The Legend of Su Kuang By Piao Deng - Chapter 04
Chapter 4 « Prelude: Breaking the Formation – Dragon’s Roar » (4)
The Might of the Ancient Dragon
Echoes of the Roar
Even the Scorched Wasteland Trembles
Blood-stained vastness turns to mournful cries
Dawn breaks in silence
An inch of heart severed
Carrying sorrow across the ferry wheel
Cloaked in black with a bamboo hat, their movements were perfectly synchronized—when one moved fast, the other matched; when one slowed, the other followed suit.
Long Qing seemed to be playing around with a mischievous air, yet their skills were evenly matched. After half an hour of pursuit, the distance between them remained unchanged.
Long Qing stomped her foot in frustration and abruptly stopped chasing. Instead, she sat down cross-legged on the ground. Though she was still some distance away, her sharp eyes could clearly discern the chilling aura emanating from beneath the other’s hat.
Long Qing’s stubborn temper flared up, and she chased relentlessly. Feng Xi, with a playful smirk, dodged and weaved, lifting his hand to block, then swiftly sidestepping—his fingers dancing at her side—
« Seems like it’s leading us somewhere, » Feng Xi murmured softly.
Long Qing snorted, « As you wish! Who’s afraid of whom? »
Feng Xi said bitterly, « I’m not afraid of you, old hag, I’m Feng Wu. »
The second day, they dashed across a stretch of dark red and gray cold lava, swiftly turning and weaving, then burrowed into a narrow cave.
« Damn it! » Feng Xi shouted angrily. Long Qing swiftly leaped into the stone cave, while Feng Xi stomped her feet in frustration before chasing after him in a rage.
The cave was dim and stretched deep into the darkness, so pitch-black that one couldn’t even see their own outstretched fingers. Feng Xi, still fuming over Long Qing’s actions, snapped impatiently: « Following you blindly—are you out of your mind? The enemy lurks in the shadows. What if— »
Before she could finish, a surge of energy rushed toward them. Both dodged instinctively, narrowly avoiding the attack as they pressed against the cave wall. With a deafening crash, a massive boulder sealed the entrance, cutting off the last sliver of light and firmly blocking their exit. Feng Xi gasped in shock and rushed forward, only to freeze in horror—the boulder fit so tightly that not even a fist-sized gap remained. Unless they could shrink to the size of flies, escape seemed impossible.
Long Qing stood guard with his sword raised, his voice low and cautious: « You okay? »
Feng Xi turned around, « If we engage the enemy head-on, it will cost us too much time and effort. Instead, we should tunnel through the mountain—though the terrain is rugged and prone to tremors, with rocks likely to tumble down… » Before he could finish his sentence, the formidable foe loomed nearby. How could they afford to waste precious time digging a hole now?
Long Qing sneered: « You’re just stubborn, refusing to acknowledge the obvious. »
Feng Xi remained silent. In the darkness, her pale face was barely visible, with only a few strands of silver hair shimmering faintly: « You’ve always lost every bet you’ve made. This place is a field of flint and firestone, half of it a collapsing molten cave. I’m afraid we won’t even find a second exit. »
Long Qing laughed heartily, « Kill them all, leave none alive! »
A sinister voice echoed coldly: « What if I kill you? »
Long Qing shouted angrily: « Kill! Kill! What else can we do? »
His words were unexpectedly sharp.
The dragon and phoenix pair exchanged glances for a long moment, then suddenly realized something. Long Qing asked in surprise: « Could it be… that person? »
Precisely, » Feng Xi abruptly drew his phoenix-wing saber with a cold glint, « We must not let him escape again!
Long Qing angrily said, « You’re looking for trouble, aren’t you? »
Feng Xi and Dou Zui were bickering, and inevitably, Feng Xi ended up losing. Annoyed, she said, « Is this the real you, or just a fake version? I’d rather have that hoarse voice of yours back than listen to this nonsense. »
Long Qing trembled violently, murmuring: « Is that… you… really you? »
In the pitch-black darkness, two crisp sounds suddenly rang out: « It’s me… Second Brother, don’t move! If you take another step, you’ll fall into the abyss! »
Long Qing’s trembling voice was clearly audible, hoarse with emotion: « It’s you… it must be you! Don’t move! » Without a second thought for potential ambush, he charged recklessly into the darkness.
