I've never felt happy to become an immortal.

Chapter 169 A Sword Slices Away Enmity
Time has been turned back a little.

While Xi Qingqing went to scout out the location and Bai Xuan was flirting with young girls outside.

Ning Jianshuang had rested enough and planned to have the waiter bring up a pot of herbal tea.

The sword-fighting tournament will be held in Meishan, so she needs to find some time to visit Qingyun Tower.

Business must continue.

The matters concerning Langya Prefecture were not actually resolved. However, with Hall Master Zhang waking up, Langya Hall was not short of manpower for the time being. In addition, the Lin family owed Bai Xuan a huge favor, so they would not likely do anything underhanded in this regard. With the Lin family keeping an eye on things, the cooperation would proceed smoothly.

The things that are bothering her are naturally related to Qingyun Tower... Because of Song Qingtang's death, Qingyun Tower has been immediately suppressed. The once best-performing Qingyun Tower has now shrunk by 30%.

After all, it's Qingzhou, so the competition is fierce.

While pondering, she went to the front desk of the inn and called for a pot of good tea. Just as she was about to get up and go back to her room, she was immediately stopped by a woman in yellow.

"I heard that your companions are Bai Yueguang, the number one on the Crouching Dragon List, and Xi Qingqing, the number two on the Crouching Dragon List?" The girl in yellow, disguised as a man, asked with ill intent, her arms crossed.

Ning Jianshuang said expressionlessly, "If you want an autograph, you'll have to wait a bit."

"Such arrogance," the girl in yellow sneered. "Even a fake should know their place."

Ning Jianshuang had no interest in getting entangled with a young girl, and glanced at her indifferently: "What's it to you?"

The girl in yellow raised her voice: "If you know what's good for you, pack your bags and leave the Red Dust Inn, or you'll be thrown out and it will only make you look more humiliated."

Ning Jianshuang was speechless and then laughed: "You?"

This unruly sixteen or seventeen-year-old girl didn't even make it onto the map.

The woman in yellow sensed the contempt in the other person's words, pointed at Ning Jianshuang, and said angrily, "Do you know who I am!"

Ning Jianshuang, holding onto the stairs with her right hand, coldly questioned, "Are you a remnant of the Southern Chu vassal king? Or a direct disciple of the Heavenly Rank, or a direct descendant of a prestigious family, or a prodigy ranked high on the list in the Book of Mending Heaven?"

The series of questions caused the woman in yellow's arrogant expression to stiffen slightly.

"If neither of those are true, then get out of here."

Ning Jianshuang said coldly, "I don't have time to play house with a little girl like you. Instead of spending time playing those showy little tricks with your friends, you should go and complain to your wet nurse. At least she will forgive your outspokenness."

"You, you..." This was probably the first time the woman in yellow had been verbally abused like this. Her usual sharp tongue was completely useless, and she could only stammer with her mouth open, her mind in complete confusion.

Miss Ning unleashed her full power, completely suppressing the opponent's barrage of attacks: "When you're out and about, be careful what you say, little girl. You're more suited to being dressed up and kept as a pretty vase than to the martial world... Go home now."

Overwhelmed by her imposing aura, the woman in yellow took a step back, her legs buckled, and she collapsed to the ground, tears welling in her eyes: "You vile..."

Before she could finish speaking, her mouth was pinched by a hand. Ning Jianshuang's eyes were icy cold: "I warned you, loose lips sink ships... I'm in a bad mood today, so I advise you not to make things difficult for yourself, or your pretty little face will be so swollen that you won't be able to eat for at least three days."

The murderous aura is genuine.

Everyone in the inn realized that the woman in front of them was not someone to be trifled with, so they all kept a distance, but that didn't stop them from watching the excitement from afar.

The young man from the aristocratic family also felt that his cousin was too spoiled, but seeing that she had already started, he hurriedly spoke up to dissuade her: "Young lady, that's enough."

Ning Jianshuang retorted with a displeased look, "You've been pretending to be mute for so long, and now you're acting like rational and objective people?"

The scion of a prominent family sighed helplessly: "I'll apologize to her, and that'll be the end of it, okay?"

Before Ning Jianshuang could answer, the girl in yellow broke free and fell to the ground, shouting angrily and with a sob in her voice, "Attack! Xiahou, Xiahou, you bastard, teach this bitch a lesson right now!"

On the table, the rough-and-tumble swordsman stood up, and Xiahou rose and laughed, "My sword does not cut women."

As he said this, he directly pressed his right hand towards Ning Jianshuang, seemingly intending to subdue her and vent his anger for the woman in yellow.

For a roughneck like Xiahou, currying favor with the young princess of this noble family would definitely be beneficial; even a small detail she might reveal would be enough to bring him considerable advantage.

Moreover, Xiahou also noticed that there were so many people watching, and he also saw the figure with black and white hair standing at the back of the crowd.

On the table, the woman in purple didn't move, neither offering any advice nor saying anything. She was observing, habitually observing the people around her.

In terms of background, the woman in purple is far inferior to the girl in yellow; her goal is to use this opportunity to gain fame.

Jianghu is not about fighting and killing, but about human relationships.

Her goal was to gradually increase her reputation and befriend young talents and veteran figures in the martial arts world.

This approach is most suitable for ordinary female martial arts practitioners who lack sufficient strength. There are not many who truly want to uphold justice; what they really want is fame.

Some of these women were able to establish connections with top-tier martial arts forces through nepotism... For female martial arts heroes, meeting the old master of Wudang Mountain and receiving a word of praise from him would be the pinnacle of their lives, leaving them with no regrets.

