Chapter 196: Attracting Butterflies and Bees
Wind swept past Zhongnan Mountain, and in the interspersed pine and bamboo forests, every pine needle and bamboo leaf seemed to dance.
Zhou Yan drew his bow and nocked an arrow. With a “bang, bang” of the string, two gray lights, sharp as rainbows, shot out, whistling through the air, and flew towards them in the abundant autumn sunlight.
“Everyone be alert and watch out for each other.”
“Pfft!”
Blood suddenly bloomed on the neck of the escort speaking. An arrowhead pierced through from one side and emerged from the other. The burly escort spun halfway around and crashed into the roadside grass with a thud.
Sha Tongtian’s iron paddle struck out violently, and a long arrow, whistling through the air, was smashed into pieces.
The Ghost Gate Dragon King’s arm bones and muscles had healed. Could it be the Black Jade Continuing Bone Paste from the Western Regions’ Vajra Sect? Zhou Yan watched Sha Tongtian wield his iron paddles with great force, wondering in surprise, but he didn’t linger. His figure flew out from the tree crown and disappeared into the denser depths of the forest.
“Over there.”
“Surround them, don’t let that thief escape.”
A chaotic din arose. Helian Chuncheng, Ouyang Ke, Ni Mo Xing, Sha Tongtian, and others all employed their signature lightness skills. Some leaned forward, sprinting across the ground, while others floated among the tree crowns.
However, Ouyang Feng, with what seemed like a leisurely stride, far outdistanced everyone else, truly moving at an instant thousand li, swift as lightning.
A villainous swordsman recruited by Yang Kang exerted his strength and dashed forward, suddenly feeling his foot snagged. With a loud “bang,” two green bamboo stalks several zhang away sprang up, and bamboo arrows flew like streams of light, arriving in an instant.
The man reacted swiftly. The moment he stepped on the rope, he had already thrown himself to the ground.
“Ah!”
A hysterical scream shook the heavens. The man fell into the knee-high grass, and a sharpened bamboo stalk, a foot long, easily tore open his waist, revealing white fat and tendons.
Ouyang Ke, Helian Chuncheng, and the others suddenly stopped.
The Young Master of Changfeng rushed over with his spear.
Yin Kexi, who arrived a step ahead of him, swung his long whip, kicking up large clumps of grass. Several more sharpened green bamboo stalks were revealed, a shocking sight.
“Hiss,” Ouyang Ke gasped.
Yin Kexi’s complexion turned ashen as he said, “The bamboo arrow mechanism has been triggered. Whether you dive forward, dodge, or roll to the side, you cannot escape this meticulously planned trap.”
Helian Chuncheng’s expression was grim. He considered himself a meticulous and calculating person, but compared to the thief’s unpredictable methods, he was still far inferior.
Perhaps only the Crown Prince could match this thief? Helian Chuncheng thought uncertainly.
“Follow the small path and be on guard. I will deal with the thief,” Ouyang Ke said, looking at the deep forest, still shaken. He dared not be reckless, not knowing what other unpredictable mechanisms and traps might be present.
An escort from Changfeng helped the injured man up. As he was about to bandage him, the man began to curse with grief and indignation.
“What a wicked thief! The bamboo arrows are poisoned.”
…
Ouyang Feng returned without success.
If it were an open area, he could have caught up to Zhou Yan, but in the dense forest, Zhou Yan disappeared in a flash, leaving even the Western Venom, with his peak martial arts, helpless.
The Western Venom’s reputation was not unfounded. Ouyang Feng only glanced at the man with the injured waist and said, “It’s a viper’s head.”
“Elder, save me! I will never forget your great kindness.”
“No need to trouble Uncle.” Ouyang Ke took out a bottle of pills from his embrace, poured one out, and tossed it over. “Take the pill and use your inner qi to expel the poison.”
“Thank you, Young Master Ouyang.”
Ouyang Ke nodded slightly, then turned to Ouyang Feng and said, “Uncle, what do you think we should do?”
“Take the small path. Ignore the thief’s provocations. Select a few experts to surround us. His long arrows won’t be able to reach us.”
“Mm.”
The group quickly divided tasks. The injured man was protected in the center, while Monk Lingzhi, Ouyang Ke, Ni Mo Xing, Peng Lianhu, and others positioned themselves around him, moving forward slowly.
Zhou Yan, who had circled to the left, chuckled softly. “It’s just beginning.”
…
Zhou Yan’s figure flickered in and out of the forest, winding and extending. When the view suddenly opened up, he had already reached the outskirts of the Ancient Tomb.
“Head Escort.” Li Mochou’s worry vanished from her eyes. However, with her Master present, she didn’t rush forward joyfully. The screams that had sounded one after another were indeed unsettling. Her rival was Ouyang Feng, who had nearly taken the Head Escort’s life outside Datong Prefecture.
With a few leaps, Zhou Yan arrived before the two.
“It’s confirmed to be Ouyang Feng’s group. Mechanisms and arrows have killed several people. The other side has adjusted their strategy and is coming along the small path.”
“The Head Escort and I will join forces, and Master will lure the Jade Bees.”
Zhou Yan smiled. “Don’t rush. They won’t expect this move from Senior. The Jade Bee attack will catch them off guard. Besides Ouyang Feng, everyone else will be caught. We can use arrows to kill a few more. When Ouyang Feng recovers, then it will be time for swords and knives.”
Li Mochou suddenly recalled the Jianghu experience Zhou Yan had told her, such as “never enter a forest,” “remain calm in the face of trouble,” and “if you are outmatched, retreat is the best strategy.”
“I forgot the Head Escort’s instructions again.”
“Let this be the last time. It’s not too late.”
“Thank you, Head Escort.”
