Embrace the blade

Qi Zhaoxi and Jiang Li fled forward all the way, still interlocking their fingers, even clenched even tighter, the fierce wind passing by their ears, but they could still hear each other's rapid breathing.

Seeing that he was about to leave the jungle at the foot of the mountain, there were faint traces interlaced between the trees in front of him.Qi Zhaoxi pulled Jiang Li to stop, swung his sword forward, the sharp sword energy passed by, and countless thin threads like spider's silk broke and drifted down.

"Qiansixian." Qi Zhaoxi understood, "The Prajna Sect still has arrangements ahead, no wonder Yin Huaishu easily let us go and didn't send anyone to chase us."

Jiang Li panted violently, bent his body slightly and could not speak at all, the poison of the smoke had not completely receded, and the unreserved use of lightness kung fu consumed all his energy, making his body even weaker.

Qi Zhaoxi glanced at his face, then looked at the towering mountains next to him, and said, "The smoke is less poisonous than burning incense, and it will dissipate in about an hour. Right now there is an ambush ahead, and there are pursuers behind. It is too late to force it out." It's too dangerous, why don't we sneak into the mountain, delay the time first, and wait until you recover."

Jiang Li turned his head and looked back towards the col. He could vaguely see those people from the rivers and lakes chasing after him. He nodded: "Okay."

So Qi Zhaoxi let go of his hand, and without waiting for Jiang Li's reaction, he hugged him horizontally.

Jiang Li's figure suddenly jumped into the air, his whole body almost froze, Qi Zhaoxi had already rushed up the mountain without delay.The forests and trees on both sides retreated rapidly, turning into blurred shadows, Jiang Li leaned against his breathing embrace, at a loss for what to do, and finally had to put his arms around his neck awkwardly, so as to save him some strength.

They walked through the dead trees in the deep forest, and could vaguely hear the sound of gurgling water coming from a distance. Then, a fiery red maple forest spread out in front of them, and they continued to go deeper, only to find a hidden deep cave hidden in it.

"Just rest here for a while, even if those Jianghu people chase after them, they won't rush into the cave." Qi Zhaoxi stood still, looked down, but saw Jiang Li's red ears, couldn't help but He laughed and said in a low voice, "I've kissed you before, why are you still shy after hugging you?"

Jiang Li became more and more uncomfortable: "I didn't."

Qi Zhaoxi laughed even harder, suddenly feeling happy, couldn't help but hugged him tightly and turned around in a circle, looking at the red maple trees around him, said: "Jiang Li, do you think this is like It's elopement, leaving everyone and everything far behind, and from now on, we don't have to worry about anything, there are only two of us in the world."

Jiang Li's hand on his shoulder tightened when he heard the words, and he raised his eyes to look at his stretched eyebrows, and after a long while, he whispered: "...let me down."

Qi Zhaoxi paused, the smile on his face faded, he let Jiang Li stand back to the ground, without saying anything, walked into the depths of the cave with him one after the other, found a relatively flat place and sat down .

So they became completely silent, and for a while, only the sound of each other's gradually calming breathing could be heard.

Jiang Li originally wanted to heal his injuries and recover as soon as possible, but his thoughts were all on the people next to him, and he couldn't concentrate at all. He tried twice and had to give up.

Jiang Li couldn't stop regretting, the atmosphere between the two of them finally eased, but was ruined by his own words, he collected himself, and tentatively said: "You..."

"In my year, my mother asked me to leave the Prajna Sect and go down the mountain to practice, and wanted me to get acquainted with the righteous people of Jianghu." Qi Zhaoxi suddenly said.

Jiang Li didn't continue, and only said "um", indicating that he was listening.

"It was that year that I participated in the Tianmen Sect's sword test meeting, met Xue Le, and had contacts with many righteous people, but I can't remember them all now, I just remember that I was really happy. When the one-year period expires , when I returned to the Prajna Sect, my reputation of 'breaking the gate of heaven with one sword' has been spread all over the world."

