Chapter 1058: The first time traveling as a group of four (2/2)
Baili Mingxiang couldn’t understand or see through him, but he saw right through her. Nobody had known what Su Xiaoyu did to her at the Duke of Qin’s estate, but none of it had escaped his eyes. By sending Baili Mingxiang away today, he knew that one day, he too would have to depart.
Turning back, Gu Beiyue declared, “Your Highness, princess, as this one sees it, there’s no need for poison soldiers. We can set off tonight!”
Seeing the couple’s surprised expressions, he added, “This one has yet to try my fists and feet after recovering my shadow arts. I ask that Your Highness and princess give me a chance to take care of all four mountains. I will definitely not disappoint!”
Long Feiye loved decisive people and Gu Beiyue was a true talent. Most pleased, he smiled and said, “If your family’s princess can hand off all the antidotes to you, then this crown prince has no objections.”
Han Yunxi laughed. It wasn’t easy for Long Feiye to say things like “your family’s princess!”
She happily handed over a big bag of antidotes and declared, “There’s a total of 55 sword depositories, each afflicted by its own poison. Every depository contains around 30 disciples that are victim to one poison, which I’ve marked out as antidote pills individually.”
Han Yunxi then added, “Gu Beiyue, think it over clearly. It’s not easy to traverse four mountains and 55 depositories. If you startle the snake in the grass and don’t flee fast enough, you’ll be in a lot of trouble.”
“Princess need not worry, this subordinate will join you at the peak as soon as I finish my mission,” Gu Beiyue cupped his fists, his words full of vigor.
Gu Qishao watched the scene and felt that Long Feiye, Han Yunxi, and Gu Beiyue made an extremely harmonious team. He felt like he should say something before he was cast aside.
Throwing an arm around Gu Beiyue’s shoulders, Gu Qishao chuckled and said, “Brother, then we’ll wait for you at the top!”
Gu Beiyue only murmured back, “Qishao, if Bai Yanqing’s up there, you must protect the princess well.”
Gu Qishao gave a start before realizing that he might be the main player in all of this. He quickly recovered and easily agreed, “No need to worry with me here!”
That night, Long Feiye, Han Yunxi, Gu Qishao, and Gu Beiyue worked as a group together for the first time to infiltrate Celestial Mountain.[2] Long Feiye and Han Yunxi were dressed in noble purple robes, Gu Qishao in seductive, flaming red, and Gu Beiyue in untarnished, ethereal white. In the misty forest, the four figures sped one after the other like a soundless scene from a dream.
After reaching the first peak, Gu Beiyue descended into the mountains. When Han Yunxi’s group glanced back at him, he smiled and waved, indicating that they shouldn’t think much of it. By the time the trio vanished into the night, Gu Beiyue glanced up at the moon as if to calculate his time. All traces of warmth and calm vanished from his face, to be replaced by a frightening seriousness! It was as if he’d frozen over into an emotionless Asura who was nothing but swift, fierce, and cold.
He slowly turned towards Meteor Sword Depository before flashing out of sight.
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When Long Feiye and Han Yunxi had been scouting the way, they didn’t need to climb to the peak and spent their time circling around the forests of each mountain. Thus, they didn’t run into any guards blocking the mountain paths. This time they were bound to clash with them. The first and second mountains were connected by the bamboo bridge, the second and third by the stone sword statue, and the third and fourth by another similar statue.[3] Han Yunxi had even run into trouble on the bamboo bridge during her first trip here, but Long Feiye had summoned disciples from the lower mountain sword depositories to help her cross. She had a deep impression of the structure, but there was no one around this one to force her to follow the rules for Celestial Mountain entry. Only guards blocked their way, which they met head on with the intent to kill their way through!
Faced with Heretical Sword Sect’s disciples, even Gu Qishao, to say nothing of Long Feiye, could deal with them. However, to kill someone soundlessly and formlessly was Han Yunxi’s forte.[4]
She used poison needles!
Like how Long Feiye’s sword could slit throats in one slice, she could kill with one stab. Very soon, they reached the opening between the fourth and fifth mountains leading to the peak. Before them stood a chain bridge, which was required crossing! However, unlike the guards of the lower mountains, two rows flanked the bridge, one full of Heretical Sword Sect swordsmen, the other of Lockheart Courtyard disciples. Long Feiye recognized those on sight as Cang Qiuzi’s personally tutored disciples.
Inside the pavilion on the side of the chain-link bridge were seated various figures. Han Yunxi’s sharp eyes recognized a familiar face amongst them. She grinned and said, “Long Feiye, your would-be younger sister-in-law is there too!”
That’s right. The familiar figure that Han Yunxi recognized was none other than Cang Qiuzi’s daughter Lockheart Courtyard’s eldest young Miss, Cang Xiaoying.[5]
1. 似人若彩虹， 遇上方知有 shi ren ruo caihong, yu shangfang zhiyou, a saying that more or less means “one doesn’t know how good (something) is unless one experiences it personally.
2. Remember when they were all dubious allies and or enemies? Remember when LFY and HYX collaborated only through a series of business deals? Good times, good times.
3. If you forgotten what these were, go review the Celestial Mountain Sword Sect arc in the chapter 700s.
4. Anyone remember her days back in Tianning Country when she was feared for her poison skills just because of this? And then she defended herself by saying she could use it to save people too? Times have changed, indeed.
5. First mentioned in C633, she made her debut in C711.