The same situation occurred once more. Xiaoyao's sword again appeared at Li Yihun's vital point. Although this time it wasn't the throat, if it advanced a few more inches, Li Yihun would lose his life.

"This is the last time. If you still want to continue, then I'll thrust the sword into your body. I'm not that good-tempered," Xiaoyao said indifferently. At the same time, he withdrew his sword and, ignoring these people's thoughts, went to ask the innkeeper for a room.

The innkeeper looked at Li Yihun and the others hesitantly. He was afraid that if Li Yihun and the others were unwilling, then accepting Xiaoyao as a guest might bring some trouble.

However, Xiaoyao also seemed not to be trifled with. Being able to defeat someone with one sword strike, he appeared to be an expert too.

"Let him stay. He's just a passerby," Li Yihun said through gritted teeth. Although he was very displeased with Xiaoyao and unwilling to admit defeat, right now it was better to avoid trouble since he had external enemies at hand. It was best not to provoke Xiaoyao.

Xiaoyao had also thought of this point. From these people's behavior, they were definitely being forced here by someone, forming a cornered beast situation. But this cornered beast should have people coming to rescue them. As long as they persisted for a while, someone should come to rescue them.

These people should still be from the Huangpu Family. He didn't know what kind of mission they had accepted to come here. After such a situation occurred, the Huangpu Family would definitely intervene to resolve it—these were all their disciples.

Xiaoyao didn't think these people were acting privately. This possibility was rather low. Xiaoyao didn't know the identities of the others, but he understood Li Yihun somewhat. With his status, it was impossible for him to appear here taking risks.

For friendship or something? If it were other people, Xiaoyao felt it was still possible, but Li Yihun—that was absolutely impossible. It was precisely because of this Li Yihun that Xiaoyao made such deductions.

In fact, just as Xiaoyao guessed, these people were indeed carrying out a Huangpu Family mission. This was a relatively simple mission that these people were more than capable of completing, except that a small accident occurred in the middle.

The intelligence they received was somewhat inaccurate. The matter wasn't as simple as they had imagined—instead, it was very frightening. This was a major oversight and the reason for their current sorry state.

They had originally just come to eliminate a bandit group. Although this bandit group was quite powerful, it was still manageable for them. They just hadn't expected this bandit group to possess a treasure that several major powers had their eyes on. After they eliminated the group, the item fell into their hands. They just didn't know the value of this thing and were being pursued because of it.

Currently, they still hadn't truly figured out why, because those pursuing them hadn't revealed what this item was, fearing that speaking of it would cause complications.

Because of this, Li Yihun and the others still didn't know about this matter. They still thought this was the bandit group's backing. Their escape to this place was already quite good—the opponents were much more powerful than them. This current method was actually a good approach. They believed that in just a few days, Huangpu Family people would appear.

At that time, these several major powers could only leave. If the Huangpu Family mobilized, they didn't want to provoke them either and could only act secretly.

Naturally, Xiaoyao didn't know about these matters now. This affair had nothing to do with him—at least not before this. As for what would happen afterward, that was hard to say.

Xiaoyao was just feeling regretful. Originally, everything had been going well all along, and he could have smoothly reached the Luo family this way. Before this, no one would have known his whereabouts, but now a slight possibility had appeared because Li Yihun had discovered him.

But this was unavoidable. Li Yihun knew him, and he hadn't expected to encounter him here either. This was also an accident—accidents couldn't be controlled.

However, this possibility wasn't very high either. Li Yihun had no connection with Guxing at all, and Guxing wasn't at the Huangpu Family now. Even if there was a chance to meet Guxing in the future, that was a future matter, and Xiaoyao didn't need to care about it.

In fact, even if it were known now, there wouldn't be any problem. It was just one month—he believed Qi Bupo wouldn't be so petty either. Originally, this matter was just Qi Bupo acting on impulse anyway, not really wanting to do anything serious. Once his anger subsided, it would be fine.

"Xiaoyao, who are they?"

After settling down, Hei Xue asked Xiaoyao this question. Although she wasn't very interested in these people, there was nothing else to do now, so she casually asked.

"They should be from the Huangpu Family. I only know that person called Li Yihun. His personality... you should know about Chu Xinan, right? They're about the same type of person," Xiaoyao said. This comparison seemed quite apt. Li Yihun had always prided himself on his wisdom, just like Chu Xinan claiming to be Zhuge reincarnated.

