Misty Rain of the Old Times

As the battle outside began, Chen Xuan warned, "Wife, Miss Zheng, the following scenes are a bit bloody. If you don't want to be traumatized, it's best not to watch, otherwise you might have nightmares for a long time."

"Yes, there's really nothing interesting about fighting and killing," the little princess nodded, her expression somewhat stiff. When Lang Jingfeng made his move, the blade of light tore apart those who couldn't avoid it, and the sight of severed limbs mixed with blood and screams made her feel somewhat uncomfortable.

The scene was too cruel; she, who had always lived a life of luxury, had never seen anything like this before.

Zheng Wanxi, her face pale, withdrew her gaze and sighed, "Originally, we were just gathering people from the martial arts world to discuss how to eliminate the bandits, but unexpectedly, a decisive battle has broken out before we even started. I thought my plan was well-thought-out, but now it seems they were clearly using my plan to their advantage. I was ultimately too naive."

At this moment, she realized that she had oversimplified things and had not been thorough enough, and she had learned a good lesson.

For a woman who is only twenty years old and still a young girl, to have accomplished this is already remarkable. However, she lacks experience in strategic thinking. If something like this happens again, she will definitely do better, at least she won't realize her shortcomings only after the fact.

Whether it's the little princess or Zheng Wanxi, neither of them are actually delicate, but after all, they are girls, and it's really not appropriate for them to see too many bloody and cruel scenes outside.

Chen Xuan, watching the chaotic fight outside, laughed and said, "Miss Zheng, don't underestimate yourself. Reaching this level is already quite impressive. In any case, my intelligence is far superior. When faced with problems, I only use my fists. It's not that you haven't considered things comprehensively; it's just that you've encountered Zhou An. He commanded thousands of troops and fought for many years. These kinds of martial arts matters are child's play for him. He can anticipate even the slightest hint and devise a plan ten steps ahead. That's why you feel you've been used."

Zheng Wanxi smiled and nodded, saying, "That's true, but I still have some doubts. With Mr. Zhou's wisdom, he shouldn't have been so inconsiderate. The situation outside is that the forces of good and evil are roughly evenly matched. After a fierce battle, our side would suffer heavy casualties, and even if we won, it would be a Pyrrhic victory. He shouldn't have overlooked this. If he's determined to eliminate the evil forces, under his strategic planning and rule, a one-sided crushing victory would be the norm."

Chen Xuan, an observer, instantly understood the root of her doubts. After a moment's hesitation, he explained, "Some things are best left unsaid. The truth is, some things are just unspoken. Miss Zheng, you're right. If Mr. Zhou truly wanted to eradicate the evil path, a one-sided crushing victory would be normal. But the current evenly matched battle is because that's exactly what Mr. Zhou wanted. Ultimately, it's about seeing things from different perspectives. In my opinion, Mr. Zhou doesn't consider himself a member of the martial arts world. He once served the imperial court. In his eyes, whether it's the righteous or the evil path, they're just a bunch of outlaws. The more they die, the better it is for the people's livelihood and the court's governance. That's what true loyalty is—serving the court in his own way, even though he's no longer in power."

After listening, Zheng Wanxi suddenly understood, filled with admiration and even a chill down her spine. She exclaimed, "So that's how it is! The evil sects wanted to take advantage of the situation to ambush and kill the righteous sects, while the righteous sects also wanted to eliminate the evil sects. Little did we know that Mr. Zhou was the biggest winner behind all this. He completely fooled everyone. He truly deserves to be called a pillar of the nation and a capable general. It's a pity that he was implicated in Jiang Yuan's rebellion and had his future ruined."

Chen Xuanxin said that's right. You think Zhou An is on the third level, but he's actually in the atmosphere. Whether it's him or an old man, people in the martial arts world are a group of destabilizing factors in society. No matter how many die, they won't feel the slightest guilt.

Indeed, there are many true heroes among the people of the martial arts world. From the perspective of the martial arts world, such a scheme is indeed against one's conscience. However, from the perspective of the imperial court, the righteous and the evil are treated equally. As the saying goes, "He who possesses a weapon will naturally have murderous intent. He will use his martial arts to break the law." The imperial court's laws often cannot control them. If we do not take this opportunity to suppress and eliminate them, why keep them around for the New Year?

Therefore, Chen Xuan remained a spectator, not intervening unless he was directly involved, and remained unmoved even knowing that life was precious and bloodshed was inevitable.

He admired the dashing and romantic lives of those in the martial arts world, but he himself was not one of them. He understood that the imperial court was furious with them and wished they could be eliminated as soon as possible, but he held no official position and did not consider such things. He was merely an outsider, and he would let things take their course as they would, without taking any initiative to interfere.