The speed of the stone door’s closing slowed abruptly as Feng Xi hurriedly pressed a palm print onto the wall. Nearby, the fiery molten caves were nothing compared to this place—hidden here was a treasure more precious than pearls.
The clash of blades—each strike carried a venomous intent. Feng Xi gripped his dagger tightly, his fingers brushing against the hilt while his other hand fumbled for the fire starter hidden in his sleeve. He dared not act rashly, instead feeling his way along the wall, silently slipping through the dark passage.
The sound of clashing swords grew faster and fiercer, the figures blurring until it was impossible to tell who was who. The rhythm of the fight grew finer, more urgent—clearly, both were masters of the sword. In the blink of an eye, Long Qing had already exchanged over a hundred moves with his opponent, yet neither had gained the upper hand.
Long Qing had always been known for his agility and ruthlessness. If even after a hundred exchanges he hadn’t managed to overpower his foe, then his opponent’s swordsmanship must be on par with—if not surpassing—his own.
But if even Long Qing couldn’t secure victory after a hundred moves, then Feng Xi’s chances were uncertain at best. The outcome of this battle was far from decided.
The sound of Feng Xi’s footsteps hesitated and stopped—could it be that the old fisherman had already arrived?
The footsteps suddenly ceased, and the cave became so quiet that even the sound of breathing could be heard clearly. At this moment, no matter whose breathing it was, the slightest movement seemed likely to reveal their position.
Long Qing and her companion leaped forward in unison, instantly positioning themselves in a strategic stance. Immediately after, they held their breath, as if preparing to engage in a life-or-death struggle.
In the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, the battlefield had already fallen silent, with only the lingering scent of blood and the oppressive aura of slaughter.
From the darkness, a voice suddenly rang out: « Second Brother, you’ve really fallen into a trap this time! »
Long Qing’s clear and cheerful laughter echoed through the air—almost as if she had been waiting for this moment. A burst of flames suddenly illuminated the scene—Feng Xi’s right hand held a knife pointed at the black-clad figure’s back, while his left sleeve, clad in tight-fitting martial attire, was already ablaze, leaving only a pristine white robe behind.
In the flickering firelight, the face beneath the bamboo hat appeared strikingly handsome yet weathered, with a few strands of silver hair standing out starkly against the black, revealing the marks of time. Long Qing shouted urgently, « Don’t move! It’s me! »
« Mo Yan? Don’t move recklessly. » Feng Xi’s blade advanced another half-inch, pressing against Mo Yan’s spine.
Suddenly, a clear and gentle voice rang out, « Who asked you to save this girl? »
Su Kuang’s lips twitched slightly. Long Qing almost cried out, taking a step forward. Lei Xuyang and Lei Xu squeezed into the corner, their dark robes faintly revealing bloodstains.
In that instant, Mo Yan suddenly lowered his head sharply, narrowly avoiding the blade’s edge. With a diagonal collision, he unexpectedly vanished into the cave wall.
« Damn it! We actually fell into a cave. » Feng Xi steadied herself and surveyed the surroundings—a vast, gaping fissure stretched before them. Despite all their meticulous planning, they had somehow overlooked this very possibility.
Long Qing’s foot—kicked by Thunder Brothers—
The corpse wore a tattered blue shirt, with both arms neatly severed at the shoulders. The dark red bloodstains indicated they had been discarded there for quite some time.
How long has this piece of clothing been burning? The fire is gradually dimming.
« Did… did you kill him? » Long Qing stood up abruptly.
Feng Xi shook his head: « He’s still alive. That person didn’t strike his fatal acupoint. The acupoint he hit was quite peculiar—it didn’t cause immediate death, but instead made him faint temporarily. »
Long Qing bit her lip. « That person… the acupoint he struck… it’s from our sect’s technique. »
Feng Xi asked in surprise, « What’s going on? Why are you like this? »
Long Qing turned her head sharply, glaring: « You just had to meddle, didn’t you? Who asked you to interfere? »
Feng Xi smiled bitterly: « Sister… I wasn’t running away from you, I was running away from the argument. »
Long Qing’s anger flared: « Running away? After killing someone, you think it’s over just like that? » Her voice, having just regained its strength, suddenly dropped to a whisper— »I’m sorry. »
The rift between them had grown too wide. The two sisters, Long and Feng, stood at an irreconcilable impasse. Even if there were no ambushes lying in wait, they would inevitably clash again—especially since… Jingjing’s death could never be undone.
