61. Skill Approaches Artistry

Night had deepened.

Only Lu Xun remained in the room.

The lamp was dim, engulfed in complete darkness.

Lu Xun stood in the stillness, stretching out his arms to form the stance of the Ape Fist. His loose hair, silver-gray like snow, followed the flow of his muscles. With a sharp crack, his punch exploded with thunderous power. His footwork cycled rhythmically, and as he exerted force, roars like those of tigers and leopards echoed from his internal organs.

Not enough.

Lu Xun leapt, pushing open the window and stepping into the courtyard.

The moon hung high in the sky.

Miao Qianqian sat beneath a large banyan tree, legs crossed, cracking sunflower seeds. A big yellow dog was tied beneath the tree, shells scattered all around.

We had the driver haul the rhododendrons to the outskirts. The pungent, overwhelming stench was nauseating. These sinful, obscene trees burned, their red flames casting a bloody hue over our faces, making the world seem drenched in scarlet. Gradually, the entire patch of rhododendrons turned to ash and char.

After only a few steps, he furrowed his brow, looking ahead warily—he had heard noises coming from the stairwell.

Through writing, Iron Red Flame conveyed to Wu Xunsheng that, while she had been lying injured in her quarters before, she had more than once imagined coming here to fly kites with him.

Without a word, I went into the room and closed the door. But then I reconsidered—it didn’t feel safe. Surely the door wouldn’t have been trampled to pieces by now?

"Chu Rou, it’s really rare for you to take the initiative to call me," Wilson said with a hint of amusement.

Sure enough, he had his informants around him. Upon realizing this, Qi Ziyan’s eyes sharpened cautiously as he looked at the other man.

This man was Jun Moqing, an enemy of his own. The earlier scenes were all real—Ye Qingqing believed they were true as well.

In Yu Jinchen’s heart, no matter how erratic An’an behaved, she would always be his beloved little sister.

He studied the annotations on the I Ching written by the patriarch Zhou Dunyi. The I Ching was already obscure enough, but Zhou Dunyi’s explanations were even more bewildering. He elaborated on simple truths in a convoluted manner, revolving around the theory of the Taiji, continuously discussing issues between human nature and the Way of Heaven, leaving Lu Ping’s mind increasingly befuddled.

From waking up until now, he hadn’t washed or eaten and had made a trip to Lantian County, so his stomach was rumbling loudly. He grabbed a yellow steamed bun and took a bite. “Damn! So sour!” He couldn’t spit it out; Liu Laoer was right beside him. If he did, he’d be scolded for wasting food—a cowardly disgrace.

“Tang Ning, you really deserve to die!” Li Zhan’s face darkened upon hearing Tang Ning’s words, a sudden surge of anger rising within him.

“Do you want me to look after Lu Xia from now on?” Guo Nan was surprised; she hadn’t expected Lu Cang to want her to be inseparable from Lu Xia.

Feeling the sudden drop in temperature around him, Xia Dong finally panicked. The other party was completely fearless of the Kongming Sect. At this moment, all his confidence evaporated. He was so shocked he even forgot to draw his flying sword for defense.

Lian Haiping took several hurried steps back, barely able to believe the turn of events. His life’s trajectory had suddenly shifted here—without meeting Chen Xuanqing, he could never have obtained that Volume of the Ghost Technique. Everything afterward would cease to exist.

Sakata’s body suddenly twisted, the twin swords in his hands spinning to deflect Bista’s blade. At the same time, the second sword slashed directly toward Bista’s neck.

“Not here, gone out!” The man, apparently annoyed that I had spoiled his plan, said impatiently.

Gu Xi’nan fell back from the black space into reality, collapsing to the ground and writhing, her entire body contorted in agony. The pain was excruciating, but what truly terrified her was the sudden wild surge of several forces within her, running rampant like untamed horses. The stabbing, searing pain was indescribable.

As the flow of spiritual energy was restricted, an inexplicable force gradually strengthened. Li Yang immediately found himself in an extremely passive position. No longer mindful of his energy consumption, he threw consecutive punches, trying desperately to shatter the massive cauldron formed by the silver light.