Chapter 36

During the ranking period, a 360-degree roll for clicks and recommendation votes. ...

Nalan Ruyue was feeling a mix of nervousness and excitement at this moment.

This was her first time engaging in such a bandit-like operation. Ever since the ten million pounds of grain acquired from the Dragon Tiger Gate arrived, she had been closely monitoring the situation.

Tonight, she received news that the Dragon Tiger Gate was preparing to transport the grain out of Qingzhou City under the cover of darkness, with an unknown destination.

Ever since Bai Chen disrupted her mission and interfered with the cooperation between Seven Virtues and the Dragon Tiger Gate, Nalan Ruyue had marked Bai Chen in her little notebook, ready to take revenge at the first opportunity.

Now, the opportunity had finally come. Not only that, but her senior sister from the same sect had brought twenty Seven Virtues disciples.

This made Nalan Ruyue's activities in Qingzhou City much easier. At least, she could speak more firmly with the various sects and factions in Qingzhou City.

Nalan Ruyue stood on the branch of a tree by the roadside, accompanied by several graceful figures. One of them had eyes as bright as the moon, a red dot on her forehead, and bangs that reached her eyebrows. Her posture was ethereal, and she held two feathered swords, her beauty unmatched even in the darkness of night.

Gongsun Chenxing, one of the Seven Virtues of the Seven Virtues Pavilion, was a star dancer. At just twenty-three, she was already a先天高手 (先天高手 means "innate expert," but it's a term specific to martial arts fiction, so I'll translate it as "innate master"), specializing in the Seven Virtues' Rainbow Robe Technique. Her Rainbow Robe Sword Dance was famous throughout Jiangling, and few in the younger generation could match her.

Young martial artists from all over the江湖 (jianghu, a term referring to the world of martial arts and chivalry) would circle Jiangling City three times just to catch a glimpse of her.

Although Nalan Ruyue was also one of the Seven Virtues, in terms of prestige and personal cultivation, she was far behind Gongsun Chenxing.

"Ruyue, are you sure their route passes through here?"

"Of course," Nalan Ruyue nodded slightly. "My information is absolutely reliable. That person not only ruined our plan but also colluded with bandits, acting in a despicable manner. Such a villain deserves to be torn apart."

Gongsun Chenxing's eyebrows furrowed slightly, her voice calm but with a hint of disgust. "If this person is truly so despicable, then we should kill him. We of the Seven Virtues should uphold justice, and such a villain should not be allowed to harm others."

At that moment, a convoy slowly came into view. The convoy was quite large, with over a hundred carts, and a group of over a hundred guards in front and back.

The convoy bore the flag of a security company. Generally, such tasks of transporting grain and gold were entrusted to security companies by various sects and factions.

The Dragon Tiger Gate was no exception. Don't assume that a large sect like the Dragon Tiger Gate would lack manpower.

Although the Dragon Tiger Gate was the top sect in Qingzhou City, when it came to escorting goods, they were no match for a security company.

Security company personnel were skilled in human relations and diplomacy, adept at dealing with both the righteous and the underworld. If the Dragon Tiger Gate were to escort the goods, they would have to fight their way through, but a security company could ensure a smooth journey with a little money. The Dragon Tiger Gate understood the difference.

Gongsun Chenxing and Nalan Ruyue exchanged a glance, and Nalan Ruyue nodded slightly.

Gongsun Chenxing had already descended from the tree, landing like a celestial maiden, blocking the convoy.

"Leave the goods, and all of you, scram!"

Gongsun Chenxing didn't know how to rob, nor did she think about concealing her identity. Such a brazen act of highway robbery was truly audacious.

Nalan Ruyue and the twenty Seven Virtues disciples had also landed beside Gongsun Chenxing.

Each of the Seven Virtues disciples, though beautiful, had cold, stern expressions, their swords pointed at the convoy.

The curtain of the leading carriage was pulled back, and Bai Chen stepped out.

