Chapter 054: The Itching Powder Takes Effect

Gongsun Zifu looked up just in time to see Mumei smiling gently, her expression as serene as a white lotus blooming in the darkness. He gazed at her, unblinking, as if he had glimpsed hope at last.

After a long moment, he finally came to himself. "Who are you?"

"The Ninth Lord, Mumei."

Instantly, Gongsun Zifu’s face was filled with reverence. The Ninth Lord! Such a powerful being—yet so gentle. His expression betrayed complete infatuation.

He stared at Mumei, captivated. "Will you protect me?"

Mumei nodded and smiled softly. "Of course. I act as the will of the gods, granting you peace."

A derisive laugh broke the calm. "Peace? The ones I wish to kill—no one can grant them peace." Yun Feiyue rode up on horseback, her lips curled in a mocking smile as she looked at Mumei and Gongsun Zifu.

Gongsun Zifu instinctively took two steps back, but in front of such a beauty, retreat would be shameful. So he puffed out his chest and took two steps forward. "Sister Yue, I have always respected you as an elder sister. I never imagined you would be so cruel as to want me dead. Do you know who stands before you?"

"So noisy!" Yun Feiyue flicked her wrist, sending her fiery whip lashing toward Gongsun Zifu.

Terrified, Gongsun Zifu scrambled backward, while several martial artists of the sixth rank stepped forward to shield him from Yun Feiyue. With Mumei present, they believed Yun Feiyue would surely be defeated without even a fight.

Yet Yun Feiyue stood with unyielding pride, her expression as if she were gazing at a group of worthless fools.

Yes, exactly that—a look reserved for the useless.

Gongsun Zifu was infuriated by her disdain, clenching his fists tightly. If he had the strength, he would have rushed forward to pummel Yun Feiyue. But... he stood no chance.

His hopes now rested entirely on Mumei. "Ninth Lord, please, you must protect me!" He gazed at her with desperate devotion.

Mumei nodded slowly, her smile saintly, almost Mary-like. "Rest assured, I will deal with her for you."

As her words faded, she conjured layer upon layer of plum blossoms in her palm, the petals sharpening into swords and thrusting toward Yun Feiyue.

Yun Feiyue merely flicked her sleeve; flames exploded around her, twisting like vines as she leapt into the air, her fiery whip striking at Mumei.

Mumei retreated swiftly. With a sweep of her hand, she summoned a wall of white light before her to block Yun Feiyue. Unexpectedly, the whip shattered the wall in an instant.

Such power... Surely the pinnacle of martial arts. Yet what truly shocked Mumei was her inability to discern Yun Feiyue’s true level; she could not tell what stage she was in.

Martial masters can conceal their qi at certain stages, making it impossible for others to judge their strength. Such masters are usually at the seventh tier—divided into Awakening, Heartfelt, and Pinnacle. Mumei could not determine which stage Yun Feiyue had reached.

"Yun Feiyue, do you realize opposing me is opposing the gods?" She could only resort to intimidation.

Yun Feiyue responded with a cold laugh, utterly unimpressed. "Ha! Don’t threaten me with the gods. If they’re so mighty, let them smite me now! I’m not afraid—what will you do?" Her words were bold, but no lightning struck her down.

As she finished speaking, her whip lashed toward Gongsun Zifu. Mumei’s hand flashed with white light, conjuring a barrier before Yun Feiyue. The fiery whip shattered it effortlessly.

Mumei dared not linger in battle; she needed to get Gongsun Zifu to safety, and quickly.

She seized Gongsun Zifu and hurled a handful of plum petals, which grew and formed a barricade between herself and Yun Feiyue.

Yun Feiyue summoned fire, burning the petals to ash, and leapt forward, her whip striking at Mumei.

Yet precious time was wasted... nowhere near enough.

Just then, as Mumei was escaping, she felt a strange sensation in her body—an itch spreading over her entire skin. The effect of Luoyunhuang’s medicine had begun. Unconsciously, Mumei scratched at her backside.

The itch only intensified. If not for the urgency of battle, she would have stripped off her clothes to scratch at her skin. But Mumei was composed; she forced herself to stop.

In that instant, Yun Feiyue was already before her, hurling a fireball at her abdomen. Mumei dodged deftly, but could not take Gongsun Zifu with her.

Weighing her options, she chose to flee. Judging by Yun Feiyue’s demeanor, there was no chance she would be spared. If she did not escape now, she might never have another opportunity.

That searing power was enough to overcome even the hidden lords who had survived the trials of ice and fire. The flames...

Mumei had no time for further thought, slipping away.

Yun Feiyue’s target was not Mumei, so she abandoned the pursuit, casting a cold glance at Gongsun Zifu.

"Sister Yue, please, spare me..." Gongsun Zifu pleaded in near desperation.

Yun Feiyue's lips curled into a rare, sorrowful smile. She was not a bloodthirsty killer; in truth, she had never taken a life. She talked tough, but when it came time to act, she hesitated.

"Don’t look at me like that. I know I’m beautiful, but a young man should mind his manners. As for your life—I’ll take it. This is my first time killing, so I have no experience. If it hurts, bear it."

Yun Feiyue drew her sword, Buddha’s Butterfly, its blade gleaming cold and fearsome in the night. Gongsun Zifu tried to evade, but there was nowhere to run.

The blade plunged into his heart, blood spraying.

She had never claimed to be kind. If he was an enemy, then kindness was wasted. In this society, survival was always a gamble.

Gongsun Zifu stared at Yun Feiyue in shock. "Sister Yue, we grew up together, you and I—"

"Ah, but no matter what, you wanted to kill me." Yun Feiyue withdrew Buddha’s Butterfly from his heart. "Since you are my enemy, letting you die by this blade is the best I can offer you."

Gongsun Zifu’s mouth moved, struggling to speak, but no words came. His eyes widened. That beautiful face, drenched in blood, was both ghastly and magnificent.

Yun Feiyue rode away, her red robes billowing, though her heart was troubled. Enough—now she must hurry to the Nangong estate.

As she passed the Gongsun residence, flames raged in the night sky. Several uninjured soldiers followed Yun Feiyue. Their warhorses thundered down the street, charging toward the Nangong estate.

Before they reached it, the sounds of bitter combat echoed from within.

"Miss, hurry! There are ambushes in the Nangong estate—Third Young Master may not survive!" A wounded soldier, struggling to stay astride his horse, escaped in panic.