Chapter 84: The Dagger Revealed

“There is a way,” Wang Yuanfeng said after a moment's thought, seeing the group’s troubled faces. “If we can find a magical tool or a demon cultivator skilled at tunneling through mountains, we could alter the course of the dragon vein. Then, the dragon vein would naturally return to Blade Talisman Mountain.”

“There’s actually such a method? That’s incredible!” Xiao Qing’s eyes lit up at once, marveling at the idea.

Er Qing shook his head at Xiao Qing and said, “Our eldest brother has a ground dragon under his command, doesn’t he? It can dig tunnels.”

“It’s just an earthworm that achieved cultivation, its greatest skill is burrowing and digging.” Er Qing, noticing the others’ confusion, explained further, “It doesn’t have to be an earthworm—rats, rabbits, or pangolins would work too. And besides, with An Youyu’s character, he wouldn’t do anything to us without cause.”

The others agreed, finding his logic sound. Though Wang Yuanfeng had once met An Youyu and thought him a bit naïvely kind, he hadn’t paid much attention. Yet among them, no one understood An Youyu better than Madam Zhang.

Madam Zhang nodded and said, “Precisely because An Youyu has always been kind-hearted, and he’s the only male heir in the An family—their fortune rests solely on him. That’s why we chose him. From what I know, unless someone seeks to kill or harm, he won’t intervene.”

“Yes, he’s a bit old-fashioned, but he wouldn’t slaughter the innocent,” Wang Yuanfeng concurred. “There are countless dragon veins in the world, and now is the age of rising dragons—many possess dragon qi, and he is merely one of many latent dragons. As long as he doesn’t hinder us, it’s fine. Besides, he hasn’t done anything outrageous.”

“That makes sense…” Xiao Qing thought it over and agreed.

Suddenly, Wang Yuanfeng felt his sword at his waist begin to heat up and tremble, a sign of trouble.

“Someone’s coming, let’s hide,” he said. The sword’s tremor was a signal—it had to be Zhang Xiangzi; no one else was nearby. He turned to Madam Zhang, “We’ll leave this to you. If the moment is right, we’ll act.”

“Yes, young master.” Madam Zhang understood it was no time for words. She hurried to the corner, lifted a slab of stone, and said to the three, “Young master, please hide inside.”

“Quick, get in,” Wang Yuanfeng urged. Xiao Qing leaped in first, followed by Er Qing, and then Wang Yuanfeng. Madam Zhang restored the stone slab, leaving no trace.

She glanced around the room, considered the situation, then waved her hand to gather up all traces of Wang Yuanfeng, Xiao Qing, and Er Qing’s presence, leaving only An Youyu’s aura. She then moved Hua Guzi onto the bed and pretended to care for her.

A loud clang sounded as the door swung open. An elder in a steward’s robe entered, scanning the room as if searching for something, his eyes glinting suspiciously.

“Brother, what brings you here?” Madam Zhang saw Zhang Xiangzi’s searching gaze and grew nervous, her hands sweating.

Zhang Xiangzi examined her for a moment. She seemed changed—radiant, graceful, far more attractive than before. Her anxious gaze toward him stirred a desire to pull her into his arms and cherish her; she had never looked so beautiful to him.

Hormones surged through Zhang Xiangzi, but he forced himself to focus, knowing he had business. His burning eyes betrayed his intention as he asked, “Did anything strange happen just now?”

“N-no,” Madam Zhang replied, tense. Zhang Xiangzi had grown increasingly volatile lately, acting without restraint; she guessed that desire had clouded his mind, and if it continued, madness would follow. His gaze terrified her, but she suppressed her fear and said, “I followed your orders, saved An Youyu, and after waking he left, agreeing to go to the serpent den to hunt monsters.”

“Oh?” Zhang Xiangzi doubted her words but was distracted by her alluring presence, unable to restrain himself.

He approached the bed, noticing Hua Guzi lying there. Her complexion was serene, lips red, skin like jade; a faint blush colored her face, her skin delicate, her neck exposed in perfect lines. The more he looked, the more he liked.

“I’ve raised you for centuries; tonight you’ll finally serve your purpose,” Zhang Xiangzi said, moving toward Hua Guzi.

“Brother, you can’t—she’s…” Madam Zhang saw his intent and was silenced by his fierce glare.

“Heh,” Zhang Xiangzi sneered, looking at Madam Zhang with malice. He thought she couldn’t be kept anymore; he had spared her because she had submitted, but now, for her only kin Hua Guzi, she dared to defy him. He looked at her with a mocking smile. “You want to claim Hua Guzi is my daughter?”

