Crowned by the Treacherous Big Shot

In a flash of lightning, she forcefully received the opponent's strike.

Something unbelievable happened—the man suddenly staggered back more than ten steps, clutching his right hand, and let out a muffled groan of pain.

Meng Qianqian blinked: "What just happened?"

The Miao King said, "That thing in your hand is the nemesis of Cold Ice Palm."

Lu Yuan's mouth twitched: "... Couldn't you have said so earlier?"

The Miao King: "I just now remembered."

The man swept a cold glance at the group, suddenly unleashed a barrage of concealed weapons, and darted into the thick mist.

The Miao King looked at the masked killers surrounding them and commanded: "What are you standing around for? Go and chase him down for me!"

The group exchanged uncertain glances.

Lu Yuan said indifferently, "Disobedient captives are useless; better to kill them."

One of the masked killers stepped forward and gave the order: "Search the mountain!"

Once the group had left, Meng Qianqian asked the Miao King, "Grandfather, will they find him?"

"No," the Miao King answered without hesitation, "I only sent them away as an excuse."

If it were that rascal asking, he might not have bothered to explain. But facing his dear granddaughter-in-law, his patience was endless.

"I came here alone. If they take advantage of our relaxed vigilance and decide to act with murderous intent, things could get troublesome."

As he spoke, he crouched down, removed the mask from a killer whose head he had pierced through earlier.

Then, tearing open the man's clothing, he found a flaming tattoo on his chest. "Just as I suspected—they're not Miaojiang people."

Meng Qianqian gasped: "They're not from Miaojiang... Luckily, we sent them away."

She looked at the Miao King with admiration. "Grandfather, you're amazing!"

The Miao King loved hearing the truth spoken wholeheartedly!

He puffed up his chest with pride and declared, "If I weren't this impressive, Xian'er wouldn't have fallen for me!"

Lu Yuan chuckled: "You mean you chased her shamelessly."

The Miao King put his hands on his hips: "Rascal! If it weren't for my relentless pursuit back then, you wouldn't even exist!"

Meng Qianqian saw the grandfather and grandson bickering the moment they met and gently reminded, "Grandfather, Mother is still in the mountain—we should go look for her."

The Miao King said casually, "Oh, I ran into her on the way. She's with a young man from the Seven Heroes Sect, fighting against his master."

Meng Qianqian asked curiously, "Seven Heroes Sect?"

Lu Yuan replied, "Ji Feng."

Meng Qianqian was stunned. "You know this too?" Then she remembered something and said, "Oh right, I forgot what you used to do."

The former head of the Jinyi Guard, tasked with intelligence and assassination, wouldn't fail to investigate the guards of the Crown Prince Mansion.

Meng Qianqian continued, "Grandfather, you said Ji Feng fought against his master."

The Miao King sighed: "Yes, that boy is being beaten horribly by his own master."

Lu Yuan urged, "Shouldn't we hurry and save him?"

The Miao King stroked his chin and remarked, "I only said he's being beaten horribly; I didn't say he'll definitely lose."

-

Ji Feng exchanged over a hundred blows with Yi Xiafei, yet endured at least ninety-nine strikes.

Yi Xiafei stared at Ji Feng, who had been knocked down but again used his sword to prop himself up. His gaze shifted slightly. "Stop now. Every single move you use was taught by me. You're no match for me."

Ji Feng trembled, his body barely stabilized. He raised his sword and pointed. "Please, Master, make your move."

Yi Xiafei gritted his teeth: "Stubborn fool!"

With one strike, he disarmed Ji Feng, sending his weapon flying. Ji Feng staggered and fell.

Yi Xiafei looked down at him from above. "Look at yourself—you don't even have your sword anymore. How do you plan to fight me now?"

Ji Feng's eyes were drenched in blood.

His vision was already blurred, but the determination in his gaze remained steadfast.

Yi Xiafei stepped heavily on Ji Feng's wrist. "Even now, you refuse to listen to your master? Is it truly worth serving Emperor Liang?"

"... It's worth it."

Ji Feng replied weakly before suddenly raising his other hand to grab Yi Xiafei's ankle. With a sharp twist, he dislocated it and knocked Yi Xiafei to the ground.

Like a lion, Ji Feng pounced forward and struck the death acupoint on Yi Xiafei with his fist.

He knew he couldn't defeat his master. The hundreds of blows he endured were merely preparation for this final strike.

Time and again, Ji Feng's fists relentlessly targeted Yi Xiafei's vital acupoints.

Once Yi Xiafei finally lost the ability to resist, Ji Feng picked up the fallen sword and pointed it at Yi Xiafei's heart.

Pausing for a moment, Ji Feng lowered his sword. "Master has taught me much—today, I will not kill you."

Dragging his weary body, he approached Liu Qingyun, knelt on one knee, and raised the sword above his head. "I let the assassin escape—please punish me, Madam."

"Please punish me, Madam!"

"Please punish..."

Liu Qingyun was asleep.

-

Night fell, and the entire mountain was enveloped in thick fog.

Ji Feng, regaining some of his strength, placed Liu Qingyun on the white horse and set off to find Meng Qianqian.

"Where do you think you're running?"

A monkey-like figure ambushed Ji Feng from behind.

Ji Feng turned slightly, grabbing the assailant's wrist. "Cui Hu, it's me."