Starting with a blind date with a female constable, you acquire the Nine Swords of Dugu.

This sword strike came without warning, with extreme speed and extreme simplicity.

However, Lan Yin was prepared.

With a light touch of her feet, she flew backward like a ghost, made a turn in mid-air, and landed steadily on a horizontal branch of a large tree about three zhang away.

Gu Guanqi sighed softly.

People with a background in demonic arts are indeed much more wary than ordinary martial arts practitioners.

The fiery light of the setting sun shone on Lan Yin, and her originally lively and pretty face had changed its temperament.

The liveliness and playfulness in her eyes had vanished without a trace, replaced by a cold and alluring beauty. The corners of her mouth were slightly upturned, carrying a smile that was not quite a smile, but her eyes were icy.

"Gu Guanqi," her voice had changed, no longer the lighthearted tone of before, but carrying a languid magnetism, "you're becoming rather boring..."

Just then—

A blade of light descended from the sky.

The blade light, carrying an overwhelming force, struck Lan Yin's head like a bolt of silver lightning.

Lan Yin's pupils contracted slightly, and she crossed her arms above her head.

"boom--"

The blade flashed and struck her arms with a clanging sound, her sleeves ripped open, revealing a dense array of silver bracelets on her arms.

At that moment, the silver bracelet emitted a piercing buzz, sparks flying everywhere. The branch beneath Lan Yin's feet snapped in response, and she was thrown from the tree by the blow, her feet carving two deep furrows into the ground as she landed. She stumbled back seven or eight steps before regaining her balance.

A figure landed quickly; it was Yan Wangchuan.

Lan Yin raised her head, looking at the old man in front of her, her smile growing increasingly sinister: "Yan Wangchuan, you're so old, why aren't you at home drinking tea? What are you doing here joining in this commotion?"

Yan Wangchuan stood with his sword drawn, saying helplessly, "I'd like to stay home and drink tea, but you, a demoness from the Heavenly Demon Sect, why aren't you staying in your northern frontier? What are you doing in Qingzhou? This old man of mine has no choice but to come out and cause trouble!"

Lan Yin, or more precisely, Nangong Yin, chuckled softly. Her laughter was as clear as a silver bell, yet tinged with a hint of mockery: "You old man, really. You could have just pretended not to know it was me. You could have gotten your job done, and I could have done my job too, right?"

Yan Wangchuan chuckled, "Young people are quick-witted, but now that we're here, there's nothing I can do!"

Nangong Yin smiled and said, "You should go back now, sir. You're too old for this world!"

"That's true, the future belongs to you young people," Yan Wangchuan said, then suddenly turned and shouted, "Hero Gu, let's attack together! I can't beat him alone!"

"Stop Gu Guanqi, I'll kill this old bastard first!"

Before Nangong Yin could finish speaking, she shook her arms.

The silver bracelets worn on their arms suddenly flew out all at once, spinning rapidly in the air and emitting a sharp whistling sound, like dozens of flying blades, heading towards Yan Wangchuan.

Yan Wangchuan swung his longsword, the blade flashing like a bolt of lightning, knocking away the bracelets flying towards him.

Just then, several dark figures emerged from all directions in the forest. They were the experts that Nangong Yin had secretly ambushed, about five or six of them. Each of them was agile and had different weapons. They pounced on Gu Guanqi.

However, just as they rushed out, a series of whooshing sounds echoed through the forest, and more than twenty constables from the Six Doors appeared from the forest, armed with weapons, and surrounded the group.

The sounds of clashing swords, shouts of battle, and screams echoed through the forest as a chaotic melee raged.

At the same moment, Jin Chang drew his sword, its blade flashing like a bolt of lightning, his gaze instantly locking onto Gu Guanqi. He leaped forward, his figure as swift as lightning, blocking Gu Guanqi's path, pointing his sword and coldly saying:

"Your opponent is me. I'd like to see what makes you worthy of Miss's attention. You..."

Gu Guanqi quickly stepped forward and thrust out the Autumn Water Sword diagonally.

Jin Chang drew his sword instantly, the strike as fast as lightning.

Gu Guanqi pointed his sword, instantly deflecting Jin Chang's sword, and then thrust out with his own sword.

Just one sword strike.

The sword tip pierced Jin Chang's chest and emerged from his body.

Jin Chang's body stiffened abruptly, his long sword clattered to the ground, and his eyes widened in disbelief.

