fantasy novels Chapter 51: Lan Xiaodie is not dead?
Chapter 51: Lan Xiaodie is not dead?
At the critical moment.
The killer's body suddenly twisted to the side at an angle that was almost impossible for an ordinary person to do.
This twist narrowly avoided the sharpest point of the blade.
However, once Huang Shujian's Xuanhu Patrol Sky Slash locks onto a target, its energy will relentlessly entangle it, like a fierce tiger hunting its enemy, never giving up until death!
How could it be so easy to completely dodge it?
The blade's momentum was relentless, relentlessly pressing down on the assailant.
In that split second—
"Snap!"
A crisp snapping sound suddenly rang out.
Huang Shujian's pupils suddenly contracted.
The tree branch that served as his sword was ultimately just ordinary wood, unable to withstand the terrifying power of his unleashed, limit-breaking strike. Just as it was about to strike its target, it shattered in the middle!
Wood chips flew everywhere.
However, the concentrated blade energy, though weakened by the loss of its carrier, still struck the assailant's hastily twisted back like an invisible hammer!
"Bang!"
A muffled thud.
The assailant was struck hard, and like a kite with a broken string, he was sent flying through the air!
Blood gushed from its mouth, tracing a tragic arc in the air before crashing heavily into the trunk of an old pine tree and slowly sliding to the ground.
Huang Shujian was preparing to step forward and continue his attack...
However, when he saw that familiar face clearly...
He froze on the spot as if struck by lightning.
The pupils suddenly shrank to the size of a pinhead!
His face was filled with disbelief and astonishment!
Because of that face...
Even stained with blood, the face still revealed its original delicate features and those iconic large eyes...
Lan Xiaodie!
Lan Xiaodie, who was beheaded, skinned, and had her soul scattered in Xingliyuan a month ago!
She's not dead?
Huang Shujian's mind almost stopped working at that moment.
Lan Xiaodie isn't dead?
Oh, right... that headless, skinned female corpse hanging in the apricot orchard...
It's just a mystery; who can be 100% sure that it's Lan Xiaodie?
The troupe leader might recognize the figure and clothing, but in that situation, who would dare to make a close distinction?
But she...
How did she become so amazing?
Such uncanny movement, such a resilient body, even bullets can hardly seriously injure him?
Is this still the same Lan Xiaodie who only knows how to sing opera and has a flexible figure?
And... why did she use the same method to kill Mei Ruguo?
Because the two are competitors?
No, isn't her wronged spirit crying out for justice in the black basin?
Countless thoughts flashed through Huang Shujian's mind in an instant, creating utter chaos.
In that brief moment of his daze!
On the ground, Lan Xiaodie, severely injured and coughing up blood, stared intently at Huang Shujian with her peach blossom eyes, which were so full of resentment that they seemed to drip blood, as if she wanted to etch his image into the depths of her soul.
Then, she suddenly turned around and, using both hands and feet, in an extremely strange yet incredibly swift motion, like a startled lizard, abruptly darted into the nearby bushes!
By the time Huang Shujian realized what was happening and tried to give chase again, the bushes swayed slightly and then fell completely silent.
Huang Shujian rushed forward and pushed aside the bushes.
Behind them was a thick layer of fallen leaves and several large rocks covered in moss, and beyond that, a deeper and darker dense forest.
Where is Lan Xiaodie now?
She was like a drop of water merging into the ocean, disappearing without a trace in an instant.
Huang Shujian stood in the woods, his chest rising and falling slightly, sweat beading on his forehead.
That last Xuanhu Sky-Piercing Slash had consumed a large amount of his vital energy and spirit. At this moment, a strong sense of fatigue surged up.
He held the broken branch, staring in the direction where Lan Xiaodie had disappeared, his brows furrowed tightly, forming a deep frown.
Things were... more complicated and more bizarre than he had imagined.
"Young Master!"
"Young Master of the Book and Sword!"
I heard hurried shouts and footsteps behind me.
Wu Zhichong, accompanied by seven or eight agile servants armed with rifles, caught up, panting heavily.
Wu Zhichong breathed a sigh of relief when he saw Huang Shujian standing alone in the forest with no obvious injuries.
"Young Master, are you alright? Where's the killer?"
Huang Shujian slowly shook his head and threw the broken branch in his hand on the ground.
"Without a suitable weapon, he got away."
Wu Zhichong wanted to ask more, but seeing Huang Shujian's expression, he swallowed his words and simply waved for the servants to disperse and stand guard.
"Back to the city."
Huang Shujian took a deep breath, suppressed the chaotic thoughts in his mind, and turned to walk back the way he came.
Wu Zhichong quickly led his men to follow.
On the way back, the sound of horses' hooves clattered, and the evening breeze blew.
Huang Shujian sat on his horse, his gaze deep and thoughtful.
He originally thought it was just ordinary evil spirits causing trouble, or a revenge killing.
But it's actually Lan Xiaodie! There's something fishy going on here...
……
When they returned to the Huang family home, it was already dark outside.
Huang Shujian entered the study and sat down. Xiu'er quickly served him hot tea, while Zhao Ming stood by with her hands at her sides.
"Young Master, I have investigated the matter you instructed me to handle," Hu Wan reported with a fawning smile.
"The two people that Young Master asked Miss Zhao to keep an eye on are brothers. The older brother is called Ding San, and the younger brother is called Ding Si. They are both locals from Goose City."
"These two... come from humble backgrounds."
"I was abandoned by my parents at the entrance of the City God Temple when I was a child. In the dead of winter, I almost froze to death."
"Later, he was taken in by an old beggar, who barely managed to feed him by scavenging leftovers."
"When they get a little older, they'll go to the train station and dock to move goods for people."
"You know how it is at the docks; might makes right. These two brothers suffered a lot growing up, so they're incredibly ruthless and fight like their lives depend on it. Gradually, no one dared to bully them anymore."
"Later, the old beggar died of illness. With no restraint, the two brothers' true nature was revealed."
"With that ruthlessness, they joined a small gang called the Black Tiger Gang, where they learned some basic martial arts and gained a foothold."
"From then on, they became the dominant force in the south of Goose City."
"They bully and monopolize the market, extort protection money, harass women, and commit all sorts of evil deeds."
"These two brothers seem to have some kind of twisted mentality. They especially enjoy bullying elderly people who are left without support."
"In previous years, there were several cases where elderly people were beaten and their homes were robbed. It is said that they were all related to them, but the victims dared not file a complaint, and the government was too lazy to care."
"A few months ago, the leader of the Black Tiger Gang suddenly died in his own bed."
"Everyone outside says it's a sudden, serious illness, but there are rumors in the underworld that it was the brothers Ding San and Ding Si who did it."
"They killed the boss and took the top two positions themselves."
"The Black Tiger Gang is more arrogant than before, and their territory has expanded considerably."
At this point, Hu Wan added, "Young Master, according to my inquiries, these two brothers were able to rise to power so quickly because they have someone supporting them."
"It's the Lu family, one of the two major families in the south of the city, backing them up."
"Now that the Black Dragon Gang has suffered a loss at the train station and its strength has been weakened, the Black Tiger Gang is eager to seize that piece of the pie from the Black Dragon Gang."
After Hu Wan finished speaking, he looked at Huang Shujian and tentatively asked, "Young Master, what do you think... should I and Instructor Wu take a few men and go and capture those two bastards tonight?"