"Haha, you mean the Chu Xinan you called an idiot..." Hei Xue laughed. Even if Hei Xue didn't know this was related to Xiaoyao, she had more or less heard about it.

Chu Xinan must be so depressed now. If he had known it would be like this, he wouldn't have been so arrogant, telling people to randomly choose someone. Even if people randomly chose someone, fine—losing the first time was losing, but why did he have to play chess with him again? The result was tragic. The entire Demon Domain was calling him an idiot behind his back.

He was now too embarrassed to say he was Zhuge reincarnated, because saying this would only make people think of the "idiot" nickname.

"Yes, that's him. They're about the same type of person," Xiaoyao nodded. He had no feelings about this nickname, as if it had nothing to do with him at all.

"I understand," Hei Xue nodded. "What should we do now?"

"Do what we should do. Tonight we'll go see the night scenery here. I heard the night scenery here is very beautiful. Since we're here, we shouldn't miss it. After tonight, we'll leave this place. We still need to see the scenery of other places," Xiaoyao said unconcernedly, as if this matter had no effect on him whatsoever.

Perhaps that "as if" should be removed. This matter had no relation to him at all—it was just something happening to some people, and he was merely passerby A.

That night, when Xiaoyao and Hei Xue were carefreely enjoying the night scenery, others were tense. The villagers were nervous about whether Li Yihun and these people would do anything harmful to them, while Li Yihun and the others were nervous about whether the people outside would find a way to get in.

Although the iron chain bridge had been cut, there were still methods available. If luck was good and others thought of a method in a few days, it wouldn't matter then since reinforcements would have arrived. But if luck was bad and others thought of a method within a day or two, that would be very troublesome.

Therefore, Li Yihun and the others were still in tense vigilance. They had people keeping watch, observing all directions, naturally including the sky. At any movement, they would sound an alarm.

This was quite a thorough arrangement. Even if others had ways to approach this place, it would be impossible to approach silently under such circumstances.

Of course, Xiaoyao didn't think this had any effect. If people had ways to approach, even if you discovered them, what could you do?

This place formed a very good defensive stronghold, but there was one very important problem—the people here also couldn't easily leave. They themselves had no retreat either.

This was also where Xiaoyao felt they were somewhat inappropriate. Even if this was an excellent method, they had to consider their own retreat. This situation, while creating an excellent defensive position for themselves, also cut off their own retreat.

Xiaoyao didn't like doing such things unless forced into desperation. Whether Li Yihun's situation was forced desperation, Xiaoyao didn't know. He just felt that Li Yihun and these people could still make many choices.

This place's terrain was very unique. They could completely use this terrain to conceal their tracks, dispersing and leaving one by one, leaving some people to cover the rear and draw those people away. If applied skillfully, nothing would happen.

But now it was impossible. When Li Yihun cut these iron chain bridges, he was also telling their pursuers that they were here—if you have methods, come; if not, think of methods.

Regarding this, Xiaoyao made no comment. It wasn't his affair—he didn't care what consequences they would face, as long as he wasn't affected by the fish in the moat. He had already agreed with Hei Xue that once they discovered any situation, they would stay in a villager's home for a while, distancing themselves from these matters to avoid unnecessary trouble.

But these were all future matters, and they were only things that might possibly happen. Currently, Xiaoyao was just appreciating the beautiful and magnificent night scenery. Under the moonlight, those peaks stood tall between heaven and earth. Occasionally, crane calls came from the mountains, along with the howls of wild beasts...

Xiaoyao and Hei Xue sat in a small pavilion at the cliff's edge, drinking wine that wasn't very precious and eating very ordinary side dishes. But at this moment, this wine and these dishes surpassed all fine wine and delicacies.

"Xiaoyao, wouldn't it be wonderful if we could always be like this?" Hei Xue sighed. At this moment, she had the feeling of wanting to put down everything and stay together with Xiaoyao forever.

"I have no problem with it. It depends on you—can you do it?" Xiaoyao asked with a slight smile.

"..." Hei Xue was silent for a while. "I think I can, as long as I finish my tasks."

"After finishing this task, there will be the next one. You actually know your own answer best—you don't need to deceive yourself, and even less need to deceive me," Xiaoyao smiled. He knew Hei Xue couldn't put down everything. She wasn't that kind of person, and he didn't mind this because he had never thought of staying with Hei Xue for life.

(End of Chapter)