Chapter 445: Inside the Idle Cloud Pavilion

Chapter 445: Inside the Leisure Cloud Pavilion

Su Mo's words instantly caught the attention of Yang Xiaoyun and the others.

Thinking it over, his reasoning indeed made sense.

The Qi family held a high status on Tianqi Island, their power stretching across dozens of islands, and their ranks were surely packed with martial arts masters.

The South Sea Alliance, one of the three major powers in the South Sea, was even more powerful.

Under such circumstances, if the Qi family truly sought Su Mo's assistance, their adversary must be something special.

Yang Xiaoyun suddenly got an idea and glanced at Su Mo:

"Husband..."

"Hmm?"

Su Mo looked at her. "What is it, wife?"

"I suddenly recalled the BloodWeeping Sword Slave," Yang Xiaoyun said softly. "This person disappeared completely, yet rumors of violent crimes continued to surface.

"And it seemed they were always hovering nearby...

"Only when we picked up our pace did the rumors gradually fade.

"Do you think... the BloodWeeping Sword Slave might be after this place?"

Wei Ziyi frowned upon hearing this:

"Could the Qi family have committed some terrible crime?

"The BloodWeeping Sword Slave is bound to the sword for life.

"To willingly become a sword slave just to seek revenge on the Qi family—what kind of burning hatred could that be?"

"Don't assume the worst, Ziyi," Yang Xiaoyun quickly interjected. "This is just a guess on my part."

Su Mo also nodded. "After all, the idea of them seeking my help is just my guess.

"It's too early to make assumptions yet.

"We'll only know for sure once we arrive at the Qi family..."

"Mmm."

Wei Ziyi nodded slightly, though her brows still looked worried.

Her feelings toward the Qi family were much more complicated than those of Su Mo and the others.

Biologically, Qi Dingtian, the head of the Qi family, was her grandfather on her mother's side.

Even though they had never met, Wei Ziyi couldn't shake a small longing for him.

Yet there was also a lingering unease.

What kind of man was this grandfather?

Though Yang Xiaoyun's words were merely a minor conjecture, if Qi Dingtian had truly driven someone to willingly become a blade-bound servant just to seek vengeance, it would inevitably make Wei Ziyi question whether he had indeed committed some heinous deed.

For a moment, her mind swirled with conflicting thoughts.

But as Su Mo had said, there was no point dwelling on it now.

They would have to wait until they arrived at the Qi family to draw conclusions.

Time passed quickly. The carriage bumped along the road, and in less than half an hour, they had already reached the gates of the Qi residence.

Upon entering the city, Su Mo had lifted the curtain and glanced outside at the city of Tianqi.

The streets were neat yet lively, filled with itinerant traders, ordinary folks, and martial artists alike.

Following the road forward, they reached the center of the quadrangular city, where a sprawling compound stood.

From a distance, it looked like a city within a city.

The imposing gateway could accommodate three carriages side by side, and above it hung a plaque inscribed with the words: "Qi Manor!"

Qi family sentries stood watch at the entrance, with at least a dozen visible at a glance.

Wang Shengyuan signaled for the gates to open and, without dismounting, led the carriage straight inside.

Within the manor, patrols of guards were frequent, making the security formidable.

After passing through the main gate, the interior pathways were just as wide.

Wang Shengyuan guided Su Mo and the others to a large courtyard, where he brought the carriage to a stop.

He dismounted first, invited Su Mo and the others to step down, and then said with a smile:

"Hero Su, we’ve arrived.

"Let me first see to your lodgings."

"No rush," Su Mo replied with a smile. "Let’s first pay our respects to your clan patriarch."

Wang Shengyuan nodded.

"Very well. In that case, please follow me."

He led the way, with Su Mo and the others following behind.

Along the path, the Qi Manor proved to be sprawling and impressive, its layout showcasing masterful design.

Apart from the guards, men in black robes with the character "Qi" embroidered on their chests could be seen everywhere.

Some formed orderly formations, practicing martial arts in the training grounds; others sat in small groups under the shade of trees, reading books; and still others sparred in pairs, their techniques were raw yet showed surprising depth.

Su Mo casually asked:

"Brother Wang, what is this?"

