Chapter 28

As the cherry blossoms danced in the wind, Misaki opened the old diary and read the words of promise written there.

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Bao Bu Tong, the troublemaker, upon hearing Wang Yuyan's words, twirled his little mustache and shook his head, saying, "Not so, not so. Miss Wang has admired the young master for years; how can she be so heartless? Is it that Miss Wang has fallen for someone else, or is there some hidden reason? Fellow martial artists are all here, and I believe so many righteous people will uphold justice for you."

Bao Bu Tong's malicious intentions were clear; he wanted to pin the crime of forcibly marrying another man's wife on Li She. Although in the Song Dynasty, it was not uncommon for uncles to seduce their nieces or stepmothers, such things were still unspeakable secrets.

At this moment, Lady Wang stepped forward and shouted, "Hmph, what right does a mere servant of the Murong family have to speak so much nonsense? The Wang family is a prominent household in Jiangnan. Although Yuyan grew up with Murong Fu, she never overstepped the bounds of propriety. Our Wang family has a long-standing friendship with the Li family, and we have already arranged a marriage. It is a proper and legitimate union! You have no right to defame us."

At this point, Li She, as the husband, naturally had to step forward. He clasped his hands and said, "Young Master Murong, the Li family may not be a noble family, but we are still a prominent household. Now, Yuyan is the Li family's young lady. I hope you will respect yourself!"

Ah Bi, seeing the Wang family mother and daughter working together and her young master looking awkward, could not hold back her anger and immediately shouted, "What do you mean by a proper and legitimate union? Isn't it just that you, this pretty boy, have your eyes on the Wang family's vast wealth? You must have used some despicable means. Miss Wang, have you really fallen for someone else? How can you be so unfaithful to our young master?"

Ah Bi, who had never been involved in the martial world, did not understand what the identity of the owner of "Heavenly World" represented. However, the martial artists present all knew. The Wang family was merely a small household compared to the Li family. It was impossible for them to be interested in the Wang family's wealth. Now, "Heavenly World" had branches all over the south and north.

Wang Yuyan, seeing Bao Bu Tong and Ah Bi continuously attack Li She, could no longer bear it. Before Li She could speak, she said, "To say that Li Lang is interested in the Wang family's wealth is not as plausible as saying that the Murong family has been eyeing the Wang family's wealth for years. Young Master Murong, you should be clear about this, right?"

Murmong Fu was taken aback. The Wang Yuyan before him seemed like a different person. The Wang Yuyan who used to be infatuated with him and would be overjoyed just to see him now spoke with confidence and dignity, which made Murong Fu feel a bit uncomfortable.

Ding Chunqiu, seeing Li She interrupt his plan to kill Duan Yanqing, revealed a sinister smile and said, "Ha ha ha! Li She, I see that you have extraordinary physical qualities, making you a prime candidate for martial arts. I, the great immortal of Xingxiu, have unparalleled skills. Why don't you join my Xingxiu Sect? Otherwise, you will surely face a bloody disaster."

Ding Chunqiu's disciples, seeing Li She's luxurious carriage and Wang Yuyan's celestial beauty, all shouted, "Right! Li She, our great immortal values you. Why don't you quickly join our Xingxiu Sect and learn the supreme immortal techniques? Otherwise, you will surely face a bloody disaster!"

Li She's aura of authority suddenly emerged. He glared at Ding Chunqiu and said in a deep voice, "Ding Chunqiu, go back to where you came from! Don't try to deceive me. Although you are feared for your poison, I, Li She, am not afraid! I may not have much, but I have plenty of money! If I offer ten million taels of silver for your head, how many people will rush to take action? Even the Western Xia and Tubo might send troops to eliminate you!"

Money has always been able to make the impossible possible. It's not that subordinates won't betray, but the price of betrayal hasn't been high enough. Ding Chunqiu's face turned green upon hearing Li She's words. Today, Li She had brought over five hundred martial artists, and he had no confidence in killing them all. Seeing the dozens of archers, he dared not make a move. If Li She left alive and really offered ten million taels of silver for his head, he would face endless assassinations. It was uncertain whether the Western Xia and Tubo would send troops to besiege the Xingxiu Sea.

Ding Chunqiu said menacingly, "Hmph, ignorant child, you will regret this. You will see the power of the great immortal."

Li She ignored the black-faced Ding Chunqiu, stepped over Duan Yanqing, and sat down. He casually picked up a white stone and placed it on a dead area. Su Xinghe, seeing Li She's authoritative demeanor and his fearlessness in the face of Ding Chunqiu, was quite pleased. Li She's appearance naturally met the standards of the Xianxiao Sect. However, after seeing Li She's move, he immediately thought Li She was a superficial fool.

