Jiaohua

Chapter 1677 We are the same kind of people
The light was so bright that the masks on their faces were clearly visible.

The mask on Xia Zhaoyi's face came from Nianhuazhai and was a true burial item of Wulanqing back then. The mask was exquisitely made, with gold threads as thin as cicada wings. When illuminated by the lamplight, it shimmered like flowing gold water and sparkled like stars.

Because he was wearing a mask, all of Feng Qingang's attention was focused on Xia Zhaoyi's eyes.

Xia Zhaoyi's eyes were clear and bright, with smooth, light lines on her fan-shaped eyelids and faint under-eye bags, giving her a half-smile and a sparkling gaze.

“The daughter of Liling,” Feng Qingang said slowly.

Xia Zhaoyi laughed and said, "I thought you would be happy to see me. It seems you are afraid of me."

Feng Qingang's eyes were cold: "There's no need to laugh at me. I'm in your hands, so I have nothing to say."

“You have nothing to say, but I have something to ask, just now…”

"Disciple." The old man's voice suddenly rang out, interrupting her.

Xia Zhaoyi turned her gaze to look.

An old man emerged from the darkness, dressed in simple farmer's clothes, his eyes calm and his expression serene.

"Master," Xia Zhaoyi greeted him, delighted, "when did you arrive?"

The old man glanced at Feng Ping and the others, then looked back at Xia Zhaoyi.

Xia Zhaoyi paused slightly, then said in a low voice, "Master, they have risked their lives with me, and I don't mind if they know."

The old man said, "It's better to avoid trouble. Gu Xinghai and Mu Tingyu were on the way I came. Let them pass."

Xia Zhaoyi nodded and turned to instruct Feng Ping and the others.

Feng Ping and the others took their leave.

Shen Lie stood silently in the darkness, watching them pass by, his deep, dark eyes returning to Xia Zhaoyi and the old man.

He wanted to speak up too, but the old man went out first.

He hadn't expected the old man to be there, and worried that there might be other people lurking silently nearby, so he chose to stay and observe.

Feng Qingang, standing on the steps, was disheartened and lifeless, staring straight at the old man from Liling.

The old man said, "You couldn't possibly have lived for seven hundred years. What is your connection with Princess Ulan?"

Feng Qingang coldly looked at the mask on Xia Zhaoyi's face: "How do you know about this mask?"

Xia Zhaoyi truthfully replied, "Madam Qu has many treasures hidden in her possession. This mask was just one she picked out at random. Neither she nor I knew that this mask had any connection with you."

"You're spouting nonsense! If you don't know my connection to this mask, why are your men wearing pre-prepared replicas?"

"These were taken from Wei Xingchuan's men; they made these counterfeits."

Feng Qingang frowned: "Wei Xingchuan..."

Xia Zhaoyi said, "Wei Xingchuan's men said that this mask can scare you."

"Scared me?" Feng Qingang laughed heartily. "Wei Xingchuan really overthinks things! If Wulan Qingruo is still haunting me and actually appears in front of me, it's only because she's afraid of me!"

The old man said, "Why would she be afraid of you? Because you desecrated her body."

“It’s a mummified corpse,” Feng Qingang pointed his dagger at Xia Zhaoyi’s face. “That mask was the one I took off the princess’s face. It was stolen later, and I searched for it in vain. It turns out it was sold to Nianhua Zhai.”

Xia Zhaoyi raised her hand to cover the edge of the mask, asking the question that had been nagging at her: "So what do you think Wei Xingchuan wants to scare out of you with this mask?"

Feng Qing raised an eyebrow: "You want to know? Fine, take off your mask, come before me, kneel down and untie my..."

The old man raised his hand, and three hidden weapons flew out. Two hit Feng Qingang's left leg, and one struck his right knee.

Shen Lie almost made a move as well, his gaze suddenly shifting to his left. Two figures were lurking there, acting suspiciously. Feng Qingang collapsed to the ground before he could finish speaking.

"Disgusting and despicable creature," the old man said sternly, "you grave-robbing, carrion-eating rotten maggot, you've lived these hundreds of years for nothing."

Feng Qingang narrowed his eyes, looked up and glared at the old man, then suddenly smiled slightly: "Li Ling, we met three times back in Yeshan. You were aloof and arrogant, but you are no different from me. You are also a vicious and evil ghost who destroys people's bodies with a knife."

Xia Zhaoyi's dagger shot out and pierced Feng Qingang's right palm.

Feng Qingang groaned, but didn't cry out in pain; his forehead was covered in sweat.

He smiled as he pulled out the dagger, blood gushing out. He threw the dagger on the ground and looked at Xia Zhaoyi: "Ali."

Xia Zhaoyi said coldly, "You dare compare yourself to my master? You're an overconfident fool. You can only reign supreme in the shadows. In front of us, you don't even have the guts to fight back. All you have left is your mouth that's still stubborn. I'll ask you one last time, what does Wei Xingchuan want to scare out of you? If you don't answer, I'll take a dagger and slowly torture you to death. You should know that my swordsmanship is no less than yours. My medical skills are not bad either. I can revive you and slowly torture you, letting you experience what it means to die and come back to life."

Feng Qingang said, "That must be very enjoyable."

The old man then said, "Disciple, do you know his other identity?"

Xia Zhaoyi looked at the old man: "Wind over the bridge?"

"No, he is Han Ruiqian."

Xia Zhaoyi was surprised and looked back at Feng Qingang: "Are you the Prince of Nanrui?"

Feng Qingang raised his hand to wipe the sweat from his forehead: "Han Ruiqian is long dead. I am not Han Ruiqian. And you are not Ali."

The old man's eyes flashed with murderous intent, cold and icy.

Feng Qingang pointed at Xia Zhaoyi again: "You, Xia Zhaoyi. Me, Feng Guoqiao. Do you understand now?"

Xia Zhaoyi asked, "Then, what about Wei Xingchuan, and Tang Xiangsi?"

Feng Qingang sneered: "If Wei Xingchuan were like you and me, why would he want to get the so-called secret out of me? I can't answer that question, and what about you? Can you answer it?"

Xia Zhaoyi indeed couldn't answer.

"So, Wei Xingchuan is still Wei Xingchuan, and Tang Xiangsi is still Tang Xiangsi."

"Wei Xingchuan will not let us go. Ever since he discovered my secret, he has been trying to find me. From now on, you will also be his target."

The old man said, "He is just like you, bullying the weak and only daring to use underhanded tricks behind people's backs. If my disciple and I were to actually stand in front of him, he would be so scared that he would wet himself."

Feng Qingang glanced at the old man, then looked back at Xia Zhaoyi: "Han Ruiqian's mother's surname is Qiao. Ali's surname is also Qiao. I've tasted people with the surname Qiao before, and they're no different from the others."

Xia Zhaoyi said, "Disgusting."

Feng Qingang laughed: "So, the best way to deal with the Qiao family is to make sure they are dead beyond any hope of survival. Do you understand?"

Xia Zhaoyi said coldly, "The Book of Purifying Light and those so-called treasures, were they your idea or Han Ruiqian's idea?"

"Him first, then me."

"You took over?"

"Yes."

"Who went to Yeshan? Who harmed the people of the Wangxing Sect?"

"I."

"So what exactly is the Fuguang Qinghe Book used for?"

Feng Qingang's smile deepened, as did his eyes.

He stared intently at Xia Zhaoyi, his eyes shining as if he were peeling her skin off with his gaze.