Chapter 2036: See the Living, See the Corpse

"Damn it." Yang Ge Lao was furious and immediately stood up, wanting to charge into the tavern to slaughter those beasts.

Before he could take a step, more commotion erupted from the tavern—sounds of wine jars shattering, tables and chairs being flung around, cursing, and angry shouts all mixed together, as if a fight had broken out.

Soon, over a dozen figures were hurled out of the tavern one after another, smashing straight into the teahouse across the street. Yang Xuan nearly exploded with rage. Damn it, had they gotten addicted to smashing things?

The noise drew a crowd of onlookers on the street, their eyes all fixed on the tavern.

What audacity to attack a general!

Under the watchful gazes of the crowd, a figure appeared on the tavern's roof—it was a woman with her face covered by a black cloth, revealing only a pair of beautiful eyes. It was none other than Xia Lan. Yang Ge Lao had gone out to chat with Ye Chen, but she had stayed in the tavern and couldn't ignore the sight of Dao Ba Jiang Jun causing havoc.

She was clever, though, covering her face to avoid trouble for Yao Yue Gong. After all, she was fighting a general under Yan Wang's command, which wasn't a joke. Provoking Dao Ba Jiang Jun was one thing, but if it led to offending Yan Wang, it would be catastrophic. Yao Yue Gong was strong, but it couldn't withstand an army—it could be wiped out in less than an hour.

"Capture her! Seize her for me!" From the ruins of the teahouse, Dao Ba Jiang Jun staggered to his feet, gripping his long sword and pointing toward the tavern. His hair was disheveled, like a mad dog howling, his fierce face twisted like a demon, and his bloodshot, drunken eyes burned with rage.

At his command, martial arts experts hidden in the shadows emerged, numbering in the hundreds, all with exceptional lightness skills, charging toward the roof.

About a third of them were there to protect Dao Ba Jiang Jun, while the rest had come to capture Yang Xuan. With Yan Wang's general in trouble, they all rushed to help, and catching Xia Lan would be a great achievement.

Xia Lan's expression remained indifferent. She turned and leaped away, using her lightness skill to hop from rooftop to rooftop, fleeing toward the outskirts of the town to avoid involving the civilians of Zhu Xian Zhen.

"Chase her! Chase her for me—must see her alive, must see her corpse!" Dao Ba Jiang Jun roared like a devil.

With that, he mounted his warhorse and galloped off, his soldiers scrambling to follow. One of them even fired a signal flare to summon reinforcements.

Meanwhile, the army of ten thousand that had been guarding the old grave set out immediately, heading straight for the town.

Back at the tavern, Yang Ge Lao had returned, changed into night clothes, and applied a human skin mask to disguise his face. Only then did he shoulder his Xuan Lei Jian and set off to pursue Xia Lan. Though she was strong, she couldn't handle being surrounded on all sides—if caught, she'd be doomed. He couldn't just stand by.

"Little friend, please help save the innkeeper," he said to Ye Chen before leaving.

"Understood." Ye Chen stood up and helped the unconscious tavern keeper to his feet. The man was just an ordinary person without any internal energy to protect him, and Dao Ba Jiang Jun's kick had been devastating, breaking his ribs and causing severe internal injuries.

Fortunately, with Ye Chen there, he channeled internal energy into the keeper to stabilize his heart, saving his life.

The keeper's daughter was crying like a tearful mess, having never endured such a tragedy.

Yang Xuan emerged as well, hands in his pockets, leaning against the doorframe, surprised by Ye Chen's actions. In his memory, Du Gu Jian Sheng was always arrogant and hated evil fiercely, yet he hadn't intervened this time—it was unexpected.

The people on the street were all pale-faced.

Yan Wang's general had been attacked in Zhu Xian Zhen—they feared a disaster was coming. With ten thousand troops bearing down, the town would be razed, and none of them would escape. This was a catastrophe on the scale of a massacre!

In a panic, whether vendors selling steamed buns or those setting up stalls, everyone hurriedly packed up and fled to their homes. Zhu Xian Zhen was no longer safe; better to escape while they could.

Thus, the bustling street descended into chaos, with people rushing about in disarray, leaving everything in a mess.

The calmest one was Ye Chen. After saving the tavern keeper, he sat back down, propping his chin on one hand, lost in thought, as if nothing had happened. He was unfazed by the chaotic street, having seen so much slaughter that he was accustomed to it. He wasn't a savior.

Outside the town, Xia Lan had fled into the mountains.

Hordes of martial arts experts swarmed in after her, their internal energy surging as arrows rained down.

