Chapter 100: The Encirclement (Part One)

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The assembly at White Gourd Mountain reached a consensus: Geng Ci led a contingent to the outskirts of the Willow Heart Studio, where all those who had received letters had also gathered.
At the Wind Pavilion in December, all were present except for Que Yunzi, who remained to guard.
After the customary greetings among the three parties, Geng Ci spoke, “The hour of the rat approaches. May I ask if everyone is prepared?”
Su He replied, “All is in readiness.”
“Oh? Baili Su He, what is your plan?” asked Xiao Luonian, who had also come upon receiving Geng Ci’s summons.
He was one of the few among these aggrieved parties who could make decisions.
“The matter is thus: after several encounters with Willow Heart Studio, we have yet to ascertain its true depth and strength.”
Xiao Luonian frowned. “What do you mean?”
“Su He suspects that the Studio’s elite are being kept in reserve for the decisive moment. Therefore, later, I ask that you, Luonian, and some comrades from White Gourd Mountain remain to guard the perimeter.”
“And your own people?” Xiao Luonian’s gaze swept over Yi Qingchen and others. Beneath his seemingly respectful eyes was a faint trace of disdain.
Having long mingled in the turbulent Sea of Desire, being commanded about by a mere youth was hard for them to accept. Especially since, until recently, they had been enemies.
Why should Baili Su He’s men be allowed to all enter? Elite or not, who do you think you are?
Su He noticed Xiao Luonian’s shift but maintained courtesy. “Later, I, along with Brother Huai and Zou Jiren, will enter.”
Xiao Luonian and his followers were momentarily taken aback, somewhat surprised. “They’re not going?”
“You have quite a few men as well.”
“Yes.” Su He glanced back at the group. “Miss Yi, Yuren, and Brother Yun will remain outside.
When we go in, I entrust the defense of the perimeter to you all.
The responsibility is great; I ask you kindly to bear this burden.”
With that, he bowed deeply.
Seeing this, Xiao Luonian and the others felt somewhat embarrassed. After all, they had judged Su He unfairly, suspecting a noble man of petty schemes.
Reluctantly, they returned the gesture with a respectful hand salute. “Very well.”
They then looked at the seemingly ordinary residence and asked, “Are you sure there really are elites inside, as you claim?
Don’t let us wait in vain outside for mere paper tigers.”
Su He smiled. “I dare not say for certain. My own talents are quite modest.
I cannot predict the enemy’s moves or ensure victory from afar.
But cautiousness is the key to survival.
If we seal off the perimeter and remove this malignant tumor called Willow Heart Studio once and for all, it will surely benefit all. Luonian, you agree, yes?”
“That’s true. The time has come. You may act.” Xiao Luonian glanced at the sky and put aside other thoughts.
One thing at a time—they must first eliminate this menace.
Su He exchanged a glance with Geng Ci, and both led a few people to leap onto the wall, stealthily entering Willow Heart Studio.
Before long, the Studio was brightly lit everywhere.
Willow Mu Bai arrived first, accompanied by two minor soldiers who carried a chair into place. After a moment, the crowd parted to allow Lin Mao to walk out slowly and sit down.
Seeing Zou Jiren again, Lin Mao’s eyes burned with envy.
“My good steward, it seems life suits you well without the master around?”
Zou Jiren lowered his brow and cast his eyes downward. “Thanks to your grace, I am doing quite well.
At least I am sincere and not suffering harm without cause.”
“Ha… ha ha, well said, well said. Since we’re here, let’s settle this.
Tonight, only one side will leave alive.” Lin Mao raised his hand, and many unfamiliar faces emerged from the shadows.
Even Zou Jiren, who had served Ruo Jiu, did not know when Lin Mao had formed such a force.
Their strength and cultivation were formidable.
Zou Jiren trembled with fury, his eyes narrowed. “You never trusted me, did you?”
Lin Mao laughed heartily, then suddenly stopped.
“Trust? What is that?
Is it something to be eaten? Or a beauty to be admired?
Zou Jiren, should I call you foolish, or merely naive?”
He glanced sideways at his companions. “Attack! Leave no one alive.”