"Ah, Brother Su, you might not know this," Wang Shengyuan said with a smile. "Our Qi Clan is indeed a clan, but in truth, we are also a martial arts school.

"Our family head is affiliated with the Third Elder of the Southern Sea Alliance.

"However, our family's martial arts are not inherited from the Southern Sea Alliance.

"Our ancestors established themselves here and built the Qi clan's legacy.

"Initially, the martial arts within the clan were indeed not taught to outsiders.

"But..."

He paused slightly before continuing,

"At that time, it coincided with the fall of the Great Xuan Dynasty, and the world was plunged into endless chaos and turmoil.

"Some used martial arts to commit atrocities, wreaking havoc in the Southern Sea and causing countless deaths.

"Ordinary folks, lacking martial arts to protect themselves, inevitably ended up dead.

"In the end, the Third Ancestor, after much reflection, decided to break with tradition and began teaching the family’s martial arts to outsiders.

"He even created three signature techniques—Mountain Rain Fist, Flying Flower Palm, and Unfixed Finger—and taught them openly to disciples.

"He dedicated his life to the ambition of restoring order in the Southern Sea.

"Over the next decade or so, our Qi Clan trained many masters who roamed across the Southern Sea.

"They contributed greatly to what is now the three-way split of the Southern Sea.

"However, the Third Ancestor never sought fame.

"After achieving his goals, he returned to Tianqi Island... and these events gradually were forgotten.

"The martial arts masters who left the Qi Clan back then also retreated into seclusion, disappearing from the jianghu."

"So that’s how it is. There’s actually such a history behind this," Su Mo remarked admiringly. "The deeds of this Third Ancestor are truly commendable."

Wang Shengyuan smiled and said, "Indeed. The Third Ancestor cared for the world but was never sought fame, setting a model for generations.

"After the dust settled, though most had already dispersed,

"some still returned to the Qi Clan.

"It was from then on that the Qi Clan formally established its inner and outer schools.

"The outer school techniques are the three signature techniques I mentioned earlier, while the internal teachings are the family's core arts.

"For many years afterward, the Qi Clan kept to ourselves peacefully.

"It wasn’t until the fourth-generation patriarch succeeded that came the rise of Tianqi, Tianshuang, and Tianlong (three cities) forming a tripartite balance."

"The world doesn't know the full story, assuming our Qi family came to power later.

"But that's not the case.

"The Qi family's status has never changed.

"However, the previous family head had no choice but to join the South Sea Alliance due to the turmoil in the South Sea, which led to our current circumstances."

As they spoke, the group walked on and soon entered the inner courtyard.

Wang Shengyuan led Su Mo and the others to a hall. Above the door, a plaque bore three large characters: "Pavilion of Carefree Clouds."

Before Wang Shengyuan could step inside to announce their arrival, an angry shout erupted:

"Die, you bastard!"

Immediately after, a flash of sword qi and gleaming blades, followed by a loud bang—combat had already erupted inside the hall.

Wang Shengyuan’s expression changed. "Trouble—"

He hurriedly rushed into the hall.

After exchanging a glance, Su Mo and Yang Xiaoyun quickly followed.

Upon entering, they saw two figures leaping and weaving—one wielded a short blade, his movements swift as a lightning storm.

What seemed like one fighter was actually two.

One was a hulking figure holding a broadsword. Though his movements were slow, every swing packed tremendous power.

His footwork was unusually intricate, shifting within a small space while covering all directions.

The other was a strange, gaunt, simian figure, small and thin, perched atop the burly man’s shoulders. In his hands were two unusually long swords.

Though not as exaggerated as the seven-foot sword of the Qilin Swordsman, they were still over five feet long.

The swordplay was imposing yet deceptive, utterly bizarre.

The swordsman’s blade gleam was almost entirely blocked by these two long swords.

Apart from these three combatants, there were four others seated in the hall.

At the head sat a white-haired elder, his brows tightly furrowed, watching the scene before him with visible impatience.

To his left sat an old woman, head bowed, nibbling at an apple.

Her teeth were uneven, gouging jagged trenches in the apple. Though she ate little of the fruit, she savored every tiny bite with evident delight.