"My mother is the last protector of the Prajna Sect. The search for the "Longevity Secret" was originally a task given to her by the old leader. That day she was sitting in the hall waiting for me to go back. She was wearing luxurious clothes and the most beautiful makeup. I don't know. She took the poison, and told her with great interest what I had seen and heard at the foot of the mountain, and then watched her die in my arms."

"..." Jiang Li looked at him, but the cave was dim, and he couldn't see Qi Zhaoxi's expression clearly, only his eyes.

"My mother said she was sorry for me and gave me birth in the Prajna Sect, so she gave me freedom, and let me no longer be coerced and restrained by her, so I can get out of this devil's den." Qi Zhaoxi's tone was flat, "But I didn't leave , but sat in place until the old leader brought people over."

"Why don't you leave?" Jiang Li asked.

"I don't know where to go." Qi Zhaoxi paused for a moment, and repeated as if competing with herself, "I don't know where to go, my mother is dead, I'm just a rootless weed in the world, isn't it the same everywhere? ?”

"You miss her very much?"

Qi Zhaoxi didn't look at him, but just stared at the void in the darkness, as if looking at an unknown distance: "In the past ten years, sometimes I miss her, and most of the time I hate her."

Jiang Li was slightly taken aback.

"I hate her for making her own claims and for leaving me alone."

Jiang Li heard what he meant, and said in a low voice, "She just wishes you well..."

"I hope I'm well, so I can abandon me with peace of mind. Do I still have to be grateful for her sacrifice, but what's the point? If she dies for me, I must accept it?" Qi Zhaoxi finally looked at Jiang Li with eyes wide open. His eyes were amazingly bright in the dimness, "Why?"

Jiang Li was speechless.

"Why can you make the choice for me? Why do you decide that losing is the best ending for me? Why do you do it for my own good and don't want to harm me, but never ask me what I want?"

Jiang Li was sour, and said with difficulty: "What do you want?"

"You." Qi Zhaoxi replied without hesitation, "I want you."

Jiang Li closed his eyes forcefully, unable to speak anymore.

It seemed that the blood stagnant in his chest was finally spit out, and Qi Zhaoxi became very tired all of a sudden. He leaned back against the cave wall and said, "Ever since I learned the truth about the "Longevity Formula" in the Sunset Cloud Valley, I have been thinking about how to dissolve the pain on your body. Not to mention the method of counterattack, I really figured out one in the end."

"what?"

Qi Zhaoxi smiled: "According to Elder Xu Gu, your Jiang family has never tried to abolish martial arts, except that martial arts practitioners cherish this internal force, and because the "Longevity Jue" is closely related to the blood, you are worried that it will cause more serious problems." backlash, but I couldn't help thinking... Maybe it's a way out?"

"I have the good medicine to protect the heart, and I can use my energy to protect you. The worst result is that your tendons will be cut off and you will become a cripple who can't take care of yourself, but you can still have a life, maybe it will be even worse. Rely on me, I will naturally take revenge on the Prajna Sect for you, and help you find the No Doubting Sword."

"..."

He didn't care about Jiang Li's reaction, so he went on talking: "I thought about it countless times along the way. That day, before the Immortal Cave, I didn't finish what I said to persuade you to give up martial arts and internal strength. Later, in the inn, you Seriously injured and comatose, I was almost about to do it. As for why I didn’t, maybe I was afraid that you would not want to, and that you would blame me. Then I could be more despicable, set a trap, use Prajna to abolish your martial arts, and then If I try to save you again, it will be seamless, and you will never find out that I am the mastermind behind the scenes."

After Jiang Li listened quietly, he just said, "You don't know how to do it."

Qi Zhaoxi was startled, and then smiled wryly, feeling helpless: "You are right, I can't do it, so I have nothing to do. I ran into you the other day and left without saying goodbye. I didn't know what to do except panic and get angry. Only then can I really keep you, such a powerless feeling is like returning to the time when my mother died in my arms."

Qi Zhaoxi looked at him, his voice was so low that it was almost pleading: "Jiang Li, can you tell me how can I catch you?"

