Mao Ya reached a high mountain, and following Wu Nan Yong's habits, quickly found her humble cabin. Slipping inside, she discovered its layout was identical to her own room at Li Wan Xue's home. A slight rustle behind her, she inwardly rejoiced that Ying hadn't encountered her, yet feared encountering her. She heard her say, "You've always enjoyed staying in Dai Jia's house; I too wish to understand what makes it so appealing."
Like a sword piercing her spine, she was forced to turn and retreat two steps. Previously, she had only sensed her like a sheathed sword. Ever since Ying was tricked and taken away by that Song pig, she felt the sword was drawn and its moves unblockable, forcing her to evade. "You also know, staying over is merely for practicing martial arts and sharing official duties," Mao Ya urgently wanted to get back to the main topic, saying, "That perfume..."
Wu Nan Yong stated directly, "It is incurable." Much like what I suffer from.
Since she only knew the method of preparation, the prescription was indeed stolen. Mao Ya was relieved about Li Wan Xue's safety and said, "This thing harms people deeply, it's best to stop here." Wu Nan Yong first sneered, "Aren't the new troops you're diligently training in Yingzhou also used for slaughtering enemies?" She then changed to a gentle tone, "Cooperating with the 'Dark Swordsman' and 'Warriors in Hand,' assisting the patron to cross the river and destroy Song, will surely establish great merit. At that time, you will undoubtedly be enfeoffed as a duke or marquis."
You should know, what I strive for is not greed for these! Mao Ya said, "No need." Wu Nan Yong said aggrievedly, "Why is it that whatever I painstakingly build for you, if she doesn't like it, you discard it like refuse?" She could no longer bear it! She murmured, "Indeed, she must be destroyed first before anything can be built!" Mao Ya stopped her from leaving, fearing first that she might harm Lin Chao Ying, and second, wanting to take her away to persuade her slowly. After exchanging a few rounds of punches, Mao Ya saw that although she lacked Lin Chao Ying's advantage of new moves to counter her, her fundamental skills had indeed advanced significantly. She felt ashamed that she was too busy with military duties to practice.
The two fought their way outside. Mao Ya did not wish to use sword techniques or ruthless moves, but was anxious to subdue her and reunite with Lin Chao Ying, fearing there might be a change there. Suddenly, she remembered Dai Jia's family secret, the "Brewing Wine Fist Theory." She rarely used it, and its lethality was low, making it suitable for the present. Mao Ya used the move "Striking the Oars and Throwing the Whips," which made Wu Nan Yong, who understood his moves, lose her composure and nearly get her waist grabbed.
Wu Nan Yong used her fingers as a sword, executing the ultimate move "Rú zhú qiáo xiè," using offense as retreat to lure him into a trap and escape. Unexpectedly, Mao Ya's "Mending the Bright Path" was a feigned defense hiding attack. Her sash was grabbed, and she quickly drew her sword to fend him off. Wu Nan Yong misunderstood his mutual study of new moves with Lin Chao Ying and furiously struck with her sword, "Morning Clouds and Evening Winds," a direct thrust with a horizontal sweep.
Mao Ya knew this move well. He countered with "Feng Feng Jian Tu," striking and penetrating the sword move, while his left hand again grabbed her waist and his right hand reached for her left shoulder. Just as he was about to subdue her, Chong Yu Wu suddenly appeared and charged, forcing him to block. Wu Nan Yong retracted her sword and swept horizontally, while Mao Ya withdrew his hands and retreated. Wu Nan Yong circled behind Chong Yu Wu and, upon seeing the person who had extricated her twice in one day, her eyes flickered. She pushed him towards Mao Ya with her palm and seized the opportunity to escape.
Chong Yu Wu, in his moment of confusion, quickly understood. He entangled Mao Ya to let her escape. Mao Ya struck him heavily,摔ing him to the ground, then pursued Wu Nan Yong.
Touching his sword wound, Chong Yu Wu still struggled to follow, but had lost sight of them. Suddenly, at the end of a fork in the path, a girl about ten years old glared at him. The dog, upon seeing this person whose face was like the winter sun and smile like the spring breeze, was driven by hatred to attack. Chong Yu Wu's current martial arts skills were difficult for him to parry easily, especially while injured. He had no choice but to retreat. The dog pursued closely.
