The Emperor Reigns Them All

Chapter 58 One Sword

Suddenly, Shangguan Qingcheng had a bad feeling and she wanted to retreat. Unfortunately, it was too late since Li Jing’an’s attendant had already been standing behind her.

Here she was on a mountain road with hundreds of stone steps. One side, a rocky cliff, and the other side, a wooded escarpment of unknown height.

Shangguan Qingcheng started down from the mountain and was blocked by Li Jing’an. The woman attendant jumped up behind her and completely cut off her retreat.

This scene surprised Shangguan Qingcheng and her look darkened. She stared at Li Jing’an who stood, smiling in front of her. “What do you mean, Childe Li?”

The light here was not bright, but it did provide minimal visibility. Among the dense branches and leaves of the old trees, there were fragments of brilliance that fell from time to time. These were from the movements of Nangong Diyi as he continued fighting with others.

Li Jing’an gently shook out a folding fan before his chest, as his face wore a sinister smile and his appearance became menacing. “There is no special meaning, I just wanted to tell you that you can’t leave, Miss Shangguan.”

He could have spoken plainly and directly, but he wanted to pretend a little bit. In Li Jing’an’s opinion a really great man never needed to clarify himself and a real master always spoke cryptically.

Although Li Jing’an was neither a great man nor a master, it did not stop him from thinking of himself as a future great man or master. He believed that he should be different from ordinary people.

Shangguan Qingcheng gripped her knife firmly. “You want to kill me?”

Li Jing’an smiled slightly and as usual, his movements were light and subtle. He considered it to be his style. “Miss Shangguan, even if you were to kneel down and beg for mercy, you would still die today.”

Thinking on this, Li Jing’an realized something suddenly, and he changed his words. “Of course, if Miss Shangguan would be willing to abandon Li Ye, that trash, and switch to my side, I would also cherish you. After all, Miss Shangguan is gorgeous and charming... Shangguan Qingcheng is the perfect name for you. Such beauty as Miss Shangguan’s, you are indeed breathtaking. To be honest, I am reluctant to kill you like this.”

“You are dreaming!” Shangguan Qingcheng snarled.

Li Jing’an looked sullen. “Miss Shangguan, It is kind of me to give you a chance to survive. You’d do better to appreciate my kindness. What is so good about Li Ye, that trash? It was just a coincidence that he got Celestial Master Yuan’s inheritance. You really think that he can turn against the sky!”

Shangguan Qingcheng took a deep breath before starting to pull out her knife. Suddenly, she thought of something and with a sneer, she looked at Li Jing’an, her eyes full of ridicule and sympathy. “Oh, I see. You are jealous of Your Highness. He is intelligent and competent. First, he saw through Li Guanshu’s conspiracy to save everyone, and then he set a plan to draw forth evidence of Wei Tianhe’s crime, which earned everyone’s gratitude. Meanwhile, you did nothing at all... You are jealous that Your Highness gets everyone’s respect and has become a hero in everyone’s eyes. While all you can do is stand aside as a nobody since no one cares!”

Shangguan Qingcheng stood erect and looked at Li Jing’an as if she were looking at a pitiful creature.”Li Jing’an, when you were in Chang’an, everyone said that you were the first genius of this generation of youths from the Imperial Clan, this fed your ego. However, the reality is a slap in the face. This trip to Niushou Mountain, it turns out that you are nothing when compared to Your Highness! So, I am telling you that it’s impossible for me to betray Your Highness I can’t acknowledge that you are better than him! I, Shangguan Qingcheng, belong to Your Highness whether I am alive or dead and I will never bow to you... a mere insect!”

Li Jing’an was so angry that the false smile on his face could not last any longer. Having her see through to his real thoughts, made his eyes turned red. His expression became ferocious, as he shouted angrily, “You are looking for death!”

He took one step forward and his cultivation of Level 4 Qi-refining burst out. The powerful Spiritual Qi made his robes billow. His Palm Qi rushed towards Shangguan Qingcheng’s face in a second!

Shangguan Qingcheng looked calm as she pulled out her knife.

Her knife remained sheathed as Li Jing’an first blow struck her shoulder.

Shangguan Qingcheng was flung backward and her back hit the stone wall, a little blood spilling from her mouth. Still, she showed no sign of fear as she continued to pull out her knife, her eyes full of determination.

But, under the suppression of Li Jing’an’s cultivation, she was unable to pull out her knife.