Jiang Li's throat choked up, he couldn't hold it anymore, he threw himself on Qi Zhaoxi's body, leaned forward and kissed him, in a hurry, lips and teeth collided, it was a chaotic and exhausted kiss, as if this was the only way to tell the other party about his love. Indescribable, boiling emotions.

Qi Zhaoxi raised her hand to lightly rest on the back of his neck, touching the blood flowing under his warm skin, then closed her eyes, and responded to the kiss with all her heart.Jiang Li's impatience to the point of helplessness was eased with his licking, and the rhythm gradually slowed down. They sucked softly, their lips and tongues entangled, and even their breathing blended.

When the breath parted unsteadily, Qi Zhaoxi still leaned back against the stone wall, raised her head slightly, stared at Jiang Li who was straddling her, and asked softly, "Did I catch you?"

"I got it." Jiang Li paused for a moment, then deliberately added, "I don't care about you."

It was rare that this sentence contained a bit of grievance. It had no beginning and no end. It was a response to Qi Zhaoxi's angry words at that time. I thought it had been stuck in Jiang Li's mind until now, and finally found a chance to refute.

"I was wrong, I said it wrong," Qi Zhaoxi suddenly felt soft-hearted and distressed, and pressed Jiang Li back into his arms, tightening his arms, as if he wanted to use himself as a cage to trap others Locking it tightly, he tilted his head and kissed Jiang Li's ear lightly, "I know, the person you care about the most is me, and the person you like the most is also me."

"You..." After saying this, the heat immediately burned from the tip of his ear to Jiang Li's face, and he said unnaturally, "You are not ashamed."

"Otherwise?" Qi Zhaoxi said, "If it's not me, then there are others?"

Jiang Li thought for a while and said, "No."

Qi Zhaoxi laughed softly, the chests of the two touching each other trembled slightly, Jiang Li closed his eyes, leaned on Qi Zhaoxi's shoulder, and stretched out his arms to hug him.

They embraced in the dark, shared body temperature in the damp and cold cave, said nothing and did nothing, just listened quietly to each other's heartbeats, again and again, calm and powerful, like a long time, taking this A moment turned into a timeless world.

After an unknown amount of time, overlapping footsteps could be heard from a distance outside the cave, and it was the group of Jianghu Zhengdao who were chasing after them who had found this place.

Jiang Li opened his eyes and felt that his internal strength had recovered by [-]% to [-]%, so he asked, "Come out now?"

Qi Zhaoxi shook his head and smiled meaningfully: "Now is a rare opportunity."

"what chance?"

"It's a chance to prove our innocence. Otherwise, if we go out now, wouldn't we still be chased and killed by the good and the evil?" Qi Zhaoxi raised his chin outside the cave, "Look, so many people from the Jianghu are waiting for you!" With us on the field, this is a great opportunity, not to be missed."

Just in response to his words, Shen Zhiyan's probing voice came from outside the cave: "There are Qi Daxia and Jiang Shaoxia in the cave? Our party chased without malice, just to find out the facts, and I hope you can come forward and talk."

"Okay, I also have something to say." Qi Zhaoxi raised his voice and went back outside, then gave Jiang Li a reassuring look, pulled him up together, and walked out of the cave without haste.

They showed their faces so easily, the Jianghu people in a circle around the cave suddenly felt vigilant, and tightened their weapons to prevent them from attacking at any time. Shen Zhiyan, who was standing in the front, also looked at them cautiously, but Qi Zhaoxi asked directly. Said: "Second Master Shen, has your father, Master Shen, ever mentioned Qi Qiubai to you?"

"Qi Qiubai?" Shen Zhiyan was slightly surprised, "I did mention that he was a disciple of my Qingshan School, and he was my father's best friend. It's a pity that he died young and was harmed by the Prajna Sect..."

Having said that, Shen Zhiyan already realized something.

Jiang Li noticed that Qi Zhaoxi breathed a sigh of relief, looked puzzled, saw him smile slightly, and said, "That's right, Qi Qiubai is my father."