Of course, Lang Jingfeng dared to attack the old man, which was already a death sentence. No matter how tough he was or how capable he was, he wouldn't survive until today. Chen Xuan was such a selfish person that he dared to attack someone he cared about. He didn't care who you were.

Old people like to play, and when they've had their fill and are having fun, the younger generation has to coax and cooperate with them, and afterwards, they should either be punished severely or ignored.

At this moment, Chen Xuan even suspected that the current fierce battle between the good and evil sides was secretly instigated by the old man and Zhou An, and that they were just taking advantage of Zheng Wanqian's plan.

Having dedicated his life to the country, he wanted to do something practical for the people in his retirement, in addition to enjoying his leisure time.

If you ask them if their conscience hurts, they'll laugh themselves to death. If ordinary people could live in peace and prosperity without fear of gangsters, they would be eager to completely eliminate them. Of course, that's unrealistic; the current social environment doesn't allow for the complete eradication of gang forces.

"Oh dear, these are not issues we should be considering, Miss Zheng. Your plans have been disrupted. What are you planning to do next?" the little princess asked, changing the subject.

With a smile, Zheng Wanxi said, "Isn't this perfect? ​​The banditry that would have taken some time to quell is now completely insignificant. We can directly distribute goods to alleviate the survival pressure on ordinary people. Of course, the funds raised must still be put to practical use. We can't let the people of the martial arts world sacrifice themselves in vain. I just don't know how many of them will survive in the end."

"I truly admire Miss Zheng. Not to mention her earning power, she has a kind heart and performs great deeds. Compared to her, those so-called righteous heroes pale in comparison," the little princess said sincerely, secretly thinking that she should win her husband back. Such a good girl cannot be missed.

"I don't deserve such high praise from Madam Chen. I was just doing what I could, and it wasn't as good as you think. Don't laugh at me, but in the end, I'm a businesswoman. I prioritize profit in everything I do. The only difference is how much," Zheng Wanxi said, shaking her head apologetically.

The two women were chatting so enthusiastically that Chen Xuan couldn't get a word in edgewise. He simply said, "You two talk. Close the window; there's really nothing to see outside, and we don't want blood splattering in. I'll go to the rooftop; the view is better from there."

As he spoke, his figure seemed to vanish into thin air, along with two plates of fruit and a pot of wine on the table. How could one enjoy the show without something in their mouth?

The little princess was talking to Zheng Wanqian and didn't notice Chen Xuan's words. Only when he disappeared did she realize what had happened and looked around, asking, "Where is my husband?"

"Madam, Master has gone to the roof," the maid replied, pointing to the roof.

Having grown accustomed to her husband's unreliability, the little princess didn't mind and turned around to ask, "Where were we..."

At this moment, Xia Mei nodded to Du Juan and Zhang Yu and whispered, "Let's go outside to avoid anyone offending or disturbing Madam and the others' chat."

The group immediately understood. They left Yunlan and the other maids to keep them company and went out to guard the area around the small building.

With Xia Mei, Du Juan, Zhang Yu, and the two innate masters invited by Zheng Wanqian, there are a total of five. Xia Mei's cultivation level is comparable to that of the leaders of famous sects. Not to mention that Grandmaster Chen Xuan is sitting on the roof. This inconspicuous little building can be considered one of the safest places in the world right now!

This small building stood there conspicuously. The island was only so big, and tens of thousands of people weren't blind, yet they subconsciously ignored it. The reason, of course, was that Chen Xuan's Grandmaster will influenced the thinking of others, which is why they were overlooked and not affected. Even if there were aftershocks of sword energy and blade light, they would dissipate silently like a gentle breeze and drizzle once they got close.

Tens of thousands of people were having a heated match outside. Chen Xuan sat on the roof with two plates of fruit on his lap. He would occasionally pick up a wine jug and take a sip. He watched with great interest and often couldn't help but cheer. Occasionally, he would shake his head and try to point out to some people that their moves were wrong.

This is nothing like the minor skirmishes in the ring yesterday; people are truly fighting tooth and nail.

Noticing that Xia Mei, Du Juan, and the other four innate masters had come out to guard the small building, Chen Xuan thought for a moment and figured they must be quite bored, so he decided to let them have some exercise and quietly withdrew the protection from the small building.

Lang Jingfeng slashed at the old man from a distance, thus beginning the battle. His blade of light failed to threaten the old man, not because it was blocked by Eunuch Wang, who was disguised as Zhu Hong, but because it was shattered by a silver arrow that flew like a meteor.

The arrow was shot by Hu Feng. His greatest skill was using a bow and arrow. The silver arrow flew like a white horse flashing past, even turning nimbly in the void like a swimming fish to avoid his own people. Its speed was so fast that it created visible ripples in the void wherever it passed.

