Song of Adolescence

Chapter 397 Talisman Sword on Fire

When it comes to an outlook of the world, Xiao Se was naturally the most experienced. Since he was a child, he was educated to consider all matters from the perspective of all under Heaven before thinking of himself. Hence, he was able to quickly realise the sword intent.

But Lei Wujie and Li Fansong were different. They were from the martial world and although their personalities were free and unrestrained and were not selfish in their interactions with others, the broadness of their vision was still inferior to Xiao Se. Now, based on this one sword move, they gained an understanding of an outlook of the world. From now on, their realm would naturally develop differently from before.

The First Tower Under Heaven had indeed lived up to its reputation. Just a plaque could bring about such levels of improvement.

The two walked up to the second floor together, but on the second floor, they saw no sign of Xiao Se.

"Has he gone on to the third floor already?" Lei Wujie asked in surprise.

But, nobody responded to him.

Lei Wujie blinked and turned his head. "Fansong-xiongdi… Where are you!"

There was no one beside him. Li Fansong, who was still standing there a moment ago, had disappeared without his notice.

He turned back and looked ahead, only to see a picture hanging on the wall that wasn’t there a moment ago. The picture was a painting of a Daoist priest in purple robes. He had a half-smile on his face and the way his eyes bored into Lei Wujie was kind of weird. Next to the painting was a couplet:

One produced Two, Two produced Three, Three produced all things.

Earth follows Heaven, Heaven follows the Way, the Way follows things as they are.

The four words in the first line, the inaction of Daoism.

Lei Wujie felt a jolt in his heart. He just figured out the identity of the person in the painting.

Somewhere else that he couldn't see, Xiao Se tightened his grip on his Wuji staff. All the talisman seals on the Wuji staff started to pulse with a red light for no apparent reason.

"Overly excited to see your former master, are you?" Xiao Se wiped the sweat on his forehead. "Still, I feel like we’re really intruding. Who would have known that this place actually enshrined the first director of the Directorate of Astronomy, the Grand Preceptor of State, Li Fenglian."

The first head of the Directorate of Astronomy, the first and also the last Grand Preceptor of State since the founding of Beili. That year, he set up the Heavenly Gates Interlocking Array and helped Beili to break the legendary figure of the Western Chu Iron March Formation. Here he was, sitting quietly and peacefully inside the painting, looking at him with a half-smile.

Compared to the White Feather Sword Immortal previously, the Grand Preceptor of State Li Fenglian's position was indeed deserving of occupying a higher floor.

"Grand Preceptor of State, what advice do you have?" Li Fansong spoke slowly to the painting as he raised his Azure Empyrean sword.

Outside the First Tower Under Heaven.

State Preceptor Qi Tianchen lowered his horsetail whisk and raised his head. "You’re here."

"Shifu." A gentle voice sounded, and a lady in a green dress landed in the courtyard.

"How many times have I said this? Although I taught you a few skills, you’ve never completed the ceremony to recognise me as your teacher. Based on your status, you cannot be admitted to the Directorate of Astronomy as a disciple either. So, you cannot call me shifu." Qi Tianchen shook his head gently.

"My father is no longer the General-in-chief. Can I be admitted to the Directorate of Astronomy now?" Ye Ruoyi asked.

"In my present condition, I can't teach you much anymore." Qi Tianchen looked at the seven sinister killers. "Did you come alone?"

"I have a few other friends. They went back to the Yong’an Prince Residence and I went to the Directorate of Astronomy, which was how I got the news that you’re all here and came as fast as I could. I’ve sent word to the rest and they’ll be here soon." Ye Ruoyi glanced around and asked, "Where are Xiao Se and the others?"

"They entered the tower," Qi Tianchen replied.

"When will they come out?" Ye Ruoyi asked.

"Maybe one day, maybe two days, at most five days. The Great Dragon and Elephant Strength won’t hold out for too long," Qi Tianchen said.