“Yes!”
Immediately, cries rang throughout Willow Heart Studio, echoing into the clouds.
Outside, the gathered parties stiffened, then laid heavy formations of barriers above the Studio.
Even Lin Mao’s celestial abilities would cause him to break his head against such defenses.
Seeing the sky sealed and escape routes cut off, Lin Mao angrily slammed both hands on the armrests of his chair. From the dragon’s mouth carving, two rows of cold light shot out, and he immediately launched a palm strike at Zou Jiren.
Su He hurried to pull Zou Jiren aside, using sword light to disperse the cold beams and then meeting Lin Mao’s palm with his own.
Thunderous sounds erupted inside Willow Heart Studio. Trees and flowers were shattered in moments; ornamental stones crumbled to dust.
The nearest foot soldiers suffered worst, their lives ending in confusion before any achievements.
Only severed arms fell to the side with a “clack.”
Both men stood firm, neither yielding.
But in their hearts, they sized each other up carefully.
Zou Jiren steadied himself, dodging the soldiers’ pursuit, and quickly moved toward Su He.
“Baili Su He…”
“Fall back! Hurry to the Goddess Hall!” Su He commanded as Zou Jiren approached. The Lin Mao before them was no longer the man he once knew—he was beyond Zou Jiren’s match.
To fight would be to court death.
“Yes.” Although reluctant, Zou Jiren obeyed and dashed toward the Full Moon Arch.
Lin Mao was not about to let them escape easily. He shouted, “Ye Yu, Chong Quan, block him!”
“As you command, Studio Master.”
Before the words had faded, two figures arrived swiftly at the Full Moon Arch, barring Zou Jiren’s way.
Ye Yu held his blade horizontally. “Sorry, this path is closed.”
“Why waste words on him? A mere dispatched dog—talking so much is beneath you.” Chong Quan wielded a nine-section iron whip, clearly looking down on the exchange.
Zou Jiren took a few steps back, anger swelling in his chest at their insults.
He could no longer restrain himself. “You… you push people too far!”
He drew a sword from his sleeve, gripping it tightly, and charged both men.
Chong Quan sneered, blocking Ye Yu’s path with a horizontal hand. “Trash like him doesn’t require both of us. You rest; I’ll handle him.”
Without waiting for Zou Jiren to close in, the iron whip lashed out like a violent storm.
In moments, the two engaged in a blur of shadows and light, their exact movements hidden.
Lin Mao lowered his sleeves and drew a long sword, holding it horizontally behind his back as he advanced.
A sharp clang rang out—his strike was blocked by Min Shu’s sword sheath.
Lin Mao did not retreat or change his attack; instead, he leaned close to whisper, “Who do you think will die?”
Su He responded by exerting his energy to repel Lin Mao. “Is this your concern? Or are you afraid of something, Studio Master Lin?”
“Ha ha ha! Afraid? Why should I be?” Lin Mao floated back, and as he landed, launched a renewed assault.
“I, Lin, have never needed such things.
The ones who should worry are you. Tonight, none of you will leave alive.”
“Perhaps, Studio Master Lin, that is no longer your choice.”
As the words fell, Su He drew Min Shu and erupted with overwhelming pressure, forcing Lin Mao to defend with all his strength, unable to think of anything else.
But Su He and Zou Jiren were not the only ones embroiled in combat—Huai Yin, Geng Ci, and their group were similarly engaged.
As Su He had said earlier, after several clashes, this was likely the true strength of Willow Heart Studio, though whether it was the full extent was unknown.
However, whether it was complete or not no longer mattered—the present threat was enough to give them headaches.
Though they had slain a dozen or two, the enemy was formidable and not easily dispatched.
Seeing that Zou Jiren’s situation was worsening, Huai Yin said to Geng Ci, “Brother Geng, hold them here. I will aid him.”
Spinning his great blade, he swiftly ended two lives, then charged toward the Full Moon Arch.
Geng Ci stepped aside and struck an enemy’s chest with a palm, blood spraying across his face.
He pushed the man away and shouted to Bian Qing and Dao Ba San, “Hold the line! Don’t let White Gourd Mountain lose face!”