Before Shen Zhiyan understood why he mentioned this, Meng Sifan from the Tianmen sect next to him rushed to say: "Second son, Qi Zhaoxi's words cannot be trusted! If you feel that the one-sided words of the Prajna teaching are not enough to determine his identity, then just take off his lapel and Check if there is a tattoo of the Prajna Sect protector, and don't give him the chance to confuse everyone with his rhetoric!"

Others also echoed, thinking that this method is straightforward.

Qi Zhaoxi's expression remained unchanged, he raised his hand and pulled open his collar directly, revealing the tattoo entwined with flowers and branches under his collarbone, which was so red that it was enchantingly magnificent, before waiting for the other side's reaction, he pressed five fingers on it, exerting force suddenly, fingertips In an instant, he fell into the flesh, and tore out a bloody wound, destroying the tattoo!

"What are you doing?!" Jiang Li grabbed his arm.

Shen Zhiyan was taken aback, and the other Jianghu people were dumbfounded. Even Meng Sifan opened his mouth, completely forgetting what to say, and just stared at his bloody fingers in shock.

Qi Zhaoxi's forehead twitched uncontrollably, cold sweat rolled down his forehead one after another, and his temples were already wet in the blink of an eye. He took a deep breath, patted the back of Jiang Li's hand comfortingly, and then pressed his arm against Jiang Li's hand. On his shoulders, he supported himself with strength.

Jiang Li stared anxiously at his collarbone that was still bleeding, but he also knew it was not time to interrupt, so he had to forcefully suppress his mood and reached out to support him.

Qi Zhaoxi's voice was steady, and she sighed, "It's time...to tell the truth."

"All ears." Shen Zhiyan nodded at him.

"As you can see, I am indeed the Zuo Guardian of the Prajna Sect. I have been missing all these years. I was ordered to find the whereabouts of the "Longevity Formula" for the old leader. But what no one knows is that my parents were all killed by the Prajna Sect. I struggled to survive in the sect, unable to join forces with those evil spirits, lived in great pain, and kept looking for a chance to escape. Finally, I found it, that is, the famous sword meeting in the Dongting back then."

"What does he mean?"

"what chance?"

All the people in the rivers and lakes were confused and looked at each other in blank dismay.

Qi Zhaoxi said: "At that time, in order to avoid insect disasters and moved to another courtyard on the mountain, I asked the Qingshan sect to guard He Lan, the demon girl of the Prajna Sect. Second Master Shen should remember this incident. I always dressed in black in the sect, The rest of the people didn't know my true face. I fought against the Prajna Sect. Although I couldn't prevent them from rescuing He Lan, I also killed a member of the sect. When they withdrew, they set fire to the woodshed, and I realized that When the opportunity came, I and the congregation changed their costumes, and even kept the sword, I only wish to escape by feigning death, and return to the mountains and forests from now on, never to ask about this worldly matter again."

"To ensure everything is safe, I didn't even tell my apprentice." Qi Zhaoxi sighed, "But the problem also lies here. I underestimated his innocent heart, and I didn't expect him to open the coffin and steal the corpse. Want to bring me back to life."

Jiang Li couldn't help but glanced at him, but he hid the surprise in his eyes and didn't ask any questions.

But someone yelled excitedly: "According to you, the rumors in the world are all true? Jiang Li really got the "Longevity Secret"?!"

All the people present tensed up, looking forward to his answer.

Qi Zhaoxi smiled faintly, shook his head and said: "The matter of him stealing the corpse is true, after all, someone has witnessed it with their own eyes, but the matter of obtaining the "Longevity Formula" is absurd. As I said, I am already alive. What’s more, this mental method is a treasure that can’t be found anywhere in the Jianghu. You haven’t even heard the news for many years. Why is he a young man who just entered the Jianghu, saying he can do it if he wants to? Did you get it easily?"

Everyone thought about it carefully, and found that what he said was indeed reasonable, so they couldn't help nodding their heads.