Before Madam Zhang could speak, Zhang Xiangzi continued, “When I slaughtered your entire clan, you witnessed it all. If not for Hua Guzi’s rare constitution, you’d have joined your people in death.”

Madam Zhang clutched her head in pain. The memory was agony—she had pleaded to care for Hua Guzi, and Zhang Xiangzi had spared her life.

She had lived in humiliation for years, waiting for revenge, and now, with a few helpers, she was finally ready. Even if it meant dying, she would kill him. Madam Zhang lifted her head, gazing at Zhang Xiangzi with hatred, silent.

“Leave,” Zhang Xiangzi said with disgust. He would have killed her if not for his desire to harvest the fruit of his centuries-long effort.

After finishing, he would deal with Madam Zhang. He glanced at her, seeing her as lifeless, and made his plan.

Madam Zhang trembled, her grief evident. Suddenly, she looked up and gave Zhang Xiangzi a bitter smile.

Below, Wang Yuanfeng and the others hid, unable to use spiritual sense openly, but carefully sensing the situation above. Wang Yuanfeng, a master swordsman, was highly sensitive to changes of heart. When Madam Zhang’s murderous intent surged, his sword grew hot; sensing it came from her, he then also felt murderous intent from Zhang Xiangzi.

Seeing Madam Zhang’s expression, Wang Yuanfeng knew things had reached a critical point. If conflict broke out, they would have to act. He transmitted a message to Er Qing and Xiao Qing: “Once Madam Zhang attacks, we strike together.”

Er Qing and Xiao Qing understood—though things seemed calm, the storm was imminent. The conflict between Madam Zhang and Zhang Xiangzi had reached its peak; once it erupted, it would be a deadly struggle. Both nodded silently.

The three waited, poised for action, ready to unleash their full strength when either Madam Zhang or Zhang Xiangzi made a move.

“What, planning a revolt?” Zhang Xiangzi sneered at Madam Zhang’s hateful glare, hands behind his back, secretly gathering power.

“Die!” Suddenly, a dagger appeared in Madam Zhang’s hand as she stabbed toward Zhang Xiangzi’s abdomen.

“Attack!” Wang Yuanfeng called in a low voice, smashing the stone slab and unleashing their techniques.

Er Qing threw a vine; Xiao Qing spat out a cloud of poisonous smoke. Wang Yuanfeng hesitated, considering throwing a thunder bomb to finish Zhang Xiangzi, but fearing collateral damage, he drew his sword, ignoring his lung injury, and leaped from the hidden passage, thrusting toward Zhang Xiangzi’s right leg at the Sanyinjiao acupoint.

Zhang Xiangzi seemed to anticipate the ambush. He struck out—one palm knocked Madam Zhang’s dagger away; the other formed a shield that blocked Er Qing’s vine. Xiao Qing’s poisonous mist followed, enveloping Zhang Xiangzi, but he remained unaffected.

“Die!” Zhang Xiangzi struck at Madam Zhang’s Baihui point, intending to end her.

“Ah!” Zhang Xiangzi felt a sharp pain in his leg and cried out, instinctively withdrawing his power and stumbling as his right leg failed him, hopping awkwardly on one foot.

“Xiao Qing, aim the poison at his leg,” Wang Yuanfeng ordered, his lungs aching, blood seeping from his lips, but his heart soared with joy. In past battles, he’d never injured Zhang Xiangzi at a vital point; if he could wound him, he could wear him down. Now, finally, he saw results. Ignoring his pain, he pressed his attack on Zhang Xiangzi’s vulnerable points.

“Despicable!” Zhang Xiangzi responded swiftly, though wounded at Sanyinjiao and his movements impaired. He summoned a double-headed steel trident with his right hand, channeling demonic power and engaging Wang Yuanfeng in fierce combat.

Madam Zhang tried to join in, but the two fought so fiercely that she could not find an opening. She stood by, quietly gathering strength, waiting for her chance.

“Brother Yuanfeng, step aside, I’ll use poison mist,” Xiao Qing called, but Wang Yuanfeng was still in the fray; if she released the poison, he would be caught as well.

Er Qing, vine in hand, prepared to rush in, but Wang Yuanfeng shouted, “Xiao Qing, don’t worry about me—poison Zhang Xiangzi first, then cure me once he’s dealt with.”

“No…” Er Qing tried to stop her. She knew how potent Xiao Qing’s poison mist was—even their elder brother’s powers would falter against it. Before she could finish, Xiao Qing opened her mouth, and a cloud of toxins engulfed both Wang Yuanfeng and Zhang Xiangzi.