Chapter 356: The Plan

Chapter 356: The Plan

Hui fled at top speed, robes ragged and bloody. Li Xiang carried a pathetic Ying Lin behind him, all of them huddling together as they flew. Hui looked over his shoulder, then grit his teeth and jumped out in front of Li Xiang and Ying Lin. His sword clashed with a huge saber, and yellow petals swirled on the air.

You wont get away, you scum! Your Perfect Sword Technique belongs to me! Lu Xubo declared, shouting a little louder than absolutely necessary.

Li Xixi, go! Ill protect you! Hui shouted back. He panted. Blood ran down his face, and his limbs trembled with exhaustion, but he still managed to hold out against Lu Xubos powerful strike.

Xiao Xiaoxiao, Ill go, Li Xiang said flatly, tripping over her line. Unlike Huis passionate acting, she delivered the line stiffly and without feeling. She glanced at Hui, waiting for the next line.

Argh! I shouldve given Li Xiang the non-speaking role, damnit! I knew she couldnt lie, but for it to extend to acting argh! If only we had more time to test it

Too late to correct his mistake, Hui swallowed and went on with the show. He glared at Lu Xubo and lifted his sword. I I might not be able to stop you, but Ill at least keep you from obtaining the Peerless Sword Art!

The Peerless Sword Art is mine! Lu Xubo shouted, but his words came out somewhat bored. His attacks, on the other hand, flew with their usual weight and deadly precision. Hui desperately blocked. Even relying on his fifth-stage cultivations speed and occasional barrier talismans, he still accumulated wounds over his body.

Fuck! I know I told him to fight for real, since they might have a sword expert of their own whod be able to tell whether we fought for real or not, but this is too much! Couldnt you hold back a little, Elder Brother? Hui screamed silently, his arms aching as they flashed left and right to block Lu Xubos blows.

Eyes slightly maddened, Lu Xubo launched another flurry of blows. Yellow petals rained down on Hui, and a sweet scent filled the air. A low chuckle escaped his throat. As he attacked, he muttered to himself, Die, for daring to touch my Li Xiang!

Hey! Hey now! Thats not part of the script! Elder Brother, now is not the time for your inevitable betrayal, okay?

Using all his strength, Hui blocked Lu Xubos blow or so it appeared, anyways. Lu Xubo, like the rest of Li Xiangs followers, had appeared to only be at fourth stage, and fighting him, Hui could tell he wasnt disguising his cultivation. Honestly, its impressive that Li Xiang and her followers have managed to hold out for so long, with Wang Xiu out searching for them. I imagine they would have been caught long ago, if not for Li Xiangs extraordinary strength and the help of the mysterious senior in the secret realm.

Honestly I should be thankful that hes only fourth-realm! Lu Xubo isnt Li Xiang, but hes clearly sought the path of the sword for much longer than myself. Beating him should be childs play okay, well, if I used my full strength and my talismans, it would be. But the fact that hes able to scrape my skin is impressive! or would be, if I wasnt in the soft-skinned plant form, and only had a small fraction of my true cultivation in this clone.

Hes basically just a normal fourth-stage cultivator with some nice swordplay, huh.

Hui shook his head, suddenly much less impressed by Lu Xubo. So it seems being a sword cultivator isnt all there is to fighting above ones level. One must be an extraordinary sword cultivator, like Li Xiang, to pull that off. When it comes to Lu Xubo and his ilk even this humble cultivator can defeat him.

Hmm, I wonder if I could beat Li Xiangs entire six-color squad? I have a squad of clones myself, after all

No, no, no, Hui. What am I thinking? Even if I can crush them, what about their families, clans, sects? Theres no guarantee there isnt an expert somewhere in their lineage. Step softly. Unless they provoke me, theres no need to go around beating people up!

Was I infected by Wang Xius hot-bloodedness? What a dangerous thought!

Scowling, Lu Xubo hammered down at Hui. Youre stronger than you look! But Ill break through that guard!

Li Xixi, run! Hui shouted, pretending to falter under Lu Xubos blows.

Li Xiang nodded and flew off at a pedestrian pace, a pace even a mortal would struggle to not pass. Hui resisted the urge to put a hand to his forehead. Cant I get at least one good actor in this world?

Right on cue, as Li Xiang flew ever-so-slowly away from Hui and Lu Xubos fight, the treasured ship floated past behind her. She glanced at Hui, tilting her head.

Yes, yes, now is the time! Go! Say it!