Lin Chaoying’s maid sighed inwardly. Keeping Mochou here would be difficult!
Suddenly, Zhou Yan’s voice rang out, “Senior, I will go into the forest. When the enemy gathers, you will summon the Jade Bees.”
“Good.”
“Farewell.”
Zhou Yan turned and darted into the forest.
…
It was in the afternoon, and the sun was scorching.
Curses erupted from the forest.
“I curse your…”
Sha Tongtian glared back at Hou Tonghai, and the Three-Headed Flood Dragon forcefully swallowed the words “ancestors.”
Monk Lingzhi, holding bronze cymbals and unafraid of the Ancient Tomb’s Jade Bee Needles, was the first to leap into the sunlight. Helian Chuncheng, Yin Kexi, Ouyang Feng, and others followed.
As they had traveled, they had triggered many mechanisms. Fortunately, without Zhou Yan’s arrows, and with experts surrounding them, they had passed through the dangers without incident.
The Twin Heroes of Tongbai, the Hejian Three Heroes, and others were all renowned figures in their own right. When had they ever suffered such humiliation? Each was filled with rage.
However, as their vision cleared, Li Mochou and her master suddenly appeared. Their fierce words caught in their throats.
Even with the enemy before them, Li Mochou had bright eyes and white teeth, fair skin, and rosy cheeks. The Jianghu men all thought in unison, “What a radiant and beautiful young lady, as lovely as a peach blossom.”
Ouyang Feng’s gaze fell upon Li Mochou, and he secretly praised, “Such beauty would be a perfect match for Ke’er.”
There was a faint white smoke on the ground around the Ancient Tomb. Ouyang Feng paid it no mind. He stepped forward a few paces and said, “Are you the elder of this young lady?”
“What do you mean?”
Lin Chaoying’s maid’s martial arts were far inferior to Ouyang Feng’s, but her temper was as fiery as the Western Venom’s.
Ouyang Feng’s voice, like clanging metal, rang out, “My nephew fancies this young lady. She is unmarried, and my nephew is single. They are a perfect match in talent and beauty. How about marrying into White Camel Mountain?”
“Dream on!” Li Mochou snapped.
Li Mochou’s scolding was clear and melodious, pleasant to the ear. Ouyang Ke was captivated and said with a smile, “There have been many misunderstandings with you, young lady, but as they say, one gets to know someone by fighting them. Please forgive any offense.”
“Rake.”
“Young lady, you are mistaken. A beautiful woman is admired by a gentleman.”
Lin Chaoying’s maid’s icy voice cut in, interrupting Ouyang Ke’s speech, “Shameless wretch, leave at once.”
Hou Tonghai couldn’t help but say, “Master Ouyang fancies you, it’s a great fortune. Why are you so ungrateful?”
“Three-Headed Ghost, do not speak nonsense.”
Hou Tonghai wailed, “Don’t call me Three-Headed Ghost.”
“Three-Headed Ghost.”
“Waaah!” Hou Tonghai brandished his steel fork and lunged at Li Mochou.
Ouyang Feng smiled sinisterly.
Ouyang Ke understood Ouyang Feng’s intention. Since the other party was unappreciative, they would capture her. After all, no matter how virtuous a woman was, she would eventually yield to him.
He unfurled his folding fan with a swish and said, “Forgive me, young lady.”
Ni Mo Xing, Helian Chuncheng, Yin Kexi, and others leaped out. “Allow me to learn your esteemed skills.”
“Twin Heroes of Tongbai, we await your esteemed skills.”
Seven or eight figures, including Helian Chuncheng, emerged and lunged towards the master and disciple of the Ancient Tomb.
It was unclear what method Lin Chaoying’s maid used, but suddenly a buzzing sound approached from afar. Under the autumn sunlight, a vast, hazy mass of creatures flew out from the forest and pounced on Ouyang Ke and the others.
In an instant, some were stung by the Jade Bees, letting out terrible cries.
“Ke’er, retreat.”
Ouyang Feng was greatly alarmed. He moved forward rapidly, appearing before Ouyang Ke. A swarm of Jade Bees advanced ferociously. Ouyang Feng surged his inner qi to his dantian and exhaled a breath towards the swarm. The bees, flying swiftly, suddenly felt a gust of wind blocking them, their momentum faltering.
A tidal roar emanated from Ouyang Feng’s abdomen. His powerful inner qi, like a great wind, blew out, causing the Jade Bees before him to fall. The swarm could not withstand it. The leading hundreds of bees veered off from Ouyang Feng’s side and flew towards Monk Lingzhi and the others behind him.
The Three-Headed Flood Dragon, Hou Tonghai, imitated Ouyang Feng and blew out a breath. The bees in front of him veered slightly, and then surged forward even more fiercely. Next, his head felt like it was being pricked by needles, and a burning pain spread.
“I curse your ancestors!” he roared, as Jade Bees flew into his mouth. Hou Tonghai grunted and turned to flee in haste.
Yin Kexi felt as if his heart was about to fly out from the force of his breath. He cried out, “Let’s go!” and turned to flee.
The Jade Bees avoided Ouyang Feng, but Ouyang Ke was not so lucky. He was stung several times on the face. The instantaneous, magnified pain was like a branding iron searing his flesh. “Uncle, I’ve been poisoned.”
Upon hearing this, Ouyang Feng no longer cared about Li Mochou. He grabbed Ouyang Ke with his left hand, his entire body seeming to transform into an illusion. His right arm, like an unfurled iron fan, swung. Amidst the booming sounds of air explosions, surrounding Jade Bees were shattered, and he plunged into the forest.
From the woods on the flank of the Ancient Tomb, three long arrows, spanning over ten zhang in the autumn sunlight, appeared on the flanks of the fleeing Sha Tonghai and his group.