Opposite her was a burly man with flame-red hair and a flushed face, his robe open, one hand patting his round belly while the other held a wine gourd.

His eyes occasionally flicked toward the three fighters, but he looked bored.

To his left was a young man in black, barely twenty, his face stern and brows knitted in a frown.

Among the group that had arrived with Su Mo, Shangguan Jingjing, who had been spaced out, suddenly brightened at the sight of him and instinctively blurted out:

"Big Brother Ximen!"

The cry rang out through the hall, immediately drawing the attention of everyone present.

The black-clad man referred to as "Big Brother Ximen" went pale instantly:

"My Jingjing?"

A moment of stunned silence later, his expression twisted with panic: "Jingjing, run!!!"

Shangguan Jingjing had pined for him day and night, and now that they were finally reunited, she couldn't understand why he was suddenly urging her to flee.

Confusion swirled in her mind, yet her feet seemed to move on their own, dragging her toward the young man.

The young man remained seated, his face twisted with desperation, yet he couldn't budge an inch.

Veins bulged on his forehead as he bellowed:

"RUN!!!"

"Shut up!"

The shout rankled the strange man wielding twin swords.

In the midst of a life-and-death battle, someone was yelling incessantly beside him—downright unacceptable.

With a flick of his swords, he forced the knife-wielder back, then casually pointed one blade forward. An arc of sword energy tore through the air, aimed straight for the young man's brow.

Unable to move, the young man could only close his eyes and await death.

Unexpectedly, a large hand shot out and shattered the sword qi. The red-faced man beside the youth had intervened.

He glanced coldly at the strange man:

"Old Ghost, I don’t care about your fight, but attacking my money tree for no reason…

"Are you looking to die?"

"Demon Ghost Sword has never known his place, and that’s nothing new."

The knife-wielder weaved through the hall, still managing to jeer mid-stride: "But he can end that today."

"Bullshit!"

The strange man snarled, and the fat man beneath him bellowed in tandem. His legs shifted rapidly, adjusting their stance, while the strange man’s twin swords unleashed a whirlwind of sword qi, surging in all directions.

The knife-wielder, who had been darting through the hall, suddenly halted.

Retracting his blade, his figure flickered to the side, landing on the wall.

Perched diagonally against it, he poured his energy into the short blade. In an instant, the knife flashed brilliantly, slicing through the storm of sword qi like a blade parting waves.

With unstoppable momentum, he lunged straight for the strange man’s forehead.

But at that moment, the fat man abruptly planted his feet. Gripping his massive blade with both hands, he swung it upward with terrifying force.

Razor-sharp knife light coalesced at the edge, forming an unstoppable slash.

With a rending sound, the carpet beneath them was shredded by the invisible blade force, and the stone floor split with deep gashes.

As the blade's light rose, it was about to split the swordsman in two.

"Enough!"

Seeing that things would inevitably turn deadly if this continued,

the old man who had been sitting motionless at the head of the hall suddenly stood up, took a step forward, and without any visible movement, found himself between the two blades.

With one hand on each, he caught them with his bare palms.

He actually managed to hold both blades firmly.

The sharpness of the blades dissipated completely under his grip.

The strange creature on the fat man had used all its tricks, only to be caught off guard by the swordsman, nearly losing its life to a single strike.

Now, having regained its composure, it raised its twin swords, ready to take advantage of the moment when the swordsman was restrained, aiming to pierce him through.

Seeing this, the old man's anger flared:

"I said, enough!"

He casually released the fat man’s blade, then with a flick of his sleeve, a surge of inner strength erupted.

The fat man was forced back several steps, and the creature on his neck had its two long swords shaken away, gnashing its teeth in frustration:

"Qi Dingtian, we came here with good intentions, and this is how you repay us?"

"Good intentions?"

Qi Dingtian suddenly turned around, his white beard and hair flying wildly:

"Did I show you too much respect?

"You think I don’t see right through you?

"Stay in line, and maybe—just maybe—you’ll walk out of here.

"Otherwise, not only will your plans go up in smoke, but I’ll also see if you can even leave Tianqi Island alive!"

"You!"

Demon Ghost Sword scowled, but his eyes flickered with unease.

That "You" was all he could muster before clamming up.