Seeing the many beautiful figures, his eyes lit up, and his gaze fell on Nalan Ruyue. "Miss Nalan, what are you up to? Are you short on money and resorting to highway robbery?"

"Highway robbery" was a term used by bandits, but for Nalan Ruyue and the Seven Virtues disciples, it was an insult.

Nalan Ruyue's face turned cold, and she pointed her sword at Bai Chen. "Enough talk. Do you want your money or your life?"

"Well, that's a tough choice," Bai Chen said with a difficult expression. "If I lose my life, I can get it back in the next life, but if I lose my money, I can't get it back in the next life."

"You won't shed a tear until you see the coffin!" Nalan Ruyue coldly snorted, her feet moving in a graceful step, her body rising like a flying crane, each step blooming like a flower.

The security guards, though skilled, were no match for Nalan Ruyue. Her steps were too intricate for them to block.

"Your Flower Step has improved greatly. It seems you have grasped its essence and are not far from perfection," Gongsun Chenxing observed, her voice filled with approval.

"Step on the flowers, and the fairy descends... Senior Sister Chenxing, is this the Flower Step?"

A younger Seven Virtues disciple looked at Nalan Ruyue's steps with stars in her eyes. "When can I learn the Flower Step?"

Gongsun Chenxing's lips curved slightly. "Once you reach the eighth stage of the innate realm, the sect master will naturally teach you the Flower Step."

The Flower Step was one of the Seven Virtues' entry-level lightness techniques, but even this entry-level technique was of the lower ninth rank, and only elite disciples could learn it.

The security guards couldn't stop Nalan Ruyue, and Bai Chen's mediocre skills were even less of a match. In a flash, Nalan Ruyue's sword tip was at Bai Chen's chest.

"Do you surrender or not?" Nalan Ruyue's face showed a hint of satisfaction. Each time she had spoken with Bai Chen, it had left her seething with anger. Now, she finally had the chance to humiliate him, which greatly pleased her.

Bai Chen grinned. Although Nalan Ruyue's movements were intricate, to someone with his mediocre skills, they were just a show. Bai Chen was best at straightforward, brutal fighting.

In a life-or-death situation, Bai Chen could afford to take risks, but others might not.

Bai Chen suddenly reached out to grab Nalan Ruyue. She coldly snorted and applied more force to her sword, confident that she could incapacitate Bai Chen before he could harm her.

Although her sword only had three-tenths of its full force, at such close range, it was enough to pierce Bai Chen's chest.

Unfortunately, Nalan Ruyue had underestimated Bai Chen. If she had known he practiced the Iron Shirt technique, she wouldn't have been so careless.

The sword tip barely penetrated before it was stopped by his iron-hard skin, but Bai Chen's arm continued forward, grabbing Nalan Ruyue's shoulder.

Nalan Ruyue was startled and tried to break free, but her shoulder felt like it was clamped in a vise, and she couldn't escape no matter how much strength she used.

"Miss Nalan, are you so eager to get close to me?"

Having gained the upper hand, Bai Chen's true nature was revealed, and he looked at Nalan Ruyue with a lecherous grin.

"You... let go!" Nalan Ruyue was furious, her eyes almost spitting fire.

Bai Chen was only at the sixth stage of the innate realm, while she was a ninth-stage near-expert, far superior to him.

She had thought defeating Bai Chen and making him beg for mercy would be easy, so she had been careless, which led to her current predicament.

Nalan Ruyue was both ashamed and angry, but she was helpless against Bai Chen's rogue tactics, wishing she could tear him apart.

Gongsun Chenxing let out a light hum and rushed at Bai Chen like a flying swallow.

Gongsun Chenxing was much faster than Nalan Ruyue. Bai Chen only saw a red blur before Gongsun Chenxing's sword appeared between him and Nalan Ruyue.

Bai Chen didn't have time to react. The sword's momentum forced him and Nalan Ruyue to retreat.

"Morning Dew Falls! Isn't that the 'Morning Dew Falls' from the Rainbow Robe Sword Dance?"