Feng Xi said, « Indeed, this matter is quite strange. If we don’t handle it carefully, I’m afraid we might end up with twice the trouble. »
Long Qing said, « How dare you act so recklessly? Do you know who you’re dealing with? »
Feng Xi stood atop the cliff, watching as the morning dew dripped from the pine needles. The pine tree sighed, « I’m so thirsty— » Long Qing immediately handed over a water pouch. Though thirst was quenched, hunger was harder to avoid, and it seemed they hadn’t prepared enough food for the journey.
A few sparks drifted along the edge of the ashes, flickering briefly before fading back into silence. Feng Xi reached into his bag, pulled out a piece of dry flatbread, broke it in half, and handed one portion to Long Qing. « Save some, » he said. « Who knows how long we’ll have to last on this. »
Long Qing hesitated, then nodded in thanks. She took out a handkerchief, carefully soaking it in a nearby puddle of water. Just as she was about to hand it back, a sharp, sulfurous smell assaulted her senses. She flung the handkerchief toward Feng Xi, who caught it with a chuckle and proceeded to soak it in the water again.
« What exactly are we looking for? » Feng Xi murmured under his breath.
Long Qing sneered, « Are you so ignorant that you’ve never heard of the Drunken Sage and Tea Guest’s Twin Swords of the World? »
« Drunkard… your father— »
Hmm, yes, Tea Guest Xiao Ming. » Long Qing nodded slightly, « Don’t underestimate this sword technique.
Feng Xi suddenly remembered—the legendary Drunken Old Man’s Tea Guest Sword Technique was said to be bone-deep, righteous as orchids. But Long Qing had always been somewhat biased against it, and now, with a curl of her lips, she blurted out— »Long Qing! What are you doing? »
Long Qing muttered under her breath, « Dinner… why can’t we just have dinner first? »
Feng Xi seemed to have caught on, laughing, « Ah! So you’re just hungry for pancakes? »
Long Qing wiped her mouth: « Half full. »
Feng Xi roared in fury: « You— »
What’s the matter? » Long Qing sat up straight, lifting the Wu Hook Sword: « After guarding for five days, you two brothers must have conserved your energy well. Let me chop you up to make a full meal—lend me your fire!
« Hey, what are you doing? » Feng Xi obediently flicked open the firestarter, but Long Qing suddenly scooped up a handful of ashes and, with a swift push into the crack, leaped down without hesitation.
« Wild Sun Qing! » Feng Xi laughed heartily, leaping forward with a spring in his step.
Mo Ye stood silently in place, gripping his sword. At his feet lay Jingjing, her eyes tightly shut, a bruise of blue and purple at the corner of her mouth, clearly showing signs of suffering.
Feng Xi cupped his hands in salute: « Impressive. To have endured this long, you’re truly not wrong about your skills. »
Mo did not answer, his face filled with arrogance and disdain.
« Dragon’s Roar! » Long Qing’s Wu Hook Sword trembled slightly in his hand.
Mo Yan said coldly: « Enough. »
Long Qing frowned: « You! »
Mo Yan raised his sword icily: « Step back. This is my duty. Whether I live or die, succeed or fail, is none of your concern. » The tip of his sword pointed directly at Feng Xi.
Feng Xi was startled: « Who… is it? »
Mo didn’t answer, clearly too lazy to speak.
Long Qing’s face turned from red to pale, then from pale to green. Finally, she lowered her sword and said fiercely in a low voice: « Fine, Feng Xi, you always pick on the weak. Go ahead. »
Within a radius of ten feet, Feng Xi looked left and right, utterly helpless: « Fine, since you won’t answer, don’t blame me. I won’t hold back, to avoid unnecessary casualties, understand? »
Mo Xiao said, « Eat. » He hugged Jingjing tightly, while the dragon and phoenix twins were stunned—Mo Xiao had actually prepared food for them.
Feng Xi’s swordsmanship was unparalleled, yet his temperament was eccentric and solitary, making him a perfect match for Long Qing. He whispered, « Don’t push yourself too hard, Qing’er. Take it easy. »
Long Qing, though unwilling, had no choice but to retreat step by step under the overwhelming pressure.
Feng Xi pointed at the cave entrance and said, « Mo Ting, please. »
Mo Ting hesitated for a moment, then actually turned his back and retreated toward the cave entrance—without the slightest hesitation, he completely exposed his defenseless back to Long Qing, as if utterly unconcerned about any potential ambush.
