Shu Feng gasped as if he were drowning, staring at the two broken sabers in his hands with sheer terror on his face.
He was not dead. Song Qiuyan had merely left a sword wound on his chest to tell him one thing: he couldn't even block a single sword strike from her. If Song Qiuyan had wanted to kill him, he would have lost his life just now.
Shu Feng glanced back at Feilai City from a distance, but ultimately dared not enter. He retreated in disgrace and reported the matter to the Sect Master of Tiandao Sect.
"You're saying Song Qiuyan of Hongxiu Pavilion stopped you?" Li Wuyi, the Sect Master of Tiandao Sect, asked disbelievingly.
"Yes, I couldn't even take one of her sword strikes. She said she would take responsibility for this matter and that I could seek her out if I wanted revenge," Shu Feng said in an angry tone.
"Sect Master, although Hongxiu Pavilion is mysterious, our Tiandao Sect is not to be trifled with. As soon as the Sect Master gives the order, I will lead men to flatten Hongxiu Pavilion."
Li Wuyi waved his hand, stopping him. "Hongxiu Pavilion is not that simple, especially that woman Song Qiuyan. No one knows how strong she is. If we clash head-on with Hongxiu Pavilion, even if we win in the end, we will suffer heavy casualties." Li Wuyi analyzed calmly. He was a Sect Master, representing not an individual but an entire sect. A single misjudgment could bring about the sect's annihilation, so he had to be cautious. Tiandao Sect, though not weak, was merely a larger sect in the Mortals Realm, not the strongest.
"Sect Master, are we just going to let my disciple's hatred go unanswered?" Shu Feng asked with some dissatisfaction.
"Elder Shu, do not be anxious. I know you are heartbroken for your disciple. I am not saying we won't seek revenge, but we cannot act rashly. To deal with Hongxiu Pavilion, we cannot take risks. How about this: I will contact some powerful allies, and then we can ambush Song Qiuyan. Once Song Qiuyan is dealt with, Hongxiu Pavilion will be no threat." Li Wuyi said.
A few days later, Li Wuyi and several others appeared near a temple. Among these individuals, one carried an exaggerated great hammer on his shoulder, another had a bow and arrows on his back, one seemed to be a monk with ghost head tattoos on his arms, and another was a middle-aged man with a goatee, carrying twin swords.
"Song Qiuyan comes to this temple to worship every year around this time. Once she appears, we will immediately surround and attack her. We must not let her escape." Li Wuyi said.
"Don't worry, I've wanted to kill this woman for a long time."
"Hehehe, you are too ungentlemanly. Song Qiuyan was the most beautiful woman back then. If I could have a taste of her, I'd be willing to lose ten years of my life."
"Baldy, you dare to have designs on her? She's a rose with thorns. I fear you'll end up as a ghost under the flowers rather than a subordinate."
"Enough, stop talking. Don't forget, Song Qiuyan controls Hongxiu Pavilion, so this woman must die, or both you and I will be in big trouble."
"Hush, she's here. Everyone, prepare." As Li Wuyi's voice fell, a graceful figure was seen flying from afar. And she was alone. Song Qiuyan did not expect to be ambushed here. Every year, she came alone to pay respects to someone very important in her life. However, very few people knew about this, and coupled with her strength, she had no fear of danger. Song Qiuyan landed and walked into the temple as usual. But as soon as she stepped inside, she heard the temple doors being shut from the outside. Then, five people appeared inside the temple, surrounding Song Qiuyan.
"Gui Fu Wang, Du Ya, Leng Qiu, Li Wuyi, Chen Shen. Very well, it seems you've come with ill intentions." As the mistress of Hongxiu Pavilion, Song Qiuyan recognized these people at a glance.
"Song Qiuyan, I know you are not the murderer of our Tiandao Sect disciples, but you shouldn't meddle in our Tiandao Sect's affairs. If you promise now to stop interfering, we may not have to resort to a fight to the death." Li Wuyi stepped forward and said to Song Qiuyan.
"Li Wuyi, it seems this ambush here was your idea?" Song Qiuyan said.
"That is not important. What is important is that they do not wish to see you alive. Do you know you are a detested woman?" Li Wuyi said.
"Very well, I have remembered all of you. Prepare to face the retribution of Hongxiu Pavilion!" Song Qiuyan said through gritted teeth, looking at them.
"Hahaha, Song Qiuyan, the premise is that you must survive. If you die, Hongxiu Pavilion is nothing to fear. Attack!" Li Wuyi laughed heartily, then gave the order. Du Ya had already shot an arrow at Song Qiuyan.
"Is that all?" Song Qiuyan snorted coldly and cut the arrow in half with her sword. But Du Ya showed no dejection. Instead, he gave Song Qiuyan a sinister smile, like the fangs of a poisonous snake. The others also smiled sinisterly at Song Qiuyan, showing no fear of her.
"Go!" Li Wuyi commanded again. Gui Fu Wang charged forward, swinging his great axe at Song Qiuyan. Although Gui Fu Wang's great axe looked clumsy, it was an illusion. The moment you think the great axe cannot reach you, that is when you will meet your end. However, Song Qiuyan did not dodge. She flicked her sword, deflecting Gui Fu Wang's great axe.
"Dragon Subduing Tiger!" The demon monk Leng Qiu struck Song Qiuyan with a palm strike, as if a giant mountain was pressing down on her. Simultaneously, Chen Shen appeared behind Song Qiuyan like a phantom and struck her shoulder with his palm. But before he could celebrate, he saw Song Qiuyan's sword pierce through his abdomen. Li Wuyi, who had been waiting for an opportunity, seized the moment when Song Qiuyan was being surrounded and punched her, sending her flying.
After landing, as Song Qiuyan was about to unleash her internal energy to attack, she suddenly found her internal energy obstructed and unable to circulate smoothly. Instantly, she knew something was wrong; she must have been poisoned.
"Song Qiuyan, do you feel your internal energy circulation is not smooth?" Li Wuyi said triumphantly, seeing Song Qiuyan's state.
"Bastards, despicable! You poisoned me!" Song Qiuyan cursed in anger.
"Hahaha… How could we dare to be careless when dealing with the famous Song Qiuyan? Are you starting to feel dizzy and weak now? Believe me, you will soon feel completely powerless, and then you will be at our mercy." Li Wuyi said smugly.
Although Song Qiuyan maintained her composure outwardly, her heart was filled with anxiety. She had underestimated these people's treachery and shamelessness. She never expected that they had already laid out a colorless and odorless poison in the temple. This poison would not cause harm even if inhaled normally, but if one used their internal energy, the poison inhaled would become active.