Bai Chen had to abandon his prey and retreat, as he sensed that if the sword landed, his arms would be severed.

Bai Chen didn't think his Healing Technique could regenerate severed limbs.

The sword was too sharp, forcing him to avoid its edge.

"Innate master?" Bai Chen had never truly fought an innate master, but Gongsun Chenxing's sword clearly demonstrated the release of true qi.

This made Bai Chen look at Gongsun Chenxing more closely. Her face was stern, and her sword stance exuded a heroic aura, making her even more striking in the night.

"Miss, you're too fierce for me to handle," Bai Chen said, unable to resist teasing her.

"Being able to subdue my junior sister in one move shows you're not an ordinary opponent. Show me your skills," Gongsun Chenxing said, unaffected by Bai Chen's taunts.

Bai Chen inwardly groaned. "You still think I'm an ordinary opponent? Innate masters shouldn't bully people like this."

"Senior Sister, be careful. This guy is very cunning. Don't fall for his tricks," Nalan Ruyue glared at Bai Chen.

Gongsun Chenxing remained calm, unaffected by Bai Chen's taunts or Nalan Ruyue's warnings.

"Watch my sword!"

Finally, Gongsun Chenxing moved again, sweeping her sword to Bai Chen's right side. The sword, imbued with true qi, created three sword flowers, each containing true qi, blooming in the air.

Bai Chen drew a sharp breath, and the Seven Virtues disciples cheered.

"Too beautiful. Senior Sister Gongsun's Rainbow Robe Sword Dance is truly the most beautiful."

"Of course. Otherwise, how could Senior Sister Gongsun be famous for the Rainbow Robe Sword Dance in Jiangling? This 'Intentional Falling Petals' is the essence of the dance. Only ten people in the Seven Virtues can perform it."

Bai Chen couldn't dodge in time. The three sword flowers exploded within three feet, and three powerful external forces surged toward him.

Bai Chen felt his chest boil, and he spat out a mouthful of blood, retreating several steps.

"Damn, you're serious?"

Gongsun Chenxing was unsatisfied with her results. She had used six-tenths of her true qi, yet only lightly injured him. In the past, this move had never failed to incapacitate any opponent below the innate realm, and even innate masters had to avoid its edge.

Gongsun Chenxing didn't pursue, but stepped back, and Nalan Ruyue watched the battle intently.

Seeing Gongsun Chenxing step back, Nalan Ruyue was startled. "What? Is Senior Sister going to use that move?"

"That move? Which move is Senior Sister going to use?"

"Which move? It can only be the seventh move of the Rainbow Robe Sword Dance."

In the Seven Virtues Pavilion, it was well-known that the Rainbow Robe Sword Dance had seven moves. The first move was "Morning Dew Falls," the second was "Moonset and Starfall," the third was "Dance of the Withered," the fourth was "Blossoms in Competition," the fifth was "Intentional Falling Petals," the sixth was "Morning and Evening Lament," and the seventh was the most exquisite, requiring great effort even for an early-stage innate master like Gongsun Chenxing to perform.

Feathered Robe of the Rainbow!

Gongsun Chenxing loosened her grip on the swords, but they didn't fall. Under her control, the swords began to spin rapidly in the air.

From Bai Chen's perspective, it looked like two blooming flowers, which was quite terrifying.

The two floating swords intertwined, forming a vivid, almost lifelike flower.

"Beautiful..."

The Seven Virtues disciples were entranced. These young women, in the prime of their lives, had never seen such a magnificent sight.

Some of the more perceptive disciples saw the danger hidden within.

This was not just a beautiful flower but a deadly blood flower.

However, Nalan Ruyue frowned, especially when she saw the sweat on Gongsun Chenxing's forehead, puzzled.

Why was her senior sister using this move against that guy? He didn't deserve such treatment.

Bai Chen finally understood the saying "the more beautiful, the more dangerous."

He didn't dare to be overconfident and activated his Iron Shirt technique, his arms turning red-hot as he slapped toward the vivid flower.

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