Dao Ba San bent his bow, palm twisting to grasp the newcomer’s neck.
With a snap of the bowstring, the man’s head flew off, blood spewing like a fountain, soaking the ground.

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“Rest assured.”
No sooner had he spoken than several assailants struck from behind. He shouted, “Bian Qing!”
At the call, Bian Qing shifted his sword stance, swiftly leapt aside.
As he landed, Dao Ba San drew his bow again, releasing several arrows simultaneously.
“Pew, pew,” several fell dead.
Frightened, the group all retreated, but Willow Mu Bai immediately roared, “Who dares fall back? Are you not afraid of punishment from the Studio Master?”
The crowd exchanged glances—advance meant death, retreat meant death. How to choose?
Willow Mu Bai snorted coldly, “There is only one blade forward, but countless behind.
You choose your fate.”
At his words, the crowd seemed struck by lightning and charged forward desperately.
As Huai Yin approached, Ye Yu slashed a blade, its cold edge flashing at his feet.
“Go no further, or I leave no life.”
Huai Yin glanced at Su He, suddenly tightening his grip on the Silver Wolf blade.
“My temper is short. The more you forbid me, the more I want to try.
Since you also wield a blade, let us see whose is sharper.”
“Seeking death.”
With that, he charged Ye Yu directly.
Nearby, Zou Jiren, previously trapped and struggling, suddenly snapped awake, narrowly dodging Chong Quan’s iron whip aimed to kill.
He knew he could not fall—not now.
He could not die amid the schemes of others.
Chong Quan cracked his whip, sending several streaks of cold light flying.
“I did not expect you, a traitor dog, to have some skill.
I underestimated you.”
“Hmph, you have underestimated much more.”
Zou Jiren shed his earlier despair and first drew his sword to fend off the immediate threat.
Then he entangled sword with iron whip, sealing the flow of energy and tugging fiercely backward.
As Chong Quan lunged forward, Zou Jiren exploded upward, spinning and catching his neck between his feet, then drove his sword down directly from the crown.
All this happened in a flash.
Chong Quan stood stunned for a long moment before suddenly collapsing to his knees.
Zou Jiren flipped like a hawk, sword flashing like lightning, and seized the moment while Ye Yu and Huai Yin were locked in combat to slip into the Full Moon Arch.
Ye Yu, seeing Chong Quan’s death, cried out in grief, “Chong Quan…”
Turning briefly, he launched a furious attack on Huai Yin.
Huai Yin was at a loss, initially hoping to enter the Full Moon Arch.
Now, Ye Yu clung to him fiercely, preventing escape.
He had lost a prime opportunity for a silent kill.
Looking again at the Full Moon Arch, his eyes darkened with hidden intent.
“You all deserve to die.”
Ye Yu’s grief and rage surged as he slashed at Huai Yin.
Technique and skill mattered no longer.
Nothing was more painful than Chong Quan’s death—he was Ye Yu’s only friend, and together they had endured countless years.
But at this moment, it was the end…
Huai Yin regained his composure, lowering his voice to a cold murmur.
“Hey? I didn’t kill him. Why are you risking your life against me?”
Against Ye Yu’s wild, unrestrained fighting, Huai Yin was constrained at every turn, complaining bitterly.
Before long, he had sustained many new wounds.
“He deserved to die, and so do you.
If you hadn’t interfered, Chong Quan wouldn’t have died.”
Ye Yu gritted his teeth and shouted, eyes suddenly flashing with fierce light.
With a fierce slash, he struck repeatedly.
Huai Yin could only raise his blade to block, but Ye Yu’s relentless pressure forced his weapon inch by inch toward his throat.
“You…”
Huai Yin’s neck twisted slightly; his blade grazed off course and embedded in his shoulder armor.
Yet Ye Yu showed no sign of relenting.
If things had gone as planned, Huai Yin would already have been split in two.
Having gained the advantage, there was no reason to give it up.
Huai Yin’s brow arched in fury as blood streamed down his face.
He leaned back and growled, “I believe your lies for sure…”

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