Duan Yu, seeing Li She's move, also shook his head in secret. This was a move that would lead to his own downfall, as it squeezed to death a large area of his own white stones.

Murmong Fu watched Li She with a mocking smile. He thought, "Hmph, let that cheap woman Wang Yuyan see how ignorant you are!"

"Hey! So this Li Shao is rich but illiterate? Even I, a mere maid, know that this move is a dead end," Ah Bi said sarcastically.

Wang Yuyan and Lady Wang looked confident. Su Xinghe, seeing Li She's indifferent attitude, was so angry that his beard stood up. He used ventriloquism to say, "This is the precious chess setup left by my late master. Young man, you are making random moves. Fine! I will wipe out all your white stones!"

"Ha ha ha, old sir, life and death, death and life, if you cannot see through life and death, how can you solve the precious chess setup? Standing at different heights, you see different landscapes. You see me in a desperate situation, but I see a way out! Without the courage to cut off one's own arm, how can one achieve ultimate victory?" Li She said with a smile.

As the current successor of the Divine Thief Sect, Li She was proficient in music, chess, calligraphy, painting, and antique appraisal. The precious chess setup in modern times has over a hundred variations. As long as one can see through life and death, one can turn defeat into victory.

Hearing Li She's words, Su Xinghe also got angry and said, "Fine, I will see how you turn defeat into victory!"

For a moment, black and white stones alternated, and the two armies clashed. The white stones, surrounded by black stones, were killed in large numbers but then found a way out, turning the tide. When Li She placed the last stone, the white stones on the board cut off the black dragon in the middle.

"Ha ha! Old sir, I may not be talented, but I have just won you by one point!" Li She said with a smile.

Su Xinghe, who had been using ventriloquism, laughed loudly upon seeing Li She's victory, "Ha ha ha, ha ha ha, good! Good! You have won me by one point, you have won me by one point!"

Ding Chunqiu, seeing Su Xinghe's laughter, immediately shouted, "Su Xinghe, have you forgotten your oath? You vowed never to speak to a third person. You have broken your vow, so you should hand over the 'Northern Sea Divine Skill' to me!"

Su Xinghe stood up and glared at Ding Chunqiu, "Hmph, Ding Chunqiu, you traitor, you forced me to take that oath. You said that if I ever spoke to a third person, I would have to hand over the sect's divine skill to you, or face the wrath of heaven. Ha ha ha, now that the precious chess setup is solved, my wish is fulfilled."

Turning to Li She, he said, "Young Master Li, you have solved the precious chess setup. I will give you a great opportunity. Go ahead."

Thinking Li She had no martial arts skills, Su Xinghe pushed him towards the back wall. The seemingly solid rock wall was broken by Li She's head. Ding Chunqiu, seeing this, immediately guessed that Wuyazi was not dead.

Ding Chunqiu gathered his strength and struck Su Xinghe with both palms. Su Xinghe reached out and grabbed the chess pieces, using a sophisticated hidden weapon technique to attack Ding Chunqiu's vital points.

Ding Chunqiu's movements were momentarily blocked by the sudden chess pieces, slowing him down. The two engaged in a fierce battle. Sand and stones flew, and palm forces clashed. Ding Chunqiu's poison skills were extraordinary, with a greenish-black poison gas surrounding him. Su Xinghe, being from the same sect as Ding Chunqiu, knew his techniques well. He had been researching ways to counter Ding Chunqiu, and for a while, neither could gain the upper hand. Li She's bodyguard leader shouted, "Protect the lady!"

Over five hundred people immediately surrounded Wang Yuyan and Lady Wang, with strong archers on all sides.

Meanwhile, Li She entered a dark cave and saw a handsome middle-aged man with black hair and a face like a jade crown. The man was sitting in mid-air, looking like a celestial being. Li She knew this was Wuyazi.

The man, who had been closed-eyed, opened his eyes and looked at Li She with surprise. Li She's martial arts skills had reached a state of simplicity and purity, which Murong Fu could not see, but Wuyazi, the old master, could see clearly.

"Hmm! Handsome and talented, to reach such a level at such a young age is rare, rare! Child, come closer," Wuyazi said.

Suddenly, the ropes around Wuyazi's body wrapped around Li She, bringing him to Wuyazi's front. "Child, did you solve the precious chess setup?"

Li She did not