Such an old-fashioned, solitary swordsman—how could he be the mastermind behind this elaborate scheme? Feng Xi shook her head bitterly, beginning to doubt her initial judgment as she followed him into the cave.
The cave was dark, the sound of snakes hissing echoed, and the underground river roared—everything was filled with an unbearable restlessness.
« Red Robe! » Long Qing exclaimed in surprise. Red Robe kicked aside the rocks, only to realize they had encountered an extremely dangerous situation.
Suddenly, the entire cave trembled violently. Stalactites began to fall from above, and Long Qing cried out in alarm, « Oh no, is this an earthquake? »
The tremors intensified, and the boulders blocking the cave entrance seemed to loosen. The gaps between the rocks widened to the size of a bowl.
Feng Xi’s face turned pale as she bent down to pick up the handkerchief. In just a moment, the pungent smell of sulfur became so strong it made her nauseous.
Hmm… I smell something strange. » Long Qing suddenly sniffed the air and exclaimed in alarm, « Fire! There’s a fire!
At her feet, the flames flickered, and the tremors beneath them seemed to make the massive dragon cough violently.
Even Mo Yan’s face turned pale as he muttered, « How in the world did we end up in such a foul-smelling, damned place? »
« Ah! » Feng Xi gritted her teeth, grabbed the unconscious Lei brothers, and charged into the cave.
Rushing into the cave, the bubbling liquid in the pit grew increasingly turbulent, and a pungent odor began to fill the cavern. Feng Xi suddenly shouted, « Poison! Hold your breath! » She tore off a piece of her sleeve and pressed it against Lei’s brother’s nose. Mo quickly followed suit, ripping off another strip of cloth to cover Jingjing’s nose.
Feng Xi had barely escaped the catastrophe of « Mount Tai’s collapse » when the earth shook violently once more. The sacred mountain shattered into fragments—her face was a mask of horror as she stared into the gaping maw of hell itself. Sulfurous bubbles burst with crackling pops, and no one could predict where the next eruption would strike. Flames surged, and in an instant, everything turned to ash and smoke.
« Quick, both of you, strike with all your might— » Before Feng Xi could finish her words, the ground beneath them trembled violently. The Thunder Brothers, acting in unison, slammed their palms against the boulder. Long Qing, without a second thought, followed suit, channeling all six layers of his palm force to smash into the stone.
The entire cavern seemed to shudder under the combined might of their strikes. The massive boulder wobbled precariously before finally giving way, rolling aside to reveal a gaping hole in the cave wall.
In this dire moment, an unexpected opportunity had presented itself!
« Run! » Feng Xi shouted, grabbing her companions and dashing toward the newly opened passage.
The crimson-robed figure seemed almost frenzied, his violent actions serving as a stark warning.
Long Qing gritted her teeth, her eyes fixed on the crimson robe’s back. Swiftly, she snapped the reins and bound them tightly around his waist.
The crimson-robed man refused to turn away, stubbornly resisting departure. Long Qing struck his thigh fiercely with the reins, and with a cry of pain, he spurred his horse into a frantic gallop.
« Fire! Fire! » Feng Xi screamed, clutching Lei Xuyang’s unconscious body. To her astonishment, she found herself holding Lei Xuyang instead, his body limp as if lifeless. She kicked fiercely, urging her horse into a desperate sprint.
The earth trembled violently, and the slumbering dragon finally awakened. The cave spewed forth scorching, blazing currents, scorching the heavens and withering all plants.
A vast expanse of darkness engulfed the land, and the scorched earth beneath their feet began to quiver faintly, trembling ever more fiercely—as if the dragon was about to burst forth from the ground.
The majestic might of the martial world was reduced to fleeing ants in an instant.
Suddenly, the earth trembled, as if a demon’s heart beneath their feet had contracted violently.
A hundred zhang away, a dark red glow rose, turning the chaotic expanse into a furnace of hellish descent and ascent. In the blink of an eye, the dark red split into a crimson line—the smelting furnace had finally erupted.
Long Qing’s dry lips pressed tightly together as she clutched the reins, urging her horse to gallop forward with desperate speed.
He judged that the effort required was immense, yet he had to exhaust every last thread of his strength to keep up with Feng Xi.
In an instant, flames erupted violently.