The arrow shattered the blade's edge, its aftershocks scattering in all directions, accompanied by continuous sounds, its momentum undiminished, aiming straight for the heart of the surging waves and the wind.

Thinking to himself that the annoying fellow was a nuisance, Lang Jingfeng's gaze turned cold, and he temporarily gave up on the nasty beggar. He also dared not underestimate the arrows that came flying at him in an instant, after all, he had almost died under Hu Feng's arrows twenty years ago, even though Hu Feng was only at the acquired cultivation level at that time.

It was too late to dodge. The arrow could curve, and he was already locked on. In an instant, he held his sword horizontally in front of his chest and used the blade to block it. The blade emitted a dark blue light, and if you looked closely, the light on the blade was like waves rippling in layers.

With a whoosh, the arrow struck the surface of his blade, and the shockwave from the terrifying force sent those with low cultivation levels flying within several feet, some even dying instantly! It failed to harm Lang Jingfeng, as he blocked it. The arrow was shattered by the shockwave, but Lang Jingfeng was also pushed backward several feet by the force, leaving deep scratches on the ground with his feet.

Staring intently at Hu Feng, Lang Jingfeng sneered, "More than twenty years have passed, and it seems you've made considerable progress. But if this is all you've got, you'll be done for today. Let's settle this score for the arrow we exchanged back then!"

As soon as he opened his mouth, he charged towards Hu Feng like a phantom, wielding his knife. With a single slash, the blade flashed across the sky like a tidal wave, creating a deafening roar. He didn't care whether it would affect the lives of those along the way.

He was known as the Mad Blade Who Cuts Water, and his skill in the art of the sword was unimaginable. This strike was not just a casual blow to get rid of that annoying beggar. The aftershocks in its path caused heavy casualties among the righteous people with low cultivation levels.

With such a vast difference in cultivation levels, life in such a situation is as fragile as that of an ant.

Hu Feng, whose gaze was fixed on Lang Jingfeng, narrowed his eyes. Although archers were not weak in close combat, he still swiftly dodged to create distance. While dodging, he drew his bow and fired three arrows: one like a silver meteor, the second like a crimson firefly, and the third like a ghostly blue ice. The three arrows had different speeds and could also change direction flexibly. The first silver meteor-like arrow failed to shatter Lang Jingfeng's fierce slash, but was instead crushed by the blade's edge. However, it was shattered and dispersed by the second crimson firefly-like arrow.

That arrow actually exploded with astonishing power, but it inevitably injured innocent people.

The third arrow flew towards Lang Jingfeng in an instant, forcing him to slow down and slash at it with his sword. The blade hummed and emitted a burst of light. Although it shattered the icy arrow, the spreading icy aura made him feel cold all over and slowed down for a moment. Frost condensed on his body under the blazing sun.

"Let's see how many arrows you have left to shoot," Lang Jingfeng sneered, his true energy dispelling the frost as he charged forward again.

However, Hu Feng, who was skilled with a bow and arrow, clearly understood the essence of kite flying and didn't give him a chance to get close at all.

'I don't know if Hu Feng's talent is lacking or if his cultivation method is not good enough. Seven or eight years have passed and he hasn't made much progress. If I had the same cultivation level as him, I could kill Lang Jingfeng with just one arrow if I used the Eight Extinction Arrows.' Chen Xuan, who had noticed them out of the corner of his eye, muttered to himself.

Hu Feng's cultivation level is inferior to Lang Jingfeng's, so his defeat and even death are only a matter of time, provided that no one comes to his aid.

Noticing Zhang Ao's terrified and desperate expression in the crowd, Chen Xuan curled his lips in disgust. This guy's crotch was dripping wet. After all, they had known each other for a while, and he had his own reasons for being here. Despite his disgust, Chen Xuan waved his hand and threw him out of the crowd, even throwing him directly off the island and onto the shore more than ten miles away.

In the chaos, few people noticed this situation, and even those who did were subconsciously ignoring it due to Chen Xuan's all-encompassing gaze and mental distraction.

Zhang Ao had originally prepared to close his eyes and wait for death, but in the midst of the dizzying chaos, he found himself far away from the island, without even realizing it.

He quickly noticed the astonished and mocking looks from the people around him, and realized that he was out of danger. He looked down at himself and immediately blushed with embarrassment. He covered his face with his hands and hurriedly turned to go home.

Then he realized something, turned back and kowtowed heavily towards the island from the shore, then covered his face and left again.

Aside from Chen Xuan, he couldn't think of anyone else who could have such means to get him out of danger. Thinking back to how he had been bewitched into currying favor with Wei Ziyan and the others to cause trouble for Gao Jingming and his group, he immediately slapped himself twice, drawing blood from the corners of his mouth.