Li Xiang gave him a blank look.

Did you forget your line? Ah, dammit, theres a limit to these things! Hui cleared his throat.Li Xixi, please! You have to get away! Someone should save you.

Li Xiangs eyes lit up. Ah, cant anyone save us? Carrying Ying Lin, who continued to dramatically lie limp in her arms, she flew toward the ship.

Oh? Hui asked, as if he didnt know.

Ji Taiyu! Watch your tongue, one of the other cultivators barked.

On closer inspection, all the other cultivators aside from Ji Taiyu and Bao Huli wore the same robes. Their robes were faded and old, clearly not in their best shape. The strongest few among the entourage had cultivation bases at the fourth stage, though most remained at third.

Ah, I apologize, Ji Taiyu said, bowing.

Were grateful to sir for providing his treasured ship, but please, be mindful of hidden dangers, the second cultivator said, glancing at Hui, Li Xiang, and the slowly reviving Ying Lin. Unlike Li Xiang, Ying Lin committed to her role, and blinked around blearily at the world as she woke up.

Hmm, let me guess what happened. Ji Taiyu somehow acquired a treasured ship due to that luck of his. As he flew along, he encountered the beloveds party. Seeing as theyre ragged and worn, they seem to be from a small, weak sect, not the kind who can provide a treasured ship for travel. Being a righteous man, Ji Taiyu naturally offered to carry them to their destination in relative safety, and as Bao Huli and Ji Taiyu both seem to have weak cultivations, they had no reason to refuse.

Ah, I miscalculated. I thought theyd be a rich sect since they had a treasured shipI didnt expect a poor sect, who would see me and Li Xiang as serious threats, even if I suppressed my cultivation to fourth stage. Although, thinking about it, it makes sense. The beloved is the one who pressured Chen Xigui into marriage, sight unseen. If she was in a good place, she wouldnt have to clutch so desperately at strings. I thought it was merely because she looked elderly and had an illness, but, well the cultivation world takes all types! If she truly wanted to marry anyone with some power, Im sure she could find someone willing to marry her, as long as she had money and backing. But with no money, no backing, and her unfortunate circumstances truly, Chen Xigui may be her only chance to marry well!

Should I commend her for her negotiation skills? How unfortunate, then, that Chen Xigui is such scum! Though if he didnt have a flaw, I doubt he wouldve agreed to her conditions. In the end, its an unfortunate situation one way or another.

Hui coughed weakly, spitting up a bit of blood. As you can see, Elder Brothers, were no threat.

Li Xiangs brow twitched. Hui glanced at her. Say nothing. Say nothing!

He coughed again. Could we ride with you to safety? We wont stay long. Its just that if we go out again He gazed off the ship to the horizon where Lu Xubo had vanished and trembled slightly.

Naturally, Ji Taiyu said. He reached into his robes. Do you need more pills?

No, no, small cultivator is fine, Hui said quickly. If I take much more from Ji Taiyu, Ill feel like Song Weilai! Its too easy to take advantage of this man!

Ji Taiyu, the fourth stage cultivator said warningly. He bore the appearance of a sect elder of some sort, in long, flowing robes, a long, white beard, and long, white hair.

I cannot turn my back to either of you. However, I pledge that I will do my utmost to keep you all safe, Ji Taiyu said.

The sect elder frowned. Theyre fourth stage. What can a third stage like you do?

Ji Taiyu glanced at Bao Huli. She glanced up, startled. A warm smile spread over his face. Im sure Ill find a way.

Bao Huli moved to his side. Does Master need something?

No, no, Ji Taiyu assured her gently.

Hui squinted. Come to think of it, Ji Taiyus cultivation has improved by leaps and bounds since I last saw him a few days ago. It hasnt improved much, but for the time we were apart, its remarkable. Is dual-cultivating with a fifth stage fox beast so beneficial?

He glanced at Bao Huli, to find her scowling at him. She quickly turned away and disguised her expression, but under her breath, she muttered, So many uglies intruding on my love nest with Master hmph!

Hui pressed his lips together. Could it be? Is this treasured ship less the result of Ji Taiyus luck and more a concerted effort on Bao Hulis part?

Er anyways. Lets not think about it too much.

A faint voice echoed out from deep in the ship. I would like to meet our new guests.

Ya Ai? Are you sure? the elder asked.

No more sound emanated from the ship. The elder reluctantly stepped back, gesturing for the three of them to follow him. Come with me. If you act strangely at all, I will not hesitate to end your lives.