The tranquil zone suddenly transformed into a demonic purgatory, where fiery molten lava surged like a torrent, obliterating all traces of existence in its path.
A mass of fiery ash spewed forth with each breath, the scorching heat unbearable to the extreme.
Stop! Stop! » Long Qing suddenly halted her steps, panting heavily as she struggled to catch her breath. « I can’t… I can’t run anymore, my legs are about to break.
Feng Xi hastily adjusted her breathing, her chest heaving violently as she tried to steady herself.
To their left stretched a vast, murky lake, its surface eerily resembling a banquet for demons and monsters. Bubbles gurgled incessantly from the depths, releasing a pungent sulfuric stench that filled the air, painting everything in a sickly yellow hue. The bloated corpses of fish floated on the surface, their bellies grotesquely upturned. Even the few surviving fish frantically leaped toward the shore, only to flop back helplessly, their struggles futile.
« Look there! » Feng Xi suddenly gasped in alarm—high above them, an enormous crimson sphere was descending at an inconceivable speed, its flames and scorching ash swirling together like a vengeful spirit determined to escape at all costs.
Long Qing sprinted away, while Feng Xi swiftly grabbed her and shouted, « Close your eyes! Hold your breath! »
Before she could react, Feng Xi yanked Long Qing into a dense shroud of deathly shadows. Her ears buzzed with silence, punctuated only by the sudden, violent bursts of bubbles, as if searching for something—something torn apart, something shattered.
The heat was unbearable, still boiling around them. Long Qing shut her eyes and curled up, occasionally bumping into something hard and cold—likely the poisoned corpses.
Her skin burned with searing pain as she desperately channeled her energy to expel the toxins, while the terror of falling into an abyss threatened to overwhelm her. Suddenly, Long Qing felt herself being lifted, floating mid-air. Feng Xi seemed to sense her panic and pressed her neck firmly, pulling her into an embrace—almost as if shielding her. In an instant, darkness swept over the lake, and the scorching heat around them flared even hotter.
At this moment, his feet were suspended in midair, with scorching currents by his ears, the shadow of death looming above his head—only one hand was tightly gripping his wrist, while the other hand firmly held onto his neck.
Suddenly, that hand loosened, and Feng Xiyu dragged him ashore. Then, with a second leap, she pulled Lei Xu up from the water as well.
Long Qing had clearly reached her limit, having endured far beyond what her body could bear. She gasped for breath, nearly collapsing from exhaustion.
Feng Xiyu touched her scalp and saw the skin on her face was already red, swollen, and festering. She sighed bitterly, « What kind of noble dragon and phoenix are we? We’ve been reduced to mere turtles now. »
Pah! » Long Qing spat disdainfully, « Turtles and terrapins? Those spineless creatures who lick their own spittle—have you forgotten the ways of the rivers and lakes?
Feng Xi chuckled weakly, gasping for breath as he countered: « You’re the one who’s forgotten the ways of the rivers and lakes, yet accuse me of licking spittle. Qing, you’re wrong this time—a thousand tortoises and terrapins couldn’t compare to our burnt-to-a-crisp dragon-phoenix feast. »
They seemed evenly matched in both verbal sparring and physical steps, their bickering lighthearted yet sharp.
« Ah… ah— » Suddenly, a wretched scream erupted from beside them. Lei Xu, whose remaining left cheek had been clawed at, abruptly awoke with a start. Seizing the moment, Feng Xi reached out to block Long Qing’s impending strike—only for his own nose to be drenched in lake water… And then, his eyes flew open.
His eyes were blind, red and festering, oozing pus, enduring unbearable agony.
Xu Hui! Xu Hui! » Feng Xi tightly grasped his left hand, her voice heavy: « Don’t move, I’ll save you.
Long Qing stood up, « Let’s go, the poison is spreading, and the wound on your chest is starting to worsen. »
« Go— » Feng Xi held Lei Xu Hui tightly in her arms.
Lei Xu pushed forward with all his might, « Fifth Master… I must fulfill my filial duty… I must… Su Kuang… » His voice choked, his movements frantic as he struggled, then suddenly flipped over, and the two of them plunged into the churning lake.
The lake water boiled violently. Lei Xu seemed to be shouting something, but his mouth only released a stream of bubbles. In the blink of an eye, both had vanished beneath the surface.
