Jian Zhaoxing

Chapter 426 You go first, I'll cover the rear!

The two exchanged a glance, with only the sound of horses' hooves rising and falling in the night.

The path of Xuanwu Sect is not difficult, and Lin Zhiqing can now feel some of the feelings that Liu Mang had back then.

Walking along the familiar route again, Lin Zhiqing could still imagine the various scenes from back then.

There is always a banquet in the world.

Lin Zhiqing never expected that she would be engaged in close combat with Jiang Liuyun at this moment.

"The wind is picking up." Lu Huai pulled Lin Zhiqing's cloak tighter, blocking her view.

"The footprints of the past have faded away with the long wind, Aqing, look forward."

Lin Zhiqing nodded. "That's right, we need to look forward."

They walked for a long time before stopping at the familiar field of violets.

Lin Zhiqing looked around and found that everything was normal, so he signaled Lu Huai and the others to continue forward.

Not long after they stepped outside, a short, strange sound suddenly came from within the flower field.

The group stopped abruptly.

Yan Yu frowned, dismounted, and looked towards the flower field.

However, there was nothing unusual in the flower field.

"Strange, did you hear that voice just now?" Lin Shi'an approached Lu Huai and Lin Zhiqing.

Lin Zhiqing nodded:
"I heard it, but the sound is unfamiliar. Do you know what's making it?"

Lin Shi'an shook his head: "I have no recollection of it."

Lu Huai frowned: "It looks familiar, but I can't quite place it right now."

“Me too,” Yan Yu said. “This voice sounds familiar, but I can’t remember it.”

"Think it over carefully, and be careful. This place is strange." Lin Zhiqing frowned and looked into the distance.

Lin Shi'an tightened the reins: "Don't move, I'll go scout ahead first."

"Cousin, be careful," Lin Zhiqing whispered a reminder.

Lin Shi'an nodded and then walked forward.

Lu Huai spoke softly, "That voice... could it be that it's trying to replicate your hypnosis technique?"

“It doesn’t seem like it.” Lin Zhiqing shook his head: “Besides, even if it’s hypnosis, he can’t beat me.”

"I believe he has some self-awareness and wouldn't be foolish enough to try to outsmart me with mind-reading techniques." Lin Zhiqing was quite confident in this regard.

If Jiang Liuyun really did have another Liu Mang, then perhaps he could keep Lin Zhiqing occupied for a while.

But without it, he would only be beaten to a pulp by Lin Zhiqing when he tried to use the art of mind assessment.

Jiang Liuyun wouldn't be that stupid.

"Sigh~"

Just as she was pondering, the long neigh of Lin Shi'an's horse rang out.

"Brother Shi'an? What happened?" Lu Huai pulled his horse back and looked at Lin Shi'an ahead.

Lin Shi'an's voice remained calm: "It's nothing, it seems some insects startled the horse."

"Insects?" Lin Zhiqing had a bad feeling.

"Cousin, you..."

"Don't move!" Yan Yu shouted before Lin Zhiqing could finish speaking.

Everyone else was stunned and remained silent.

Yan Yu focused his mind and looked around.

The only sound in the air seemed to be the wind.

Lin Shi'an swallowed hard and couldn't help but speak:

"Yan Yu, what's wrong? I can't seem to move."

"Shh!" Yan Yu gestured for Lin Shi'an to be quiet, then spoke softly:
"Listen carefully and see if you can hear any other sounds."

Lin Zhiqing and Lu Huai exchanged a glance and both perked up their ears.

The sound of the wind, the rustling of leaves, and the rustling of grass?

"Rustling, rustling~"

Lu Huai frowned: "This is a flower field, so it's not surprising to have insects, but..."

"Too many," Lin Zhiqing said.

Yan Yu nodded: "That's right, too many."

"Bring me the tinder." Lu Huai picked up the tinder without hesitation and tossed it to Yan Yu.

Yan Yu received the tinderbox, tore off a corner of his clothes with a "rip" and wrapped it around the tip of his sword.

He then lit the makeshift torch.

The moment the firelight flared up, Lin Zhiqing and the others gasped in shock.

Before anyone knew it, many insects and snakes had appeared on the ground.

Lin Zhiqing felt goosebumps rise all over her body.

She wasn't afraid of insects, but the sight of so many insects crawling together was truly disgusting.

"Are these poisonous insects?" Looking at those plump insects, Lin Zhiqing's teeth felt a little weak.

Yan Yu frowned, took out his dagger, and poked an insect in the ground.

He then shook his clothes with a chill, threw the burning clothes near Lin Shi'an, and remounted his horse.

Using the firelight, Lin Shi'an quickly climbed onto the horse.

On the other end, Yan Yu examined the dagger with a solemn expression:
"It is indeed poisonous. Don't get any sap on yourself, let's get out of here!"

Upon hearing this, Lu Huai tightened the reins and chose to walk in areas with fewer insects.

But before he had taken more than a few steps, he heard strange noises coming from the flower field again.

Then, a chill ran down his spine.

Something seemed to be flying rapidly toward him.

Lu Huai drew his long sword from his back and instinctively swung it backward.

Then, he hugged Lin Zhiqing tightly before turning around to check on her.

Leaves?

He frowned slightly.

No, it can't be tree leaves.

"Lu Huai, what's wrong?" Lin Zhiqing sensed something was wrong and turned to look at Lu Huai.

Before Lu Huai could answer, several more leaves flew through the air.

Their goal was extremely clear: to strike directly at Lu Huai's face.

"Watch out!" Lu Huai protected Lin Zhiqing, pulling the reins to avoid the leaves.

He raised his voice: "Someone's lying in ambush! Watch out for the leaves and flowers!"

Upon hearing this sound, Yan Yu and Lin Shi'an turned around and landed behind Lu Huai and Lin Zhiqing.

Lin Shi'an said, "You go first, we'll cover the rear..."

Before he could finish speaking, he suddenly lost his balance.

The horse tripped over something, let out a long neigh, and its front hooves touched the ground.

The poisonous insects on the ground seemed to sense the fresh blood and swarmed forward.

Lin Shi'an supported the horse's body with one hand, straightened his body, and did not touch the insect.

"Cousin!" Lin Zhiqing poked his head out when he heard the noise.

"It's nothing." Lin Shi'an drew his longsword and cleaved a few leaves.

"Giddy up!" Yan Yu pulled on the reins and called out to Lin Shi'an from a distance, "Get on!"

As he spoke, he stretched out his hand.

Without hesitation, Lin Shi'an reached out and used the momentum to jump, landing behind Yan Yu.

Then he glanced at the horse that had just fallen.

The bloody holes on the horse's legs, caused by poisonous insect bites, were getting bigger and bigger.

"Hey, concentrate." Yan Yu's voice reached Lin Shi'an's ears:
"Those leaves are poisonous too; they're not Dasheng's stuff."

"Not Dasheng? Then where is it?" Lin Zhiqing also heard Yan Yu's words.

Just as Yan Yu was about to speak, the strange sound rang out for the third time.

The leaves' attack grew increasingly fierce.

Yan Yu originally intended to lead Lin Shi'an away from the flower field area, but in an instant, they were entangled again.

"Damn it, this isn't over yet!" Yan Yu turned to Lin Shi'an: "You come to the front!"

Lin Shi'an understood, grabbed Yan Yu's hand, and in an instant, their positions were switched.

Yan Yu tossed a small bottle from his pocket, which Lu Huai caught with lightning speed.