Chapter 233

Chapter 233: Wen Hou vs Xiao Qingyu (Part One)

Lou Yun now vaguely understood. The obstacles that Xiao Tong spoke of involved posting guards at every crucial point. If Lou Yun wanted to pass, he had to defeat these people. Only then could he ultimately see Xia Zhilan.

But Lou Yun couldn’t understand the purpose behind setting up these obstacles. Surely it wasn’t just to gauge his strength?

Han Ling Shu was the first obstacle, defeated by Tie Sha. How many obstacles lay ahead remained unknown; what enemies still awaited him? Tie Sha was now utterly drained, incapable of further combat. Only three of them were left. Could they successfully overcome the remaining obstacles and meet Xia Zhilan?

Only by pressing onward would they discover the answers to these questions!

Tie Sha was tall and husky, not light by any means. Though carrying him wasn’t truly strenuous for Lou Yun, it inevitably slowed their pace. After continuing for nearly half an hour, the three came upon a forest that appeared exceptionally lush with vegetation.

They exchanged glances, a shared suspicion dawning: there was likely an ambush waiting within this forest.

As they ventured deep into the grove, a sudden chorus of bird calls erupted from the trees. The sound was abrupt and jarringly unpleasant, like the cry of a night owl, slicing through the quiet forest and sending uncomfortable shivers down their spines.

Shui Lingluo suddenly opened her mouth, her nose wrinkling. "Ah-choo!" She sneezed. Lou Yun turned to look at her, concern in his voice. "Miss Shui? Are you alright?"

Rubbing her nose with some embarrassment, Shui Lingluo smiled. "It’s nothing. A feather drifted past just now and brushed my nose. It tickled, so I sneezed."

"Oh!" Lou Yun nodded. He turned back, ready to press forward, then abruptly spun around again. "A feather?"

Shui Lingluo started, confused by his intense reaction to a feather. Bewildered, she nodded. "Probably one dropped by that bird that was just calling?"

Ignoring this, Lou Yun pressed urgently. "Where is the feather?"

"Right on the…" Shui Lingluo began, pointing towards the ground. But as her eyes focused there, her words died in her throat. The path beneath them was muddy earth. There was no sign of any feather.

"Huh? But it definitely brushed my nose and then fell to the ground!" Shui Lingluo exclaimed, her face a picture of confusion.

Lou Yun, of course, saw it too. He smiled lightly. "It was a feather, alright, but not from any bird. It was a feather formed of a magical weapon!"

As he said this, Lou Yun lifted his head, calling coldly towards the canopy above. "Xiao Family, since you’re here, no need to hide. Show yourselves!"

When they first arrived on the island, Chang Xiang had explained: the Xiao Family used feathers as their magical weapons. Lou Yun didn’t understand how feathers could serve as weapons or how weapon techniques could be applied with them. But since Shui Lingluo had felt a feather graze her nose, it could only mean the Xiao were here!

Indeed, as Lou Yun’s voice faded, countless pristine white feathers suddenly fluttered down from the sky, swirling like a snowstorm of goose down.

The feathers danced and drifted, descending slowly. The scene possessed an eerie sort of beauty.

But just as the feathers were about to settle on the four of them, a sharp glint flashed in Wen Hou’s eyes. He swept his hands up, and innumerable tiny white mirror fragments shot out. Each fragment targeted one falling feather. Simultaneously, Wen Hou roared a command: "Get back!"

Burdened by Tie Sha on his back, Lou Yun couldn’t move freely. Though he too sensed something unusual about the feathers, he couldn’t raise his hands to assist Wen Hou. Haste forced him to retreat immediately with Shui Lingluo, pulling clear of the feather zone.

By then, Wen Hou’s fragments were already streaking through the air with "whizzing" sounds, finding their feather targets. With each impact came a light "pop," and the feather vanished completely into thin air.

Countless feathers were intercepted and obliterated by Wen Hou’s countless mirror shards.

At the same moment, a man stepped out languidly from behind a large tree, wearing the standard Xiao Family smile. "I didn’t expect to encounter another expert capable of using a magical weapon as a throwing projectile here!"

The man was dressed in white robes, his lengthy hair cascading over his shoulders. Handsome features, combined with that faint smile, gave him a clean, almost sunny appearance.

Wen Hou let his hands drop loosely by his sides, offering a slight smile in return. "Why be surprised? I’ve met plenty who use their magical weapons as throwing weapons!"

"Oh?" The white-robed man lifted an eyebrow ever so slightly, his smile softening further. "Is that so? And what became of those people?"

"They’re all dead," Wen Hou replied, delivering the three words with a chuckle.

