155 - Douluo: Martial Spirit Blue Silver Grass

Chapter 155: The Days and Nights of Reincarnating as the Malicious Senior Sister - A GL Story In Gui Xi City, the martial arts competition had commenced. Jiu Ying and Fu Ling lingered at the back of the crowd, their gazes fixed on the elevated platform, where two tall and poised figures stood prominently. Compared to the son of E Jiao, their interest leaned more towards the left-handed sword cultivator. Moments later, their eyes instinctively shifted to the left side of the platform— In the corner stood a young man clad in a simple green robe, his stature slightly lean. When the night wind blew, the hem of his long robe fluttered, endowing him with an air of unrestrained elegance. His right hand hung silently by his side, devoid of any weapon, while his left clung firmly to an ebony long sword. That sword was not the Ling Xu sword. Fu Ling was taken aback and, upon gazing further up, noticed the young man's face was concealed by a half mask, obscuring a portion of his features. No wonder he’s called Rong Ban Cang. She turned to Jiu Ying, eyes brimming with curiosity. "Senior Sister, is that Brother Lin?" From physique alone, he bore a resemblance to Lin Yu Miao, but without seeing his full face, no one could confirm his true identity. Jiu Ying shook her head, choosing not to reply. On the platform, the two had already concluded a round. As Xin Tao had mentioned, Ming Guang, the greatest general of the demon clan, proved formidable. Though the young man wielded his sword adeptly, he only managed a draw against him. The audience below dared not breathe, their attention wholly absorbed by the spectacle above. Many sword cultivators watched and discussed among themselves, marveling at the mysterious and powerful left-handed swordsmanship. Ming Guang was there on his father's orders to avenge the five disciples slain in the arena. Each of his moves carried his utmost effort, desperate to ensure Rong Ban Cang didn’t leave the platform alive. The battle intensified. The sword danced nimbly, the young man's movements fluid and swift as the wind. In contrast, Ming Guang, with his bare torso and muscular arms, appeared laborious and cumbersome. Yet, amidst the spectators focusing on the apparent stalemate, they missed a crucial detail— Rong Ban Cang wasn't attacking any random spot; he only targeted the dragon's hand. Jiu Ying noticed this peculiarity and grew increasingly puzzled. As she scrutinized their exchanges, she realized the underlying intention. It was not until the young man tossed his sword skyward, transforming it into ten swords striking at the dragon from all directions, that she fully comprehended— Rong Ban Cang never intended to kill Ming Guang. What he truly aimed to do was force Ming Guang to reveal his true form. Or, more accurately, to force him to reveal the dragon's arm. This person undoubtedly was Lin Yu Miao. Connecting this to Lu Qi's murder, Jiu Ying instantly deduced his reason for coming to Gui Xi City was clear. Ming Guang, not as agile as a sword cultivator, became increasingly frustrated with each of the swords' teasing, finally igniting his inner rage. Their duel grew fiercer, yet neither could claim victory. E Jiao, one of the four elders of the demon clan, watched the battle amidst the crowd. Seeing his son continually humiliated, fury surged within him. Rong Ban Cang had slain his five disciples and now treated his son as a plaything; he was determined to teach this reckless sword cultivator a bloody lesson! Drawing his hand from his sleeve, he revealed three moths resting in his palm. These moths were extremely small, their bodies entirely black, merging seamlessly with the night sky, rendering them nearly invisible. Neither Jiu Ying nor Fu Ling on the ground were aware, nor was the young man on stage, until one poisonous moth fluttered before his eyes, attempting to burrow into them. Instinctively, he withdrew his sword, using its blade to reflect a blinding light, driving the moth back into darkness. This sudden movement caused an uproar below. Jiu Ying vaguely sensed something amiss, her brow furrowing slightly. "Someone is attacking Rong Ban Cang in secret." Hearing this, Fu Ling paused. Thinking of the possibility that the young man might be Lin Yu Miao, she grew anxious. She looked up, and indeed, facing Ming Guang’s advances, Rong Ban Cang ceased counterattacking, merely dodging across the arena, sword in hand. Clearly, the true danger wasn't the dragon, but something else. As the young man began to falter, Fu Ling bit her lip, a few drops of translucent water collecting at her fingertips. Concealed within her sleeve, she directed them skyward, transforming the droplets into a thin water film covering Rong Ban Cang's mask. The film was so thin it adhered instantly, unnoticed by anyone. Simultaneously, three black moths darted towards his eyes, while Ming Guang launched his final strike from behind— At such a moment, preserving one's life took precedence. The young man ignored the poisonous moths, swiftly raising his left arm to deliver a fierce blow with his sword as the dragon let down its guard. Striking in human form, the sword would certainly sever half an arm. Ming Guang had no choice but to reveal his true form, using his draconic palm to receive the blow. Finally, Rong Ban Cang glimpsed the dragon's claw. Identical to the scar on Lu Qi’s chest. Without a doubt, the one who murdered Lu Qi in the Ling Mountain cave wasn’t just any of the demon clan’s elders; it was E Jiao or his son, Ming Guang. Hatred surged violently within the young man’s heart, concentrating the rage and bitterness into his five fingers. Clenching harder, he hacked off Ming Guang’s dragon claw. The match continued as before, but watching his son amputated from the crowd, E Jiao could no longer stand idly by. Ignoring the rules, he leaped onto the platform and, before everyone’s eyes, carried Ming Guang