Fighting soon erupted, and the mountains were stained with blood.

Xia Lan's skill was not weak, but the enemy outnumbered her greatly. Even as the palace master of Yao Yue Gong, she had to temporarily evade their attacks, especially with ten thousand troops closing in from outside.

Night fell, shrouding the mountains in darkness.

Xia Lan couldn't break through and was trapped in the mountain forest. Clutching her blood-soaked arm, she stumbled and hid behind a rock to rest, spitting up blood multiple times, her face deathly pale.

"Female hero, there's no point hiding—you can't escape." A eerie laugh echoed as three figures approached: a bald burly man, a white-clothed young man, and a pockmarked elder.

Xia Lan said nothing, drawing her sword and staring coldly at the three. She knew their backgrounds well; their skills were far inferior to hers on a normal day, but now, gravely injured, she was no match for them.

"Kill her." The pockmarked elder gave the order and struck first, his palm wind fierce.

Xia Lan didn't meet him head-on. She tapped her toes on the rock and leaped up to dodge, but the bald burly man charged in, swinging his ghost-headed blade with dominating energy, forcing her to stagger back.

"Die!" The white-clothed young man sneered and thrust his sword.

Xia Lan steadied herself and flicked her hand, sending out three silver needles.

The young man's expression changed as he shifted to defense, blocking two needles, but the third pierced his chest.

"Flower Rain Needles—you're from Yao Yue Gong." The young man snorted coldly, forcing out the needle and narrowing his eyes at Xia Lan.

"I've heard that women from Yao Yue Gong are all stunning beauties. Today, this old man wants to see if the rumors are true." The pockmarked elder licked his crimson lips, his eyes filled with lustful intent.

With that, he flicked his sleeve, sending dozens of small flying daggers hurtling toward Xia Lan.

Xia Lan retreated, continuously swinging her sword to deflect the daggers.

In that instant, the pockmarked elder darted in like a ghost, his sword radiating energy.

Xia Lan vomited blood, her body swaying unsteadily. Blocking the daggers had taken all she had, and this sword strike was unavoidable.

But at that moment, a warm hand wrapped around her waist, followed by a dazzling spin.

When Xia Lan regained her bearings, she saw the pockmarked elder flying backward, his body and sword cleaved apart by someone in a single stroke. Even in death, his eyes showed utter disbelief, unable to comprehend where this person had come from.

The newcomer was Yang Ge Lao, his Xuan Lei Jian as sharp as cutting through iron, utterly dominant.

"It's you..." Xia Lan turned and stared blankly at Yang Ge Lao. Though his face was covered, she recognized him instantly—the one she often beat up was now saving her.

"Sorry, I arrived late." Yang Ge Lao smiled.

"Why get involved?"

"Who are you?" The white-clothed young man and the bald burly man shouted in unison, instinctively retreating. The pockmarked elder's gruesome death was fresh in their minds—this new arrival was incredibly formidable.

Yang Ge Lao didn't bother responding. He answered with overwhelming force, his footwork mysterious and elusive, his form like the wind, creating a series of illusions that made it impossible to tell which was real.

Xia Lan watched in astonishment, unaware that Yang Ge Lao's movement technique was so profound.

The young man and burly man were even more baffled—they'd roamed the martial world for years and had never seen anything like it.

Without a second thought, they turned and fled.

Clang!

The Xuan Lei Jian hummed with thunder, and with one strike, it felled the burly man.

The white-clothed young man fared no better, pierced through the heart from behind by Yang Ge Lao in a clean kill.

After dispatching the three, Yang Ge Lao stepped over to Xia Lan's side, feeding her a healing pill and using his internal energy to alleviate her injuries. Even so, her condition remained poor.

"Why did you save me?" Xia Lan's tone was no longer as cold.

"The elder said we're fated to be together." Yang Ge Lao chuckled.

"You actually believe in fortune-telling?" Xia Lan murmured, lowering her eyes, feeling an inexplicable flutter. The formidable palace master of Yao Yue Gong now seemed like a vulnerable young woman, her frozen heart slowly thawing.

"I do." Yang Ge Lao smiled warmly, lifted her onto his back, and walked away.

Under the moonlight, their shadows were solitary and melancholic, accompanied by starlight that added a touch of romance.

"This should be dramatic enough." Far away in Zhu Xian Zhen, Ye Chen stood quietly on the rooftop, smiling faintly as he gazed into the distance, as if he could see the elderly couple through the endless darkness. It was their destined trial, meant to ignite that long-delayed romance.

PS: Tomorrow's update time: 7 PM.