"you……"

He only managed to utter that one word before his body went limp and he collapsed.

"What are you babbling about?"

Gu Guanqi drew his sword, blood dripping from the tip. Without turning his head, he turned around, preparing to help Yan Wangchuan.

Then Yan Wangchuan slashed Nangong Yin with his sword.

However, Nangong Yin was wearing a protective armor that blocked the blade.

However, the immense force erupted from the blade, sending Nangong Yin flying and crashing into a tree that an adult could barely encircle.

Nangong Yin spat out a mouthful of blood, quickly stood up, and looked extremely disheveled.

Yan Wangchuan exclaimed, "To be able to stand up like that, you must be young! You're so healthy. Indeed, the future belongs to you young people!"

Nangong Yin glared at Yan Wangchuan, her eyes blazing with fury. She roared, "Old man, you actually resorted to trickery and a sneak attack! You're so shameless at your age!"

Nangong Yin took a deep breath and roared, "Die!"

Before Nangong Yin finished speaking, she suddenly shook her arms, and seven or eight silver bracelets flew out from her arms at the same time. However, they did not go straight for Yan Wangchuan, but collided with each other in the air.

"Ding ding ding—"

A series of rapid clanging sounds rang out, and where the bracelets collided, dazzling sparks erupted. The sparks spread rapidly, transforming into a massive fireball in the blink of an eye, which then exploded with a deafening roar.

A wave of heat hit him, flames surged, and at the same time, a massive cloud of poisonous mist instantly billowed out, engulfing Yan Wangchuan entirely.

Gu Guanqi's heart skipped a beat. He channeled his inner energy and struck out with his palm, quickly dispelling the scorching heat and poisonous mist. Fang Cunxin, carrying Fang Shiyang on her back, had already retreated back to the dilapidated temple, while Xiao Dongshan was so frightened that he lay prostrate on the ground, too afraid to move.

"Disperse!"

Yan Wangchuan struck out with his palm, and a powerful palm wind swept out.

In an instant, the flames and poisonous mist dissipated.

Yan Wangchuan stood with his sword drawn, a few sparks on his robes, his beard and hair slightly curled, but he was unharmed.

He quickly extinguished the remaining flames on his sleeve and looked up—

Nangong Yin is no longer in the same place.

The pale blue figure moved through the forest like an eel, her movements elusive, flashing left and right, using the cover of tree trunks and bushes to make it difficult to pinpoint her location.

"Chase!"

Yan Wangchuan shouted and his figure shot out like an arrow.

Gu Guanqi followed closely behind, flicking his left fingers in quick succession, sending three steel balls flying out in a triangular formation toward Nangong Yin's back.

The steel ball was as fast as a shooting star, but it missed its target just before it hit. This was because Nangong Yin's footwork was so strange and unpredictable that it was impossible to predict her next move or posture.

Gu Guanqi fired three steel balls, but all of them missed.

"Master Gu, stop messing around! You can't hit that vixen! The right thing to do is chase her with me!" Yan Wangchuan shouted as he chased after her.

Gu Guanqi quickly replied, "My lightness skill is lacking!"

Yan Wangchuan didn't turn his head, his steps unwavering. His long sword slashed repeatedly at the tree trunks along the way, leaving deep gashes. "Follow my marks and chase after me. I'll hold her off first. You absolutely have to come! If you don't, this old body of mine can't handle it!"

Gu Guanqi couldn't help but roll her eyes.

He was actually fooled by Yan Wangchuan's words, genuinely believing that he was too old to fight, but in the end, he almost killed the dignified Holy Maiden of the Heavenly Demon Sect, Nangong Yin, with a single strike.

By this time, Yan Wangchuan had already chased after them for quite some distance.

Gu Guanqi quickly launched several steel balls, injuring Nangong Yin's men, and then used the Golden Goose Skill to chase after them.

However, while Jin Yan Gong excelled at leaping through the air, climbing vertically, and sustaining power in mid-air, he was not adept at chasing or escaping. Soon, he was left far behind, and in less than half an incense stick's time, he could no longer see Yan Wangchuan and Nangong Yin at all. He could only rely on the marks left by Yan Wangchuan to chase after them. Some of those knife marks were on tree trunks, some on rocks, and some were even carved into the moss on the ground. There was one every certain distance, and they were clearly visible.