I should have died back then...

It was a casual matter; Chen Xuan tossed Zhang Ao away without a second thought, for now was the exciting part.

The battle between good and evil was a chaotic melee with tens of thousands of people fighting together. The scene was extremely bloody and gruesome, with severed limbs flying everywhere and rivers of blood flowing down the ground. It was so brutal that it was unappetizing.

Chen Xuan could only describe this massive battle involving tens of thousands of people in one sentence: "Damn, the screen was filled with light pollution; it was the kind of light that could truly blind people."

There wasn't that option available, otherwise Chen Xuan would have wanted to wear sunglasses right now.

People are injured and killed every moment. That's how it is in the martial arts world. You should have thought about this day coming when you embarked on this path.

Chen Xuan had no interest in the chaotic battles among those with low cultivation levels; his attention was focused on the experts.

Everyone is engaged in a fierce battle, and few can remain idle. Especially when masters clash, the aftershocks can kill many people at once, while some die without much pain.

Among them, Zhang Aoxue, the leader of the Flying Feather Sect, had already infiltrated the evil crowd. Her movements were as elusive as drifting catkins. This woman was truly ruthless, showing no mercy to those with lower cultivation levels than herself. Wherever she went, people fell like wheat in droves, yet she herself remained untouched by blood.

I suspect there's something wrong with the ideology and education of this sect. Otherwise, Gao Jingyu, who was a disciple of the Flying Feather Sect, wouldn't have schemed against her own people back then. Now that she's become the Queen of Qing, who would believe she didn't have some ruthless methods? After all, palace intrigue is much more dangerous than open warfare.

Zhang Aoxue's ruthless harvest didn't last long. Sensing danger, she decisively dodged and cautiously scanned her surroundings. She subconsciously touched her neck, where there was a small wound with blood seeping out. If she had hesitated for even a moment when dodging, her head would probably have been cut off.

A strand of hair fell out, and she was secretly shocked. How terrifying was Ji Jue, the leader of the Shadow Assassin Sect! She almost lost her life without even seeing his shadow!
"Sect Leader Zhang reacted quickly enough, but how many times can you dodge this? Today I'm taking your head and planning to use it as a stool."

Ji Jue's mocking voice came from all around, but Zhang Aoxue couldn't find where he was. This kind of hidden assassination method was too terrifying, making it impossible to guard against and causing her to be terrified at all times.

With a single swing of her sword, sword energy swept out, as beautiful as drifting snowflakes, instantly clearing out everyone within several feet of her. Yet, that beautiful sword energy was incredibly deadly; the dead were frozen into ice sculptures. And this was just a casual strike from Zhang Aoxue. As the leader of one of the five major righteous sects in Jing Kingdom, her cultivation level was naturally among the top tier in the Innate Realm.

Watching her surroundings warily, Zhang Aoxue said in a deep voice, "I'm afraid you don't have the ability. You'll just hide like a rat. That's all you're good for."

"Is Sect Leader Zhang all brawn and no brains? I'm an assassin, you know. Do you expect me to fight you head-on? These little tricks to provoke me won't work on me," Ji Jue said erratically.

Noticing their direction, Chen Xuan took a sip of wine with a satisfied smile, thinking to himself that Ji Jue, this flat-chested legal loli, was quite something. When he was at the Innate Realm, his lightness skill was probably only at her level. No wonder she was the strongest assassin in Jing Kingdom, having kept Zhang Aoxue in her blind spot ever since she set her sights on her.

If the team hadn't known about Ji Jue's presence beforehand and taken precautions, she probably would have actually managed to take down Zhang Aoxue.

If this seemingly innocent, petite girl were to meticulously plan and orchestrate a scheme, could she possibly recreate the glory of the Shadow Assassin Sect and successfully assassinate a Grandmaster-level expert?

While watching that side, Chen Xuan was also keeping an eye on other directions. A dazzling and scorching light rose up, and Chen Xuan narrowed his eyes slightly, thinking to himself that he had seen this move before. Luo Yan and Liu Zhenwei from back then were indeed worthy of being fellow disciples, as they cultivated the same techniques and martial arts.

'The Three Profound Blades, huh? This move has appeared again. No, this is clearly the Nine Profound Blades. Back then, my cultivation level was too low, and my judgment was lacking. But now it seems that Liu Zhenwei didn't even master this martial art properly, yet he still managed to overpower Guo Jinglong. Now, Luo Yan has clearly mastered this martial art to perfection.'

Distracted by the direction he was looking, Chen Xuan muttered to himself, "Right now, I really want to get some sunglasses and put them on..." (End of Chapter)