away. In a martial arts contest, death wasn't a necessity; determining a victor sufficed. With Ming Guang’s departure, the outcome of this duel was unmistakably clear. Rong Ban Cang had won again. Blood trickled from the sword tip, pooling drop by drop on the platform. The young man sheathed his weapon and was about to step down when he noticed— The three black moths had vanished. Lowering his head, he peered at the ground under the dim moonlight and soon spotted the three moths on the ground. Strangely, they were all dead. Next to their bodies lay nothing but a thin puddle of water. Could it be—someone in the crowd had intervened to assist him? Baffled, the young man swiftly descended from the stage. As the duel concluded, the crowd began to disperse. Scanning the crowd, his sight caught upon two familiar faces. Rong Ban Cang strode towards Jiu Ying and Fu Ling, not concealing his identity. With people still around, he couldn’t remove his mask, so he led them to a shadowed corner. Once alone, he finally revealed his true face— It was Lin Yu Miao. "Brother Lin, what are you doing here?!" Meeting a good friend in an unfamiliar place was truly a fortunate occurrence. Fu Ling was delighted, reassured that she had helped the right person, her eyes shining with even more joy. The three had long known each other, their relationships close. Lin Yu Miao wasted no time sharing his purpose for being there. As Jiu Ying had surmised, his arrival was to investigate the truth behind Lu Qi’s death. His days of waiting were not in vain, and tonight he finally lured E Jiao out. Recalling the three suddenly dead moths, he realized who had aided him. "Someone released the black moths to harm my eyes, but thanks to the intervention of two young ladies, I was fortunate to survive." Jiu Ying paused at his words, quickly understanding that Fu Ling had secretly lent a hand. Unexpectedly, a sense of pride and satisfaction welled within her. It seemed, unbeknownst to her, Fu Ling had gained the ability to protect her friends. Just like when she had wished to kill the Demon Concubine to avenge Fang Yuan Qing. She wanted to clarify that the deed was solely Fu Ling’s accomplishment, but before she could speak, the youthful voice sounded beside her— "Brother Lin, there's no need to be so polite." "My Senior Sister and I had heard a left-handed sword cultivator was participating tonight, and we guessed it was you, Brother Lin. Under such dire circumstances, naturally, we had to help." The once unruly girl could now respond gracefully to a friend's gratitude, proving she had grown considerably. Jiu Ying stood silently by, listening to Fu Ling conversing with Lin Yu Miao. The more she witnessed, the prouder she became. The sensible and outstanding Fu Ling before her was someone she had personally nurtured. The three stood in the darkness for a while longer before Lin Yu Miao revealed another surprising piece of news— Yuan Xi Shuang had also come to Gui Xi City. Hearing this, Jiu Ying's expression immediately darkened. "This place is teeming with members of the demon clan. How could Xuan Ming Sect allow her to come to such a perilous location?" Lin Yu Miao, too, was troubled by this. After a moment's hesitation, he explained, "Miss Yuan snuck here alone yesterday. She hasn't left her home in months and just wanted to get out for a while." To clear her head? The more he spoke, the more Jiu Ying's eyes grew cold, her tone suddenly icy. "Young Master Lin, we went through so much, paid such a high price to rescue her, and yet she remains unaware of her dangerous circumstances. How could you not realize it either?" "Does she comprehend the consequences of her venture? What if one of the demon clan elders discovers her here and captures her again?" Yuan Xi Shuang's actions showed a total disregard for her own safety. Such recklessness was even more extreme than Fu Ling three years ago. At least then, once Fu Ling knew someone wanted her dead, she never left the sect alone. Jiu Ying was genuinely furious. Lin Yu Miao wanted to say something but couldn't find the words. Yuan Xi Shuang held a unique place in his heart. It was for her that he first gained the Ling Xu sword's approval. To him, she was one of a kind in this world. How could he not understand the gravity of Jiu Ying's words? Yet, because the doer of such acts was Yuan Xi Shuang, it all seemed justified. The atmosphere grew tense. Fu Ling glanced between her Senior Sister and Lin Yu Miao, her lips parting, but only spoke once silence had fully enveloped them— "Brother Lin, could you take us to see Miss Yuan? My Senior Sister and I haven't met with her for quite a while." Her suggestion offered a way out, and gratitude flickered in Lin Yu Miao's eyes as he quickly took her cue. "I've settled her in a small, remote courtyard. It's unlikely anyone will notice." At this point, the blame did not rest with Lin Yu Miao. Xuan Ming Sect had been in disarray recently. Fang Si Mian was busy dealing with the chaos left behind by Fang Ke Yuan, while Fang Si Jian was preoccupied with his comatose sister, leaving less attention for Yuan Xi Shuang. Without such neglect, she couldn't have slipped away. Jiu Ying's demeanor was icy. Occasionally, her gaze fell on Lin Yu Miao's right hand, and she felt a mix of anger and pity. Yuan Xi Shuang's life had been bought at the cost of Lin Yu Miao's right hand. Seeing her so careless about her own life now was profoundly disappointing. The trio made their way to a small courtyard in the east of the city under the moonlight. Yuan Xi Shuang sat alone in the courtyard, her eyes watching the entrance, as if waiting for someone's return. Lin Yu Miao entered first, followed by Fu Ling, and lastly, Jiu Ying. Yuan Xi Shuang's gaze swept over the three, lingering on a familiar, elegant face, before she clutched her handkerchief and rose to greet them. It was evident— She hadn't been waiting for Lin Yu Miao, but for Jiu Ying.