I advise you not to make a move," Ye Gucheng placed the teacup on the table and slowly raised his head, speaking earnestly. Perhaps the Tang brothers thought he was begging for mercy or insulting them, but Ling Xiao could hear the sincerity in his voice.

Tang Fei snorted, "Who in the martial world isn't afraid of the Tang Sect's hidden weapons and poisons?" His proud lips curled up, and he lifted his head with confidence.

Ye Gucheng smiled, the first time since entering the scene. "You should indeed be proud, for the Tang Sect's hidden weapons are truly the best in the world! But I am not marveling at the Tang Sect's hidden weapons; I am lamenting your ignorance. You are just an ant and cannot represent the Tang Sect. If the Tang Sect's matriarch were here today, I would show her the respect she deserves. But you do not deserve it!"

Before Tang Fei could respond, Tang Ao crushed the teacup in his hand and stood up, shouting angrily, "You won't be arrogant for long! Let me tell you, we have already poisoned your tea!"

Everyone was shocked. The tea was clearly freshly brewed, and in such a short time, the Tang brothers had managed to poison it without anyone noticing! The Tang Sect's poisoning skills were indeed well-deserved!

"Are they just bluffing?" Princess Feifeng bit her lower lip, worried.

Wuqing, unable to bear seeing her friend worried, said, "Although the Tang brothers are minor figures in the Tang Sect, the Tang Sect has its own pride. If they say they have poisoned it, they have. But you don't need to worry too much, because that poison won't be effective against Ye Gucheng!"

"Why are you so sure?" Ling Xiao asked in surprise.

Wuqing glanced at him with her eyes and did not answer. Ling Xiao's lips twitched, and he silently thought, "I am a tough man and won't argue with a difficult woman."

Lu Xiaofeng watched the scene with a sense of schadenfreude, "I don't know what poison Ye Gucheng has been poisoned with, but most of the Tang Sect's poisons have no antidote. However, no antidote doesn't mean certain death! Especially for a master like Ye Gucheng, the Tang brothers don't understand his level! There are few poisons in this world that Ye Gucheng can't expel."

Indeed, as Lu Xiaofeng said, Ye Gucheng smiled and lowered his head, picking up the teacup and drinking it all in one go. "A speck of dust, how can it be a poison? I have drunk it. I still advise you not to make a move. Because once my sword is drawn, it will surely draw blood. I hope you don't regret it."

"Are you really not afraid?" Tang Fei's face was dark, his eyes shooting murderous intent, his hands gripping the black robe, trembling slightly. Outsiders might not understand or even think he was trembling out of fear, but Tang Ao, standing beside him, had already risen and moved slightly, knowing it was the prelude to an attack.

The Tang Sect's hidden weapons are famous not only for their unique design and powerful force but also for their bizarre techniques. Even if outsiders learned the manufacturing methods, they could not unleash their true power. As the saying goes, always imitated, never surpassed!

Ye Gucheng did not respond, even placing his sword and scabbard on the table. This blatant contempt finally enraged Tang Fei.

Tianluo Diwang Ding!

With a loud shout, Tang Fei opened his black robe, disregarding his appearance, and leaped onto the table like an ugly toad. His body spun rapidly, the black robe becoming a huge cloak, which flapped and created a fierce wind. In an instant, a hurricane surged, and countless cold stars shot out from the cloak, like the Milky Way pouring down from the heavens!

The violent wind made it impossible for Princess Feifeng to open her eyes, while the others stared intently at Ye Gucheng. Everyone knew that Tang Fei was not worth the effort, but this was a perfect opportunity to observe Ye Gucheng's sword skills up close. A proud man like Ye Gucheng would surely control his sword energy to avoid injuring anyone. Yes, he should, right!

Ye Gucheng's teacup had not even been put down when the brilliant Milky Way was already right before him!

Ding!

A clear clanging sound rang out. No one saw where the sword light came from, and no one noticed when Ye Gucheng drew his sword. The brilliant Milky Way was split into a sky full of stars, no, meteors! Because they flew towards the surrounding onlookers!

"Damn! Innocent civilians are being harmed!" Ling Xiao shouted, pulling out a large, face-sized strong magnet from his bag. The numerous meteors flying towards Ling Xiao suddenly changed direction in mid-air and cleanly struck the magnet. Upon closer inspection, these were sharp steel needles, shimmering with a blue cold light!

Wuqing frowned, and an invisible force spread out, causing the countless steel needles to violate the laws of physics, suddenly suspending in the air as if they had no inertia.

On the other side, the old man with a cane, who usually appeared frail, suddenly transformed into a blur of old age, allowing the meteors to slide past him without touching his clothes.

The most relaxed was Lu Xiaofeng, who kept one hand behind his back and waved the other in front of him, creating a shadow. The meteors seemed to collide with his fingers on their own, and the highly toxic steel needles could not make his fingers even slightly red.

The hurricane, no matter how fierce, eventually calmed down. Ling Xiao looked around, "Wow! Each has their own skills and methods. It seems every village has its own unique ways!"

Suddenly, he remembered a childhood friend and turned to look at Xiaoming. He saw Xiaoming's neat clothes undisturbed, slowly sheathing his sword with a cool and handsome demeanor, while the steel needles that had turned into stars fell three feet in front of him.

"What kind of dog shit did this kid step on? How can his martial arts be so high!" Ling Xiao was filled with envy and jealousy!

Ding!

Ye Gucheng gently placed the teacup down. Tang Fei still had a serious expression, but his once sharp eyes had lost their luster!