Long Qing and Feng Xiyu’s eyes were wide with fury, their hands reaching out as if to dive in and save them. But they were yanked back by someone gripping their arms tightly, the voice urgent: « Feng Xiyu, are you out of your mind?! Look—that whirlpool is a death trap! We’ll be torn apart if we go in! »
Feng Xiyu hesitated for a moment, then snapped back to reality. Silently, he turned and retreated, his eyes glistening with unshed tears.
He sneezed violently, spraying flames everywhere, then gradually calmed down after a few more sneezes. The nine-tailed fox nearly lost its life in the chaos.
The flames slowly receded, leaving only drifting embers in the air.
Though Long Qing deeply resented the Lei brothers, she still silently prayed, hoping the red-robed man could safely escort Jingjing away from danger and reach the mandala flowers.
« Brother Thunderbolt, you’re not some utterly vicious villain, » Feng Xi finally spoke up with a sigh.
The Golden Eagle Gang is indeed ruthless—a demonic sect that makes people tremble at the mere mention of its name. But behind those monstrous golden eagles, they’ve forgotten their own humble origins. Those golden eagles… they came during the blizzard, trampling our pastures, collapsing our tents, and scattering our livestock. Half-starved, we could only watch as our frozen cattle and sheep were carried away step by step. And just when we thought we’d reached the end, they blocked our path, sweeping us into snowdrifts like withered grass.
The faint moonlight cast a pale glow, revealing the tragic scene before Long Qing’s eyes.
The Golden Eagle Gang has cut off our food supplies. You see, the Golden Eagle Gang is an extremely vicious faction that specializes in looting provisions. Half of our men were captured, treasures were plundered, and our situation became desperate. But then we managed to turn the tables, gathering our remaining brothers to storm the Golden Eagle Gang’s stronghold. As for the aftermath… ah, that sight is something I fear I’ll never forget. The Golden Eagle Gang set up a banquet, proudly displaying the captives they had slaughtered. They specifically picked out the livers to chew on, and after finishing their victims, they casually tossed the remains into the snow. In less than half a moment, the bodies froze into stiff corpses, their intestines protruding from their bellies like rigid spikes piercing through their frozen skin.
Lei Xu had snatched the official’s daughter, played with her for a while, and left her pregnant. The vulture suddenly grew curious and dissected the fetus to make wine. Though Lei Xu had a heart of stone, he stubbornly fought back, determined to kill the vulture and his gang to avenge the girl. But where could he find the vulture? He hung around the streets, searching everywhere, even threatening to boil the vulture in oil—hurry, hurry, he had to act fast.
He had fought for seven days and nights, determined to wipe out the vulture and his gang. But to save the girl… She had been tied up in the ice and snow for too long, and though he saved her in time, she was already ruined. When she woke up, she slapped Lei Xu hard and then, in despair, threw herself against an ice pillar.
Lei Xu cried for a long time, swearing he would never touch another woman again. He despised himself and became even more ruthless. The vulture’s gang, who had followed him, now restrained their wild ways, but Lei Xu still hunted them down, intercepting wealthy merchants. Yet, whenever he saw a woman with the vulture’s mark, he couldn’t resist his old urges. Suddenly, he would turn violent, vowing not to harm a single hair on any woman—but how could he control himself? He would beat them severely and then abandon them. The vulture, still as cruel as ever, captured one of these women just to taunt Lei Xu. He stripped her naked, forced her to drink aphrodisiac wine, and then left her with Lei Xu, goading him to take her. Lei Xu suddenly had a realization and shouted, « Even if I’m not a man anymore, I won’t stoop to this! » He and his sworn brothers then hacked the vulture to pieces.
The gang was terrified and finally handed over the vulture’s head… Lei Xu had his revenge at last.
Long Qing… that bastard, he should have died long ago. It was all my fault—I was wrong, so wrong. In the end, it was all because of him. That scum! He snatched Jingjing away, stole her share, and fled with the jewels in secret. Lei Xu… he was the one who orchestrated it all.
Feng Xi remained eerily calm, but beneath that calm was an overwhelming tension. Long Qing’s once-handsome face was now swollen and red, as if soaked in a lake of sorrow, his expression heavy with grief. Long Qing gritted his teeth: « Feng Xi, it was my fault… it was all because of me. »
The two of them looked utterly disheveled, covered in dust and bruises, their bodies battered and scarred, as if they had crawled out of hell itself.
