usatvline Chapter 99 Qin Mu Makes a Move
Chapter 99 Qin Mu Makes a Move
After leaving "Bamboo Seclusion Residence", Cao Wei did not leave Tingyu Villa directly, but returned to his own secluded courtyard.
He needs to pack some necessary things.
That crescent-shaped jade pendant, and several ancient books recording the history of the Moonflower Kingdom.
There was also some information he had secretly collected over the years about the Xu family's operations in the northern border and Jiangnan.
These things might be useful in the future.
.......
Tingyu Villa covers a vast area, with pavilions and towers scattered in a well-organized manner, winding corridors, and rockeries and waterside pavilions complementing each other.
Cao Wei was already very familiar with the terrain here.
He chose a relatively secluded path, passed through a bamboo grove, and went around several artificial hills, and soon arrived at the side gate of the villa.
Few people use the side gate on weekdays; only a few servants responsible for cleaning occasionally come and go.
It was midday, the sun was blazing, and even the cicadas' chirping sounded weak and listless.
Cao Wei pushed open the side door and stepped out.
Outside the gate was a narrow alley paved with bluestone slabs, flanked by tall pink walls, with a few lush green vines peeking out from the tops.
The alley was quiet, with only the occasional sound of carriages and horses in the distance.
Cao Wei walked south along the alley, his pace neither hurried nor slow.
His five senses were heightened to their peak at that moment.
The sound of the wind blowing through the alley, the calls of vendors in the distance, even the faint flapping of a sparrow's wings on the wall... all entered his ears clearly.
He was waiting.
He waited for the person who was following him to show up.
Given Xu Fenghua's personality, once she has sent someone to monitor him, she will never let him leave easily.
really--
Just as Cao Wei reached the middle of the alley, at a corner...
A figure appeared silently ten steps in front of him.
He was a middle-aged man dressed in gray cloth.
The man was around forty years old, with an ordinary appearance; the kind of person who would easily blend into a crowd and go unnoticed.
He was thin, with his hands tucked into his sleeves, and stood there as if he had blended into the surrounding walls.
But Cao Wei could sense the restrained yet dangerous aura emanating from this person.
Celestial Realm.
Moreover, it is at the mid-stage of the Celestial Phenomenon Realm, or even higher.
Cao Wei stopped in his tracks.
He looked at the other person quietly, without any surprise on his face.
"Where is Mr. Cao headed?" the man in gray asked, his voice flat and emotionless.
Cao Wei said casually, "Let's go for a walk."
"Going out for a walk?" The gray-clad man's lips curled into a faint smile. "Sir, are you perhaps planning to leave Listening Rain Manor?"
"So what if it is?" Cao Wei retorted.
The man in gray slowly shook his head: "Miss has ordered that the gentleman cannot leave for the time being."
His tone was calm, yet carried an undeniable air of authority.
Cao Wei smiled.
His smile held a hint of sarcasm: "Does Xu Fenghua really think she can stop this old man?"
The man in gray did not answer, but slowly pulled his hands out of his sleeves.
It was a very ordinary pair of hands, with rough skin and large knuckles, like hands that had been doing hard labor for many years.
But Cao Wei could see that the fingertips of those hands had a faint bluish-black tinge.
Poisonous skills.
Moreover, it is an extremely insidious and vicious poison technique.
"Why do you put me in such a difficult position, sir?"
The man in gray said slowly, "As long as you obediently return, I will not make things difficult for you."
Cao Wei did not speak, but slowly took the bag off his back and placed it on the ground to the side.
Then, he straightened up, his gaze sharp as lightning, and stared directly at the other person:
"What if I say no?"
A cold glint flashed in the gray-clad man's eyes: "Then don't blame me for being impolite."
Before he finished speaking, he moved.
Without any warning, his figure vanished from the spot like a ghost, and the next moment he appeared three feet in front of Cao Wei!
So fast!
Cao Wei's pupils contracted slightly, but he was prepared. He quickly retreated and struck out with a palm at the same time!
The palm strike was fierce, accompanied by a whistling sound!
The man in gray neither dodged nor evaded, but instead met the attack with a palm strike of his own!
"Bang--!!!"
The two palms clashed together, producing a dull, loud thud!
A shockwave suddenly erupted from the two of them, kicking up dust and fallen leaves!
The pink walls on both sides trembled slightly, and the vines on the top of the walls rustled!
Cao Wei felt an extremely cold and yin energy surge into his body through his palm, and his meridians seemed to freeze wherever it passed!