In other words, a famous socialite.

There aren't many women like this, but there are definitely quite a few.

Her defining characteristic is her aversion to getting involved in risky situations. She rarely expresses her opinion and maintains a distance, only humbling herself or even fawning over those who require a significant investment. Therefore, while the woman in yellow and Xiahou were causing a ruckus, she remained an observer, harboring a sliver of hope that this might attract a true expert. If the other party intervened, she could easily act as a peacemaker, instantly improving their relationship.
Why describe the psychology of these people in detail? Because this is the true picture of the various aspects of life in the martial arts world.

True friendships that transcend life and death are rare; it's better to be considered a friend. People come together and part ways based on fate and interests. Those who can eat at the same table are actually a disorganized bunch, each harboring thoughts they cannot share with outsiders.

If even one of these four people had been less calculating, this troublesome matter could have been avoided altogether.

Just as Xiahou flicked his finger at Ning Jianshuang...

The old Japanese samurai, who had been sitting in the corner drinking with his head down, suddenly looked up. As a guard, and the one with the highest cultivation level among the group, his reaction was incredibly fast. He immediately blocked the woman in yellow, his gaze locked onto a figure that had appeared in the hall.

The right hand of the rising star who was quite famous in Qingzhou was held down tightly, and a layer of frost spread continuously along his right hand.

Bai Xuan, who had just returned from his rounds, asked, "How was it?"

Ning Jianshuang gently shook her head: "I'm fine."

She wasn't just a pretty face; she had just been fully prepared to fight back, but seeing Bai Xuan return put her at ease, and she smiled with relief.

Seeing the two men exchanging a knowing smile, the woman in yellow flew into a rage and continued shouting, "Xiahou, Xiahou, what are you doing?! Kill these two scoundrels right now, and I'll give you precious medicine, the precious medicine from Medicine King Valley!"

Bai Xuan glanced at the woman in yellow and thought to himself that this kind of overgrown child exists in every era.

Then, glancing at Xiahou, who was frozen in place, he said indifferently, "Why aren't you drawing your sword?"

Xiahou's right hand was as cold as a stone. He gripped the hilt of his sword with his left hand, sweat pouring down his forehead. Upon hearing this, he drew his sword with lightning speed and slashed at the white-robed man. His left-handed sword was his greatest reliance. This move was something he had practiced with great difficulty. The left-handed sword was faster, more ruthless, and unpredictable.

However, the moment he drew his sword, he felt the breath of death. With a 'ding', a finger gently tapped the blade, and a white lotus flower bloomed on it. His sword was broken in the middle, leaving a visible hole.

Unable to resist the overwhelming aura that pressed down upon him, the simple sword finger appeared to him like a falling mountain, crashing down with a deafening roar.

Xiahou, gripping the broken sword, was struck in the face and chest by it, spitting out a mouthful of blood. He was sent flying backward, crashing through the tables, chairs, and walls of the Red Dust Inn, smashing his way down the street, then through the street, and finally crashing through the earthen wall of a house. Half of his body was hanging from a tree branch, his fate unknown.

"hiss--!"

Many people in the crowd who were watching the spectacle began to gasp in shock.

Even the most foolish and blind people could see the vast difference in their abilities.

Xiahou was a Finger-Pointing expert just now... but he was defeated so miserably with this one move.

Bai Xuan turned around, looked at the old Japanese samurai, and asked calmly, "What's wrong? Aren't you going to draw your sword?"

The old samurai had the highest cultivation level, so he could clearly feel the oppressive aura. It wasn't the oppressive aura from his cultivation level, but rather a kind of battlefield intuition.

My cultivation at the first level of the Outer Realm has never felt so weak.

The old samurai gripped the hilt of his sword tightly, feeling that the sword had never been so heavy. No matter how hard he tried, he could not pull it out. He held his breath as soon as he pulled it out three inches. With each additional inch of the sword being drawn, the sense of danger amplified exponentially.

Bai Xuan nodded slightly: "Not bad, do you want me to give you a chance to build up your momentum?"

The old samurai took a deep breath, and the others thought he was about to draw his sword in one go...

Then, in everyone's sight, he sheathed his sword and knelt on the ground.

Amidst the horrified gazes of the crowd, the old warrior lowered his head and pleaded in a low voice, "Could you exchange my head for my young lady's life? My young lady is willful and capricious, but she is still young. I hope you will show mercy."

The girl in yellow was stunned.

After a few seconds of hesitation, she snapped, "How could you kneel before him? How could you beg him? You...you're going to drive me crazy! What right does he have..."

Bai Xuan gazed at the earnest old warrior and remained silent for a moment.

"it is good."

He said, "Take my sword, and whether you live or die, this matter will be as if it never happened."

The old samurai, who thought he was in dire straits, raised his head and quickly replied, "Thank you!"

Bai Xuan raised his hand, and the Sumeru Ring caused spatial ripples to appear.

The ancient, famous sword slipped from his sleeve and settled in his palm.

Zheng——!
The sound of swords echoed inside and outside the Red Dust Inn, and the icy frost and sword intent spread, giving many people goosebumps.

“That sword…” A passerby exclaimed, his eyes wide. “I’ve seen it before! Jiang Chengzi, it’s Jiang Chengzi!”

"He is the top of the Crouching Dragon Ranking, the white moonlight who slew the Grandmaster of the Earth Ranking with his sword!"

"Bai Xuan of the Jiang family!"

(End of this chapter)