Chapter 93: Same Bed, Different Dreams (5)

Shen Gong Mobi.

Known as the second-in-command of Hei Jiecheng due to his outstanding combat skills, which were bolstered by his monstrous archery.

There she was, standing there.

...

However, she was not the Mobi that Lian Huozheng knew.

She was like Bai Gongtian, with honest emotions visible on her stoic face. It was...

Despair.

Kuang!

An iron arrow, slicing through the air, created a long furrow in the ground and split a rock.

The mark was half a zhang wide, a sight that seemed impossible to have been made by a single arrow.

"Bai Xiaojing!"

Paba!

Bai Gongtian's body left countless afterimages.

He moved in all directions—across the ground, through trees, branches, and rocks—closing the distance. Even in his rage, he used his superior lightness skill to methodically pressure his opponent.

His martial arts, honed and practiced throughout his life, were such that he did not recklessly charge in anger. Even amidst burning killing intent, the archer's unique calmness stood out.

"Hmph!"

The middle-aged woman gave a short, derisive laugh and drew her bowstring.

Peng! Peng! Peng! Peng! Peng!

Flames erupted in a three-zhang radius in front of the approaching Bai Gongtian.

Lian Huozheng's eyes wavered.

'Fireworks?'

She launched several arrows with fireworks attached, creating a large circular wall of fire between her and the enemy.

For a master like Bai Gongtian, the fireworks did no harm. However, they were excellent for disorienting the opponent and temporarily blocking the view.

Teng!

Bai Gongtian instinctively retreated.

Peng! Sui!

An iron arrow, breaking through the unextinguished fireworks, grazed Bai Gongtian's shoulder.

Due to the rapid firing, the power was not strong, but it was enough to tear a chunk of flesh. If it had been imbued with the power of a Longya Cannon, his left arm would have been completely severed.

"Using such despicable tricks!"

"After waiting for so long and thinking you were dead, you're still alive?"

Bai Gongtian's face turned red with anger.

He had intended to go and assassinate Bai Xiaojing with the box given by Gao Ping. Now it seemed that Bai Xiaojing had known about it.

Charging at an opponent who knew all his plans? It would mean certain death. Even if there was a significant skill gap, the opponent was also a royal archer, with top-notch shooting skills.

"You have turned the Yi Shen Hezhan into a petty and despicable struggle. There has never been anyone like you in the history of Guan Yiqu!"

"Ha! You, who hate Guan Yiqu more than anyone else!"

"Why didn't you just poison him!"

"Hah! I need to prove my ability by embedding an arrow in the head of the strongest royal archer!"

"Yi...! I will definitely kill you!"

Tiririring! Peng!

Dozens of arrows sliced through the air, turning the area into a death zone.

The battle had reached a critical point, a chaotic fight where no one could intervene.

But Lian Huozheng had no interest in their fight.

Sap.

"Ah!"

Startled, Bai Xiang stood up and drew her bowstring.

Her speed was incredible, matching Bai Gongtian's readiness for shooting.

Bai Xiang's face showed panic.

"Who, who are you?!"

Lian Huozheng almost called out Mobi's name without thinking.

'Still the same.'

Mobi, despite being over fifty, looked like she was in her early thirties. This was due to her deep cultivation and her naturally youthful appearance.

'Still the same, that stance.'

Lian Huozheng, transported back to the past, felt as if he had been summoned back to the dark era of Hei Jiecheng. Mobi's unchanged face and stance made him feel like he was back in that dark era.

At the same time, he could completely separate his identity as Hei Jiecheng.

It was because of Mobi's eyes.

'She's afraid.'

Her eyes were filled with fear, and her honest emotions were transmitted without any filter.

Bai Xiang, without a word, shouted at Lian Huozheng, who was looking at her.

"Whoever you are, run away! You might die if you don't!"

Her voice was filled with emotion.

'Could you really shout like that?'

Lian Huozheng shook his head.

"Lower your bow."

"You're not listening? Run away now!"

"I understand, lower your bow. I'm not your enemy."

"A..."

Only then did she realize she was aiming an arrow at him. Bai Xiang lowered her bow.

Lian Huozheng's eyes deepened. Now that they had met, he had nothing to say.

But one thing was certain.

"You shouldn't be here. Get out of the way."

"What, what do you mean?"

"Get out of the way."

Bai Xiang's face, filled with fear and panic, showed a hint of determination.

"I'll escort you to the foot of the mountain. Move quickly!"

At that moment.

Peng!

A hole appeared in the tree above Bai Xiang's head.

It was a dangerous moment. She lowered her stance.

Peng!

The iron arrow that pierced the tree embedded itself in front of Lian Huozheng's feet.

It was not Bai Gongtian but Bai Xiaojing's arrow. She had shot it while engaging the enemy, aiming to kill Bai Xiang.

It was a life-or-death competition where everyone had to be eliminated. The battle was filled with killing intent, despite the name of the competition.

Bai Xiang ran towards Lian Huozheng.

'Sure enough.'

She was incomparably faster than when she was one of the Five Great Generals of Hei Jiecheng.

But she was still fast. Her thoroughly honed basics, not just in archery but also in lightness skills, were ready to be the best in the world.

"I'm sorry!"

Flash!

Bai Xiang's body appeared behind Lian Huozheng.

She had run forward but suddenly appeared behind him. It was an incredible lightness skill.

Her hand aimed for Lian Huozheng's neck, intending to knock him out and carry him away.

At that moment, Lian Huozheng's hand moved like a snake. It was the technique he used to neutralize Nangong Shanghua in his first real battle after regaining his memories.