Li Jing’an looked fierce, like a wild wolf with his hair bristling. He stared at Shangguan Qingcheng. “How are you going to fight me when you can’t even pull out your knife? What do you plan to fight me with?”

He took a deep breath and his desire to kill showed. “I will give you one last chance. As long as you kneel down and to kowtow to me, renouncing Li Ye, that trash, I will give you a chance to surrender and live!”

“Impossible!” Shangguan Qingcheng clenched her teeth. As she yelled this word, the complete force of her cultivated power burst forth and she immediately unsheathed her knife.

She lifted her knife, poised to chop down into Li Jing’an’s head!

“Since you are so eager to die, I will help you! After you die, I will kill Li Ye and let you reunite in death!” Li Jing’an bristled with anger and he punched at Shangguan Qingchen with the whole of his power.

“Stop!” Suddenly, a colorful blaze of light struck down, like a lightning bolt, and blocked Li Jing’an’s fist of light.

Wu You came flying down from the top of the stone steps and landed beside Shangguan Qingcheng instantly. She retrieved her double rings and stared at Li Jing’an angrily as she chastised him, “Li Jing’an, you are crazy! You actually think you can attack Elder Brother Ye’s attendant?!”

Li Jing’an’s anger had not diminished. “Duchess of Li, I advise you to get out of the way. I must kill her today!”

Wu You frowned. “Li Jing’an, you’d better explain yourself. I’m not going to let you kill her. Even if I hadn’t shown up, Elder Brother Ye is going to give you a beating when he finds out!”

“Shut up!” Li Jing’an fumed. “Li Ye, that trash, is an insect, only at a Level 3 of Qi-refining, even if I kill his attendant, what can he do to me?! What would he dare to do to me? Kill me? Hahahaha! Does he even have enough power? Does he have the guts?!”

Wu You’s look darkened as she tried to respond. At that moment Li Jing’an’s attendant returned to his side and whispered a few words in his ear, helping him emphasize the overall situation.

Li Jing’an blinked a few times and he controlled his anger in the end. He said to Wu You stiffly, “To tell you the truth, the reason Nangong Diyi came here today was that Duke Xing invited him! Duke Xing, being a core member of the imperial court, is also a right-hand man to Duke Wei. Duchess of Li should now understand how powerful he is. Since Nangong Diyi’s arrival, it’s not difficult to confirm the rebellion crime in Sanqingguan. That is to say, the truth of the disaster of the mountain village, the reason we came here to investigate, is already clear!”

Li Jing’an’s gaze was sharp. “Therefore, the so-called truth that Li Ye, that trash, has found, won’t even exist since Duke Xing won’t allow it to exist! Currently, I have reached an agreement with Duke Xing, and, as long as you also accept this ‘truth’, Duke Xing will compensate you and will not let you down.”

Li Jing’an concluded, “We came to Niushou Mountain in order to pass the official examination and to become officials. That being the case, there is no need to stir up trouble and become enemies with Duke Xing. As long as we help him this time, he will do his best to help us find better positions with real power when we become officials. Duchess of Li should know how to weigh the pros and cons!”

Hearing Li Jing’an’s words, Wu You and Shangguan Qingcheng stood stunned. After a moment passed Wu You became angry and said, “You mean...! You can’t even think that. It’s impossible...”

Before she could finish her statement, her old attendant walked up behind her and whispered in her ear. “Duke Xing is powerful. Currently, Duke Wei is in power of the court, and we do not have to fight against them. Honestly, even if we can defeat Duke Xing, we would offend Duke Wei, which is unfavorable to you and your husband’s future official careers. As long as we can get what we want this time, Duchess should emphasize the overall situation...”

Wu You’s and Li Jing’an’s attendants were not only for protection but also to help the young people make the right decisions since they lacked experience in these situations.

“What you are saying is impossible! The truth has clearly been investigated by Elder Brother Ye, the credit should be his...” Wu You turned her head and glared at the old attendant. “Besides, I don’t believe his words!”

Li Jing’an raised his jaw and responded calmly, “Duchess of Li, every word I speak is true. If you don’t believe me, you just wait and see.”

He smiled cruelly as he said this. “Before dawn, Duke Xing will return with the head of Li Ye...”

Wu You still wanted to say something, but she was being implored by the old attendant. “Duchess, do not act in anger, otherwise, I won’t be able to explain it to your husband...”