"Is that it? Well then, it seems one of us two will surely die here today."

Wen Hou nodded. "I agree. My name is Wen Hou. State yours."

"Xiao Qingyu." Xiao Qingyu replied, then shook his head slightly. "So you’re not Lou Yun. That must mean… you are Lou Yun?" As he said this last part, his finger pointed unerringly at Lou Yun.

The name "Xiao Qingyu" caused Lou Yun’s brow to furrow. The Xiao’s weapon was feathers, and among the nine families, each generation had an elite who adopted a name derived from their family weapon. This name, "Qingyu," contained the character "Yu" (feather). Could he, like Han Ling Shu of the Han family, be the standout of the current Xiao generation, the designated successor to the clan head?

If that were true, this man’s strength could not be underestimated. Seeing Xiao Qingyu point directly at him – clearly intending to fight – Lou Yun prepared to set Tie Sha down and step forward himself. After all, the invitation to Biko Island had been for him. He was the primary target for the nine families. Tie Sha had already dealt with Han Ling Shu. This Xiao Qingyu… he had to handle it.

However, Wen Hou addressed Xiao Qingyu first. "Weren’t you just saying one of us might die here today? Did you forget so quickly? If you want Lou Yun," Wen Hou declared coolly, "you’ll have to deal with me first."

Turning back to Lou Yun, Wen Hou added, "Lou, brother… I’d like to take this one. Hope you don’t mind. Also, could you look after Tie Sha? Traps abound here, and he’s in no state to defend himself. If he were ambushed… it would be the end for him."

These words gave Lou Yun pause. Wen Hou was right – the danger was very real. Forget Tie Sha; even Shui Lingluo, with no water around, wouldn’t be able to protect herself if attacked!

Yet, he was truly reluctant to let Wen Hou fight Xiao Qingyu for him. At that moment, Chang Xiang’s voice sounded in his mind, "Just let him fight. You stand guard here with Tie Sha. Besides, do you really think those four families brought you all the way here just to offer two opponents? There are definitely others waiting further on. You’ll surely have your chance to fight!"

Lou Yun had to admit Chang Xiang made sense. He felt a flicker of curiosity, though: why was Chang Xiang supporting Wen Hou fighting this battle?

Unseen to Lou Yun, Chang Xiang had his own reasons. When Tie Sha opened his eyes earlier, Chang Xiang had glimpsed – just for an instant – a beast-like shadow flash within his body. It immediately reminded him of the unknown, powerful force lingering within the bodies of members of Tianjiao. Chang Xiang now wanted to observe Wen Hou. If pushed to the brink, how would Wen Hou unleash that powerful force? And would any other shadows become visible?

Faced with Wen Hou’s direct challenge, Xiao Qingyu’s smile widened brilliantly. "Very well. Once I’ve spoken, I cannot take it back. Alright then. I’ll settle you first, then attend to Lou Yun!"

"Good!"

As the word "Good!" echoed, Wen Hou swept his hand out, unleashing a volley of mirror fragments. The shards sliced through the air with astonishing speed, creating sharp whistling sounds, their momentum seeming unstoppable. Xiao Qingyu’s face maintained its smiling composure, as if completely oblivious to the lethal fragments hurtling towards him.

Just as the shards were about to pierce Xiao Qingyu’s body, countless pure white feathers abruptly appeared in the air directly in front of him.

These feathers spontaneously wove themselves into an impenetrable cloak – a "Thousand Feathers Cloak" – which effortlessly enveloped Wen Hou’s barrage.

Then, the cloak unfolded languidly, letting the mirror fragments rain down harmlessly onto the ground below.

Xiao Qingyu smiled faintly. "Your attack simply can’t pierce through my Thousand Feathers Cloak."

Wen Hou showed no irritation, smiling back evenly. "Then let’s give it a try!"

With another sweep of his hand, innumerable mirror fragments shot towards Xiao Qingyu once more.

Watching this, Xiao Qingyu gave a slight, pitying shake of his head. A trace of contempt even surfaced beneath his smile. "Still unwilling to accept reality? Is trying the same move twice really necessary?"

Xiao Qingyu spoke as the fragments again struck the Thousand Feathers Cloak shielding him. The cloak obediently wrapped around the incoming shards.

Xiao Qingyu had barely finished speaking when a series of "pft, pft, pft" sounds erupted. Wen Hou’s volley of fragments this time pierced straight through the cloak! Though their speed diminished slightly, they remained locked onto Xiao Qingyu!

Xiao Qingyu’s expression instantly transformed into shock. How could this be? Wen Hou had used the same attack! Why was it now penetrating his invulnerable Thousand Feathers Cloak?!