Some people also said: "But he has used Jiang Luming's old leader's move, and his power is overwhelming. This is also witnessed by others!"

Qi Zhaoxi still smiled: "I didn't just say that, I have searched for the whereabouts of the "Longevity Jue" for many years, and naturally I have also studied the old leader Jiang Luming. I occasionally learned the essence of his one move and two styles. Inevitably."

Hearing this, Jiang Li couldn't help but bend the corner of his lips.

The man was still skeptical: "You mean, you taught that move to your apprentice, and you also know it?"

Qi Zhaoxi unhurriedly lowered his eyes and glanced at the wound that had stopped bleeding, and asked, "Do you want me to prove it to you now?"

The man also realized that the question was inappropriate, so he closed his mouth resentfully.

"The fact is that I heard about the theft of the corpse, I quickly found Jiang Li, and confessed the whole story to him, and then I heard that someone in Pingchuan Town was resurrected from the dead, and there was a trace of the sword of no doubt, so I came here together, but rumors spread , we, master and apprentice, have difficulty in arguing, and we are afraid of causing trouble, so we can easily deal with you under a pseudonym, and it is not a hidden conspiracy."

Jiang Lanze, who was caught in the crowd, was stunned all the way. Hearing this, he finally realized that he was disregarding the connection with the "Secret of Longevity" for Jiang Li and covering up the truth. As for Qi Zhaoxi's identity as the Left Protector, since Jiang Li Don't mind, he self-destructed the tattoo again, which was not a problem, so Jiang Lanze slapped his palms and said loudly: "Ah! So that's it, it all makes sense!"

Du Heng from the Tianmen Sect next to him turned his head to look at him, and hurriedly asked, "What makes sense?"

"Uh..." Jiang Lanze thought of an agreeing head, but he didn't expect to be questioned, so he was at a loss for words, so he tried his best to think, "That's right, I see him..."

"Master Jiang Shaozhuang and Mr. Ji Xiuming met us by chance on the road, and they had a good chat and came together," Qi Zhaoxi continued, "We often do things together, and he knows that I have nothing to do with the Prajna Sect these days. .”

"That's right, that's what it means." Jiang Lanze nodded hastily.

Shen Zhiyan looked back at Jiang Lanze, pondered for a while, and found that there was no loophole in what Qi Zhaoxi said, and thought about it: "According to what you said, what the Prajna Sect just said was to provoke?"

"Second Master Shen, he may not be telling the truth!" Meng Sifan interjected, "Just say that the deceased senior of the Qingshan School is his father, who can prove it, who knows if it is true or not? What if it is He happened to know a person with the same surname, so he used it to fabricate his life experience to clear himself of cheating Bo's sympathy?"

When the others heard this, they wavered again.

Qi Zhaoxi drew out her sword, laid it across in front of her body, and said calmly, "Master Shen must recognize this sword, and it will naturally prove that everything I said is true."

Shen Zhiyan looked at it carefully, and saw that the sword was slender and radiant, with a cold azure color flowing on the blade. It was a peerless sharp weapon, but there were strange scratches on the hilt, and the original inscription could not be seen.Shen Zhiyan raised his hand and pressed down, stopped the discussion around him, and made a decision: "In this case, please come back to the Qingshan School with us, and let my father verify the authenticity, but to prevent accidents, I will temporarily wait for you along the way. Keep this sword and guard you strictly, I hope you will not be offended."

This was to prevent him from procrastinating and looking for another opportunity to escape, Qi Zhaoxi smiled nonchalantly: "Understood."

Shen Zhiyan looked back at the crowd: "Do you have any objections?"

The handling was very proper, even Meng Sifan couldn't fault it, and the rest of the people were very at ease.

Without hesitation, Qi Zhaoxi returned the sword in its sheath and threw it directly.Shen Zhiyan took the sword, turned sideways and raised his hand politely: "Please."

However, before Qi Zhaoxi and Jiang Li could move, a voice seemed to come from outside the sky, with a smile of unknown meaning:

"Don't rush away, the fun has just begun!"