After escaping Sun Bo Le, Lin Chao Ying followed the stream deep into the mountains until she reached a dense forest with piled rocks. The rustling of leaves grew louder. "As expected, they chose this place for an ambush!" Lin Chao Ying saw the masked man fighting inside the stone cave, launching a descending attack from above. She used the move "Clearing the Clouds to See the Moon," a thrust aimed directly at his face through the palm shadow. The masked man ducked, sweeping his leg at her lower body across the water. Lin Chao Ying fell, using her sword as a leg, flicking stones in the water to leverage her evasion. However, the masked man stepped on the water as if it were solid ground, gradually forcing her towards the center of the stream. Seeing that she was about to fall into the pre-set trap, the masked man couldn't help but let out a triumphant laugh.
At this moment, Sun Bo Le, who had been following secretly, appeared and leaped into the water, spinning. The masked man's vision was blocked by the spray. Lin Chao Ying seized the opportunity to escape. The masked man was from a fishing family near the Yangtze River in Jingzhou. However, Sun Bo Le had also followed his two elder brothers on voyages in the East Sea since childhood. His water skills were not inferior, and coupled with his family's "Three None, One Have Hand" technique, which was full of illusions and changes, his power might not match iron palms, but his moves were superior.
The masked man, to repay a favor to An Rong Xun and coveting the Jin Dynasty's wealth, considered Lin Chao Ying and others as traitors of Mo Luan, and thus agreed to help. In reality, he did not wish to offend the martial arts world of the Central Plains, which would affect his influence within the sect, and more importantly, he feared his identity being exposed. At this moment, while urgently seeking to shake off Sun Bo Le, he cursed inwardly, "Go! Let those madmen tear that witch's face to shreds!"
She ran along the path, descending several times, until Lin Chao Ying arrived at a stone valley. Surrounded by tiered stone walls, there was a sandy plaza that seemed to have been artificially cleared. Was this the place Gong Liang mentioned for the madmen's battles? Her emotions unsettled, she glimpsed something thrown towards her head. She quickly drew her "Dragon Dividing Rope" and twirled it. The scattered perfume fell all around, and at the same time, roars erupted from around them, emanating from their throats. Lin Chao Ying looked up and saw over thirty "Warriors in Hand" leaping and diving towards her from the middle layers of the surrounding stone walls. Lin Chao Ying held her breath, concentrating, spinning the "Dragon Dividing Rope" among the warriors, and seizing opportunities to flick "Snow Hair Silver Threads" – long, thin soft needles – at the back of their heads, paralyzing their movements until they fell unconscious.
Many ants can bring down an elephant; much sand can block the sea. Moreover, the warriors felt no pain and fought fiercely and desperately. Lin Chao Ying gradually found it difficult to attack and resist. One warrior reached out and messed up her hair bun, another grabbed her left calf, and yet another grabbed her shoulder and bit down. Lin Chao Ying felt pain in her arm and cried out inwardly, "Why haven't you come out yet?"
Just then, the one biting her was sent flying, and the other two were also thrown aside by a grab from one hand. Lin Chao Ying looked at Mao Ya, who had come to her rescue, with disappointment. She hadn't noticed Wu Nan Yong attacking from behind at all. Mao Ya said with grief and indignation, "Don't be foolish anymore!" He yanked the "Dragon Dividing Rope" and repelled Wu Nan Yong. Mao Ya supported Lin Chao Ying's injured arm and retreated. Wu Nan Yong, in a half-crazed state, held her sword and continuously attacked and thrust. Mao Ya shielded her with his body and asked with a trembling voice, "What's wrong with you? What's wrong with you?" Lin Chao Ying remained silent.
Mao Ya was anxiously lost. He fiercely executed "Jade Universe Becomes Smoke Hand" – this was a powerful killing move, taught to him alone by Li Wan Xue, who had instructed him not to use it unless it was to save his life or Ying. Wu Nan Yong, aware of its power and purpose, was even more provoked and attacked frantically and recklessly. Mao Ya swung his hand in a "Mountains and Rivers Part" strike, intending to sever the throat, shatter the shoulders, and split the chest and hips. Wu Nan Yong countered with the sword move "Ting Zhù Sān Lián," blocking the middle and upper paths, but the hip path was about to be lost. Chong Yu Wu arrived in time, his hands lifting and supporting, managing to cover for Wu Nan Yong.