Seeing this, the blademaster burst into laughter:

"Demon Ghost Sword—spineless as ever."

"Big talk from you—shut it!"

Qi Dingtian flicked his wrist, sending the blademaster sprawling:

"Barging into my home, tearing shit up—you even cracked the damn floor!

"What the hell is wrong with you?!

"All of you talk big about helping, but you’re just vultures picking at the scraps."

"Patriarch Qi, Patriarch Qi, watch your tongue!"

An old servant hurried over and whispered a warning.

Qi Dingtian's anger had yet to subside, but upon hearing this, he exhaled and managed a smile:

"Enough, enough. We're all friends here. Let’s call it quits, for my sake. Come, come, please take your seats."

As he spoke, he glanced toward the door.

When he spotted Wang Shengyuan standing there, his face brightened, and he immediately scanned the crowd for Su Mo and the rest.

His eyes initially locked onto Su Mo, but for some reason, they soon landed on Wei Ziyi's face.

He gaped:

"What in the—

"Am I seein’ things?

"You—"

Before he could finish, a booming laugh cut in:

"Today, I must apologize to Patriarch Qi once more—my golden goose is back.

"So I’ve got to step in again. But rest assured, there will be no bloodshed."

Qi Dingtian blinked. No bloodshed... Well, that didn’t rule out a scrap...

But where did all these money trees keep coming from?

As he pondered, the red-haired bruiser shot forward, his figure darting straight for the entrance.

Before his fingers even made contact, a blast of scorching heat roared ahead.

His target was none other than Shangguan Jingjing.

Shangguan Jingjing tensed, wanting to dodge, but she felt as if his grasp enveloped her from all sides—no way out.

Clenching her jaw, she mustered her inner force and raised her claws to meet the attack.

Though her Eagle Claw Technique was exquisite, the red-haired man's martial arts were extraordinary.

With a flick and a sweep of his fingers, he snagged Shangguan Jingjing's hands in one smooth motion.

Then, with a swift motion, his fingertips traced up her arms, locking down several pressure points in the blink of an eye.

Finally, he tapped two fingers directly onto her Xuanji acupoint.

This move had a name; it was a top-tier pressure-point strike.

The young master of the Ximen Family had been nailed by the same trick. Once the Xuanji acupoint was struck, it was game over.

Shangguan Jingjing's martial arts were just as good as the Ximen Family's young master, so naturally, she didn't stand a chance.

And true to his word to Qi Dingtian, he had acted without spilling a drop.

This was just about capturing someone.

But unexpectedly, at this very moment, something unexpected happened.

His finger simply wouldn't budge.

Shangguan Jingjing's Xuanji energy channel seemed to have opened a qi gate, with surging internal energy burst forth. The two fingers pressing down met an immovable force.

The burly man's expression changed, wondering if Shangguan Jingjing had secretly mastered some hidden martial art.

As the thought crossed his mind, his energy surged in a new direction, his fiery red hair flaring like wildfire.

The two raised fingers burned with a crimson glow, scorching the air.

His internal energy was already formidable, yet for some reason, he still couldn't press down.

"What devilry is this?"

He widened his eyes in shock, almost unable to believe it.

But at that moment, the previously restrained internal energy suddenly rebounded.

With two crisp *cracks*, the burly man's two fingers snapped backward at a sickening angle, cleanly breaking.

This time, blood sprayed—bone jutted through torn flesh.

The burly man's face paled. He raised his left hand and struck out fiercely, only to hear a *buzz* as his palm met searing heat.

His palm seared as if dunked in boiling oil.

Before he could react, an overwhelmingly powerful surge of internal energy blasted toward him.

In an instant, he was hurled backward like a ragdoll, crashing directly into Qi Dingtian, who had been watching the show.

Qi Dingtian saw this but ignored him completely, merely sidestepping. Only when the burly man collided with his chair did he hurriedly exclaim:

"Damn it, my mahogany chair!"

But it was too late—a loud *crack* echoed.

The fine mahogany chair shattered into pieces, and the burly man slammed into the wall behind it. With a *wah*, he spat out a mouthful of blood, gritting his teeth as he lifted his head:

"Who's responsible?!"