Volume One: The King's Decree Chapter Twenty-Seven: The Playful Dragon's Watery Dance

"Can he block sword energy?" Xie Dongting could hardly believe it. Sword energy was intangible, yet it had been intercepted in mid-air. The opponent's cultivation was not high, but his inner strength was thick and solid.

In that moment of hesitation, Liu Xiaoyi seized the opportunity, ducking low and slipping under the sword, returning to the open street.

Escape was now impossible. The killers had already surrounded the area. Without Xie Dongting's command, these eager assassins would not dare step forward to engage.

"So, you weren't using your full strength in the courtyard? Did you think so little of me?"

"A famed swordsman, one of the Eight Great Swordsmen, beaten so badly by a beggar—what a joke!"

Unable to defeat the other, Xie Dongting could at least not lose his composure. Yet Liu Xiaoyi’s taunts hit home, successfully sparking Xie Dongting’s anger. The proud swordsman launched himself forward in a dazzling display of footwork, sword slashing.

By his speed, no one below the fourth or fifth tier of the Earth Soul Realm could possibly react in time. But things did not go as he wished. Liu Xiaoyi, almost instinctively, pressed a single hand to his chest, pushing the blade aside so it struck only air.

This Flowing Dragon Technique was truly extraordinary, Liu Xiaoyi marveled inwardly. Though he was utterly exhausted, his inner reserves depleted, the footwork did not require true energy to activate. It depended solely on the body’s physical strength to withstand the pressure.

Every time danger drew near, he sensed it beforehand, swinging his arms to deflect the sword.

Once or twice, Xie Dongting could believe it was luck. But after more than ten exchanges without so much as grazing his opponent, his composure began to crack.

Meanwhile, the black-clad figure who had slipped out of Yongle Lane was crouched at the corner of a wall, observing the fight. Her voice was rich and magnetic as she rested her dagger under her chin, curling herself into a ball.

"The footwork is stiff—just learned, but not bad."

Her mission was to take the Night-Galloping Celestial Horse statue and leave. There was still time before the Fourth Prince’s appointed hour, so she wasn’t in a hurry to go.

Liu Xiaoyi darted about like a loach, weaving left and right. In a blink, he and Xie Dongting had exchanged over eighty moves, and he remained unharmed.

Xie Dongting finally lost patience. He had no time for this game of hide and seek. "All together! Cut him down!"

At his order, the killers surged forward to surround Liu Xiaoyi. The black-clad woman flicked her dagger downward, releasing a thick cloud of fog.

Liu Xiaoyi realized someone was secretly aiding him. Seizing the cover of swirling smoke, he slipped away, hugging the wall as he rolled and tumbled, then sprang forward like a hungry tiger, vaulting into the Shen family’s front courtyard.

He grabbed a sword from the ground and moved quickly, cautious yet swift. There was no time to clear his body’s meridians; the strain of the Flowing Dragon Technique had to be borne entirely by his muscles.

Soon his calves began to ache and tingle, but he forced himself onward, inching toward the central courtyard.

He could hear voices coming from the rear courtyard. The streets outside were strewn with corpses. Most likely, Yu Wenwan had followed Shen Zhong here.

He had acted on impulse to chase Chu Chunqiu, but in hindsight, he realized these matters were none of his business. Perhaps the "unsteady will" the elder had spoken of referred to this very thing—Liu Xiaoyi was always swayed by those around him. Recklessly pursuing the enemy was one such example; leaving the defenseless Yu Wenwan behind was another.

A swordsman must have unwavering conviction, firm as a rock.

The sword stood for sharpness and relentless advance. How could he be so hesitant and fearful? Always planning an escape before striking was unworthy of a swordsman.

Suddenly, Liu Xiaoyi realized: before every move, he always considered how to retreat if the attack failed. As a result, he always held back a third of his strength, the sword’s tip an inch too short.

He stood dumbly in the corridor of the central courtyard, lost in thought.

The rear courtyard was now clear of enemies. The city defense troops had occupied the grounds, hastily constructing fortifications. A soldier spotted Liu Xiaoyi and called out, "There’s another swordsman here!"

Shen Zhong hurriedly stopped the soldiers from advancing. "He’s one of us! Don’t harm him!"

The entire courtyard was filled with unfamiliar faces. Who was this battered youth?

"Father, Deputy Commander Xu, this is Brother Liu, who helped us on the road. I mentioned him before—Master Zhong knows him." Shen Zhong quickly introduced him to everyone.

Zhongli’s arm was stained red with blood. He whispered to Shen Desan, who nodded repeatedly. Without Liu Xiaoyi’s help, their journey would have been much more perilous.

Yu Wenwan ran from the house and threw her arms around Liu Xiaoyi’s waist. Both excited and frightened, she clung to the first familiar face she saw and wouldn’t let go no matter how he shook her. Liu Xiaoyi blushed, while everyone around burst out laughing.

So this was the martial world—Changle City, full of flashing blades and scattered corpses. In the three Shen family courtyards alone, at least five or six hundred people had perished.

The not-quite-dead still trembled, their faint moans echoing from the shadows, lending a grim air.

Only about twenty Shen family retainers remained, all wounded, huddling near Shen Desan.

The helpers he’d hired had largely fallen in the central courtyard. All were spent forces now.

He Qingqing had never met Liu Xiaoyi, but when she saw the powder on his shoulder, her face lit up. "Senior Sister is here! Where are you? Stop hiding and come out!"

With her shout, a shadow gradually appeared at the base of the wall—the same woman who had slipped out of Yongle Lane.

Shen Desan recognized her as the one who had arranged with the Fourth Prince to take the Night-Galloping Celestial Horse statue. But midnight was still a ways off—why had she come early?

"Junior Sister, you have sharp eyes. I was planning to wait until midnight. Master Shen, we meet again." He Qingqing’s senior sister was named Xiao Le. She had trained with the legendary thief since childhood, mastering most of her skills.

Shen Desan clasped his hands in greeting. "Since you’re here, come with me and take the Celestial Horse statue."

But Xiao Le didn’t move, instead clicking her tongue at the ruined courtyard, her face tinged with sorrow.

"Master Shen, things have changed. Not only must we take the Celestial Horse, but all of you must come with me tonight."

"Why? Wasn’t the agreement with the Fourth Prince to take only the statue?"

"Changle City has fallen to the Blue Plume Army. It’s no longer safe here—you must not throw your lives away." Xiao Le shot Shen Xu a meaningful look. Shen Xu, clever as ice and snow, instantly understood.

She spoke up as well. "Father, Qingqing and Senior Sister have always taken care of me. Everyone’s wounded; we can’t risk any more danger. Let’s go, quickly."

He always listened to his daughter. Knowing he’d lose an argument, he ordered the household to pack their things. Before leaving, he set a fire in the secret chamber to destroy everything they couldn’t take.

Of course, Liu Xiaoyi and Yu Wenwan were bundled into a carriage by Shen Zhong, given all manner of restorative pills and medicines.

The Shen family, a grand household, had over a dozen carriages, all racing for the north gate of Changle City.

Xu Yin led his troops, escorting them all the way. At the gate, he planted his spear, clasped his fists, and said, "Take care, Brother Shen!"

"Deputy Commander Xu, won’t you come with us?"

"I am Deputy Commander of Changle City. As long as the city stands, so do I. Forgive me for not going further."

With that, he turned his horse and rode back toward Yongle Lane.