Peng!

"Ouch!"

Bai Xiang's eyes showed surprise. Her pressure point had been grabbed.

"Ah!"

Lian Huozheng took a short breath and spun at an incredible speed. Bai Xiang's body also cut through the air at a high speed.

Kuang!

Bai Xiang's body hit the ground.

Despite the loud noise, she had not been injured. The Bila Zhen Qi protected her body perfectly.

Bai Xiang looked up at Lian Huozheng with a puzzled expression, not understanding what had happened.

Lian Huozheng's hand moved.

Paba!

"Ah!"

Bai Xiang's body stiffened. Three pressure points had been pressed.

Lian Huozheng looked at his fingers. They were trembling.

'Incredible inner strength.'

The amount of inner strength was terrifying. The force was so strong that he thought his fingers would break. It was better and more abundant than any expert sent by the Ming family, except for Ming Tian.

Without the specialized technique derived from Xuntou Jing, he would not have been able to press the points properly.

Lian Huozheng placed Bai Xiang's body on his shoulder.

"What are you doing?!"

"A soldier who doesn't want to fight the enemy is not needed on the battlefield."

Bai Xiang's eyes wavered.

As Lian Huozheng said, she could not aim her bow at Bai Gongtian and Bai Xiaojing.

The reason was simple and clear. To her, they were family, friends, and teachers.

Not just them, but all the royal archers participating in this competition were the same.

"Put me down! Quickly release my pressure points!"

"You'll die if you do."

Kuang!

Lian Huozheng's body flew into the air. A large hole was left where he had been standing.

"What's that?"

Pala!

Bai Xiaojing approached at an incredible speed, with Bai Gongtian chasing her. His body was covered in blood, and his lightness skill was unsteady, looking very dangerous.

Kadak!

Despite her fast lightness skill, her stance for drawing the bowstring was steady. It was the martial art of a royal archer, perfected through great effort.

Bai Xiaojing shouted.

"Let her go!"

Lian Huozheng's eyes flared.

Tiiing! Kuang!

The tree behind Lian Huozheng exploded.

Bai Xiaojing's eyes widened.

'What?'

She thought she had grabbed Bai Xiang, but the man who had carried her was nowhere to be seen.

'Where did he go?'

At that moment.

'...?'

His body felt heavy.

A dark fog seeped into his limbs, binding his bones. The air became thick, and his movements slowed.

'What is this?'

It was killing intent. Enormous killing intent was pouring down like a rain from above.

Papa!

Bai Xiaojing, slowing down, looked up.

Her face showed shock.

Pala!

Her leg, which had been raised, was falling from the heel.

It was a ruthless kick, like an axe. It felt as if a real axe was being swung, with immense killing intent and inner strength.

If she stayed still, her face would be shattered. Bai Xiaojing quickly leaped backward.

Lian Huozheng's foot hit the ground.

Kuang!

The fragments of wood, branches, and leaves on the ground were all lifted into the air, covering an area of nearly five zhang.

Bai Xiaojing's face turned pale.

'Such a monster!'

He was an incredible expert. He seemed to be on par with Bai Gongtian, the strongest royal archer.

Not only that.

Huk!

As she retreated, she drew her bowstring, but Lian Huozheng was already in front of her.

It was an unbelievable speed. He had closed a distance of three zhang in the blink of an eye. Even Bai Xiang, who had mastered Longbi Shengxing the most among the royal archers, could not achieve such speed.

Bai Xiaojing released her bowstring.

At the same time, Lian Huozheng's hand moved like lightning.

Kadak!

The arrow did not leave the bowstring. It was stuck in the middle of the bow, vibrating.

The arrow had not gained enough force before Lian Huozheng's hand grabbed its fletching.

Not only that. Lian Huozheng, having blocked the attack by grabbing the arrow, folded his arm and struck Bai Xiaojing's collarbone.

Peng! Kuang!

"Ke!"

A large tree was indented. Bai Xiaojing staggered and stood up.

At that moment, a voice filled with anger thundered.

"Don't kill her! Cough! She's mine!"

Paa!

It was unknown where he got such strength. Bai Gongtian, pushing Lian Huozheng's shoulder, kicked Bai Xiaojing in the abdomen.

Peng!

"Ke!"

Bai Xiaojing, spitting blood, hit the tree again and fell.

Bai Gongtian's left arm pressed Bai Xiaojing's shoulder, and his right knee pressed her abdomen.

"Ke..."

In an instant, she was rendered unable to fight.

When Lian Huozheng grabbed the arrow, the bowstring broke, and her hand bones shattered. A simple swing of his arm broke her collarbone.

Most critically, Bai Gongtian's powerful kick had devastated her internal organs. It was a fatal injury that could kill her immediately.

Kadak!

Bai Gongtian, with an arrow aimed at Bai Xiaojing's face, panted and gritted his teeth.

"Damn bitch. I'll kill you!"

"Ke! Ka!"

Bai Xiaojing smiled. Despite the blood foam at the corner of her mouth, she wore a malicious grin.

"If it weren't for that bastard, I would have won."

"Shut up! From the beginning, you...!"

"Really? You used your head too much, but thinking about it, I don't think I would have lost to a moron who can't recognize his own flesh and blood."

"..."

Bai Xiaojing burst into laughter.

"Who knows if that girl is really your daughter?"

Bai Gongtian's eyes turned bloodshot.

Tears welled up in his bloodshot eyes.

"Uaaaaa!"

Peng!

Bai Xiaojing's head shattered into pieces.