At that moment, Shangguan Qingcheng knew that the situation was dire and Li Ye was in danger, this realization made her sad and angry. Unable to bear it any longer, she lifted her knife to chop Li Jing’an down. “I’ll kill you first!”

“You court death!” Li Jing’an sneered. “Duchess of Li, Li Ye has offended Duke Xing and will surely die tonight. His attendant has no need to live. I advise you not to stop me...”

As he spoke, Li Jing’an punched out and his lips pulled back into a cruel smile. He didn’t hold back his cultivation of Level 4 Qi-refining, causing his punch to fly like the wind. It blew countless branches and leaves of the surrounding trees, heading straight at Shangguan Qingcheng’s face!

“St...” Wu You stepped forward and was about to intercept. But her old attendant pulled her back suddenly.

Li Jing’an’s fist punched out with a three-meter-long light, forming a huge Qi fist. Its energy illuminated the stone wall and forest as it flew straight at Shangguan Qingcheng’s face. Because of his level of power, if the fist made contact with Shangguan Qingcheng, she would be obliterated!

The fist of light had already arrived at its intended target, Shangguan Qingcheng.

Wu You had been pulled by her old attendant and it was too late for her to make a move. Instead, she shouted at Shangguan Qingcheng angrily and anxiously. “Retreat!”

Shangguan Qingcheng stood still with determination.

She held her knife firmly, no intention of retreating.

She knew that she was going to die.

Even if she retreated, she could not escape.

It was better to die with a knife in her hand than to become a deserter.

At that moment, Shangguan Qingcheng decided to die.

She filled with sorrow.

It was a pity that she would not be with Li Ye anymore.

That was too bad.

Shangguan Qingcheng did not believe Li Jing’an’s when he said that Li Ye would be killed by Li Guanshu tonight.

What she believed was that Li Ye would escape from Li Guanshu and that he would come back alive.

Since starting at the Tai Xuan Summit, Li Ye had been creating a series of miracles.

Shangguan Qingcheng believed in Li Ye, even if the whole world did not.

Therefore, when the Qi fist came at her, shining on her white face and red lips, she just silently said in her heart. “Your Highness, you must live... and don’t avenge me!”

If he avenged her, he would become an enemy of Grand Prince Gong, Li Jing’an’s father. Shangguan Qingcheng hoped that Li Ye would not do so because Li Ye would have no “friends or family” in Chang’an City. She did not want for Li Ye to have another enemy and lots of trouble because of her.

At her moment of death, Shangguan Qingcheng felt at peace, her mouth moved slightly, and she even smiled.

As a warrior of Li Ye, she had fought for him to her last moment and she would not disappoint him.

“Bastard!”

At that critical moment, there was a sudden and angry roar.

The roar was so loud that it reverberated like thunder, and everyone could feel the fury of the speaker.

Everyone shifted to look in the direction of the roar.

Suddenly, there was a person jumping up from the steep slope that was opposite the stone wall.

The full moon glowed behind him.

He spread his arms as he wielded a sword in one hand. His body moved like a wild goose and his temperament was like that of an immortal!

He appeared so suddenly it was like he had sprung from the ground.

With an angry roar, he lifted his long sword over his head and sliced down immediately. Instantly a cyan light fell from the sky!

Li Jing’an’s fist of light, that had been rushing toward Shangguan Qingcheng’s face, was struck by the cyan light. Without resistance, the fist broke apart and dissipated into the air neatly!

The cyan light had enough residual power to decimate the stone wall. With a loud crash, stone powder sprayed everywhere, creating a cloud of smoke and dust. The impact was so great it shook the entire cliff wall!

After the smoke and dust settled around the stone wall, a gap the size of one-decimeter width, one-meter depth, and three-meter length remained.

This gap shocked everyone in place.

They all stared at the gap blankly while saying nothing. They were asking themselves if they could ever catch this Sword Qi.

The answer had been a definite no!

Even Wu You’s and Li Jing’an’s attendants would not have been able to catch such a sword!

Li Jing’an stood stunned as he stared at the gap absentmindedly.

The sword was too powerful!

The newcomer was a master!

A real master!

Who was he?

Everyone looked around to try and see the man’s face clearly.

Could he be Nangong Diyi?

Other than Nangong Diyi, who else could chop down such a powerful sword?

But why would he suddenly appear here, why would he save Shangguan Qingcheng, and why would he make such a thunderous roar?!

Surrounding everyone was the powder from countless leaves that had been smashed by the Sword Qi falling through the air!

That man walked through the leaves with his back against the full moon.

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