He grunted and took three steps back, each step leaving a deep footprint on the bluestone slab!
What a vicious palm strike!
The man in gray only took one step back before stopping firmly. He looked at Cao Wei, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes:
"Sir, you possess profound inner strength."
Cao Wei did not answer, but took a deep breath and forcibly expelled the cold, yin energy from his body.
His face was somewhat pale, but his eyes remained sharp as knives.
He knew he was no match for this man.
Not only was his opponent's cultivation level higher than his, but his palm strikes also contained a strange poison. If the battle dragged on, he would undoubtedly be defeated.
but--
A resolute glint flashed in Cao Wei's eyes.
He cannot afford to lose.
He had to leave this place, he had to go to the capital, he had to see Qingxue.
Even if...
Fight to the death!
Cao Wei slowly raised his hands, palms facing each other, and his internal energy circulated wildly!
His robes moved and fluttered even though there was no wind!
A powerful aura rose from his body, as if a ferocious beast that had been sleeping for many years was awakening!
The man in gray's expression changed slightly.
He could sense that Cao Wei was gathering all his strength for a final blow!
This strike will surely be earth-shattering!
but--
so what?
A cold smile flashed in the gray-clad man's eyes.
At the Celestial Realm level, the gap in cultivation cannot be bridged by fighting desperately.
He slowly raised his right hand, his five fingers spread out, and a dark green vortex appeared in his palm!
The air spun and emitted a low humming sound, as if the surrounding air was being distorted!
The temperature in the alley suddenly dropped, and a thin layer of white frost even condensed on the walls!
This is his signature move—the Frost Poison Palm!
Wherever the palm strikes, ice freezes a thousand miles away, and poison invades the five internal organs!
He intends to use this palm strike to completely cripple Cao Wei!
The air between them seemed to freeze.
Time seemed to slow down dramatically at that moment.
Cao Wei could see the dark green vortex in the gray-clad man's palm slowly rotating, and he could feel the bone-chilling cold eroding his protective true energy.
He knew that the next blow would be a matter of life and death.
but--
He has no regrets.
Twenty-one years ago, he failed to protect Yuehua Kingdom, and he failed to protect Jiang Huaijin and Su Wanrong.
Twenty-one years later, he must at least protect their daughter.
Even if it costs me my life.
A resolute glint flashed in Cao Wei's eyes, and his inner energy surged wildly into his palms!
At this critical juncture of life and death—
"Sir, please make way."
A calm voice suddenly rang out behind Cao Wei.
Cao Wei was startled!
He didn't even realize when someone had come up behind him!
The man in gray also had a drastic change in expression!
He suddenly looked up and looked behind Cao Wei.
Suddenly, a young man dressed in a moon-white robe appeared, standing three steps behind Cao Wei.
Sunlight streamed in from the alley entrance, falling on him and gilding him with a faint golden hue.
He had a handsome face and a lazy, casual air about him, as if he were just passing by.
But the man in gray could sense it—
There was not a trace of true energy emanating from this person.
It lacked presence, intimidation, and even... a sense of being there.
He stood there casually, yet seemed to blend into the surrounding air, light, and even the space itself.
Surprising.
Extremely bizarre!
Alarm bells rang in the man in gray's mind!
He stared intently at Qin Mu and asked in a deep voice, "Who are you?"
Qin Mu did not answer, but slowly walked forward to Cao Wei's side.
He glanced at Cao Wei and smiled slightly: "You've worked hard, sir. Leave the rest to me."
Cao Wei opened his mouth, as if to say something, but found that he could not make a sound.
He could only watch helplessly as Qin Mu walked past him and headed towards the man in gray.
One step, two steps...
Qin Mu's footsteps were light and steady, making no sound at all on the bluestone slabs.
A cold glint flashed in the gray-clad man's eyes!
Whoever this person is, since they dare to interfere, then... we'll all die together!
Without further hesitation, he forcefully pushed the dark green vortex in his palm toward Qin Mu!
The air swirls and freezes wherever it passes, causing a thick layer of frost to form on the ground!
He used all his strength in that palm strike!
Even if a Celestial Phenomenon Realm expert of the same level were to take the hit head-on, they would either die or be seriously injured!
however--
Faced with a palm strike powerful enough to freeze rivers, Qin Mu simply raised his right hand slowly.
The movements were slow and casual, as if they were simply picking a flower.
His hands were fair and slender, with distinct knuckles, and gleamed like jade in the sunlight.
Then, he gently squeezed his hand.