Ye Ruoyi nodded. "Then, we’ll let them stay here. Although these killers don't look easy to deal with, with the State Preceptor and Mister Xie here, it won’t be a problem."

"There is a problem." Qi Tianchen shook his head.

Xie Xuan smiled bitterly. "A rather large problem too."

"Mister Xie is currently using all his strength to suppress the killing intent of the First Tower Under Heaven and he cannot lose focus for even a moment. As for me, my lamp has extinguished and I’m half dead." Qi Tianchen took out a yellow talisman and twisted it gently at his fingertips. The yellow talisman ignited instantly with an extremely bright flame, illuminating the entire courtyard.

The seven killers seemed afraid of the light from the flame and retreated immediately.

"In the past, the Western Chu medicine men would either move in the night or wear black cloaks and hats in the day. There was a rumour that they were afraid of strong light. Looks like it could be true," Xie Xuan said in a low voice. "How many more talismans does the State Preceptor have?"

"I have two more," Qi Tianchen said solemnly.

Ye Ruoyi frowned. "So if we’re going to stop these people, we’ll have to rely on me alone?"

"Perhaps so." Qi Tianchen glanced around. "Perhaps we can also find the person who is controlling them in hiding. These medicine men looked to have been given strong drugs within a short period of time. They’re not perfected medicine men. They are barely conscious and require someone to control them in the background. That earlier scream must have been made by the person controlling them."

"Earlier, the State Preceptor’s heavenly talisman successfully forced them to retreat. Would they still dare to come?" Ye Ruoyi asked.

"He deliberately sent these seven people to test me. If the few of us here could attack, then with me and Mister Xie Xuan joining forces, those seven people wouldn’t even be able to leave in one piece. However, we only made use of their weakness to force them to retreat. If our opponent just thought about it, they would have realised something was wrong here. What’s more, I’m guessing that our opponent has more than these seven medicine men. He probably has a more perfected and more powerful medicine man," Qi Tianchen said in a low voice. "I have two more pieces of heavenly talismans and can force them to retreat two more times. Within these two chances, can your friends arrive in time?"

Ye Ruoyi drew a peach wood sword from her waist and smiled. "If they don’t get here, there’s still me, right? State Preceptor, don’t rush to use your two heavenly talismans. Let me delay them for a while."

"This is?" Qi Tianchen was surprised.

"I just went to the Directorate of Astronomy and spotted the Heavenly Way Talisman sword I used to use. So, I thought I’d bring it back with me, but I didn’t expect it would come in useful here," Ye Ruoyi said.

"Screech!"

Another scream sounded.

Qi Tianchen whirled around. This scream and the one before came from completely different positions. The person in control seemed to have guessed that his own identity had been exposed.

The seven killers leaped over the wall again.

Ye Ruoyi swung her peach wood sword in a circle and said softly, "State Preceptor, may I borrow your heavenly talisman."

Qi Tianchen flicked his long sleeves, and a heavenly talisman flew out. Ye Ruoyi received the talisman and affixed it onto the sword. The heavenly talisman disintegrated instantly, and the peach wood sword became a sword of fire. Ye Ruoyi leaped into the courtyard and swung her talisman sword at the seven killers. They feared the flames on the talisman sword and were frightened into retreating hurriedly. Ye Ruoyi swung her sword again, the talisman sword striking three people who crumpled to the ground, unmoving.

Ye Ruoyi was able to confirm something immediately. These few medicine men were definitely not from the Hidden River. Even the lowest level assassin of the Hidden River would not be so easily defeated, even before they were turned into medicine men.

They were bait.

"Screech screech!"

The scream sounded again.

Three black-robed killers leaped up at the same time, the long swords in their hands gleaming coldly in the moonlight.

Ye Ruoyi raised her talisman sword and barely managed to block a blow as she retreated three steps.

However, the three killers came at her with their swords again.

"Back off!"

A loud yell sounded.

The moon was high in the sky, but the moonlight flashed from below.