XIAO SHUXIANG'S
169 - Mu Zan [Revised]
"So where should we go now? There was no other room in front.."all that was seen in front of Xiao Shuxiang was a stone wall without any decoration, even behind them was also just a stone wall.
The only decorator of this room is the floor with twelve flower-patterned circles.
While still wiping his buttocks, Xiao Shuxiang started walking forward. His feet stepped on one of the floral motifs that instantly glowed red and let out a sound like the strings of a snapped lute.
!!
Xiao Shuxiang was startled, he instantly jumped as five small daggers shot out of nowhere. Dai Chen and Lan Guan Zhi looked around, both of them not feeling the presence of anyone other than the three of them.
"Where did the attack just come from?" Xiao Shuxiang also did not feel the air of the other person's existence, his feet again stepped on the flower-patterned circle by accident.
!
The circle again glowed red and sounded like the sound of a lute string, the little dagger darted again but Xiao Shuxiang quickly dodged it.
He, Lan Guan Zhi, and Dai Chen finally realized that the circle was the source of the dagger attack just now. The three of them now understood Shao Nu's earlier remark.
They had to dance like the one Shao Nu showed in order to get to Duan De's place.
"I didn't notice the girl's dance well.." Dai Chen asked his two friends, Xiao Shuxiang said seeing Shao Nu's dance moves from start to finish, but it took him some time to recall the moves.
".. What about you, Lan Zhi?"
"I'll try," Lan Guan Zhi began to step her foot into one of the circles, only the first movement.. The circle was instantly red and let out a sound, a small dagger darting towards him.
The trail!
Tap
Lan Guan Zhi returned to where Xiao Shuxiang and Dai Chen were. He did not understand, even though his dance movements were very correct.
Xiao Shuxiang exhaled, he then took a cross-legged sitting position and began to close his eyes.
He focused on remembering every single move of Shao Nu's dance, it took him two minutes until he started to open his eyes.
"All right, we're starting."
Xiao Shuxiang stood up and tried to perform the same dance moves, but still the result failed.
The little dagger shot back towards Xiao Shuxiang who was quickly dodged. He was confused, where was his mistake? Is it possible that Shao Nu might have glanced at him?
Xiao Shuxiang again set his foot on one of the patterned stones, along with Lan Guan Zhi who also did so.
Both of them flinched as the stone let out a white light and did not slide the dagger again.
"This.. Don't tell me the Shao Nu dance we saw earlier is a pair dance?" Xiao Shuxiang stared at his two friends in turn.
"I guess.. It was indeed a pair dance, the proof is that your feet stepped on the circle simultaneously and no daggers attacked you.." Dai Chen rubbed his chin, he asked Xiao Shuxiang and Lan Guan Zhi to make a second move on the Shao Nu dance.
Xiao Shuxiang and Lan Guan Zhi nodded, both of them practiced the Shao Nu dance back and indeed it worked.
"Lan Zhi, you memorized all his moves, right?"
Lan Guan Zhi nodded, she extended her hand to Xiao Shuxiang as if to signal that she was inviting her friend to dance together.
Lan Guan Zhi's eyes were soft and soothing, though only vague, Xiao Shuxiang could see a faint smile on his friend's face.
Xiao Shuxiang unconsciously held his breath, only the first time he saw Lan Guan Zhi's eyes that were washed away, and it made the tip of his ears redden.
"Emmm.. Lan Zhi, you don't need this courtesy. You're embarrassing me.."
Xiao Shuxiang scratched his cheek softly and turned his gaze the other way, he saw Dai Chen who had a pale expression, explained Dai Chen giving a strange look to his two friends.
Lan Guan Zhi knew that Xiao Shuxiang was being misbehaved, he smiled at a glance and said that he was joking. Hearing him made Xiao Shuxiang surprised instead of playing.
"Lan Zhi's..! You don't have any funny talent, man! You almost made me turn..! Your face is not suitable for joking, don't do it again.. Huuf.. Where did you learn this from..? Oh gosh.. My blood pressure.." Xiao Shuxiang shook his head as he rubbed his chest slowly. He seemed to have forgotten that Lan Guan Zhi was learning from him.
After calming his heart, Xiao Shuxiang started to get serious again and invited Lan Guan Zhi to dance together. The two of them did so while stepping on a patterned circle witnessed by Dai Chen.
The dance tells the story of two legendary animals, the Dragon and the Phoenix. In the terms 'Yin' and 'Yang', the Dragon is 'Yang' (male), equipping the Phoenix as 'Yin' (female). This dance is called 'Long Feng Cheng Xiang' or 'Dragon and Phoenix Carrying Blessings'.
Dai Chen's eye gaze continued to pay attention to the dance of Xiao Shuxiang and Lan Guan Zhi without blinking at all. He did not even realize that the wall behind him was starting to form a hole.
Jing Mi, Siu Yixin, Hu Li, and Mo Huai came out of the hole. The four of them also seemed to be fascinated by the scenery they saw.
Elsewhere, Shao Nu sat down while gazing towards the large hole in front of him. Around him now lay 15 breathing Scarlet Shadow disciples, both hands cupping Xiao Shuxiang's little blue flame.
It should be that he felt a great pain and melted away from betraying his elder, but Xiao Shuxiang's blue flame seemed to have something that could remove the curse seal within his body.
"You must stay alive, Senior Xiao. I'll wait for you to come back.." Shao Nu looked at the hole in front of him slowly closing.
**
In this closed place, it felt like there was a cool and soothing wind approaching Jing Mi as well as her friends while seeing the beautiful dance in front of them.
The legs of Xiao Shuxiang and Lan Guan Zhi finally retraced in the very center circle, a sign that the dance of the two had finished.
The hands of Xiao Shuxiang and Lan Guan Zhi held each other, their bodies so close. Both of them looked at each other, although in the end Xiao Shuxiang who first diverted his attention because it was not strong.
"Mn, I won again." Lan Guan Zhi released Xiao Shuxiang's hand and then turned his body towards his companions.
Xiao Shuxiang snorted, "Lan Zhi, why should there be a human like you in this world..? Don't try to tease me, man. I can really turn because of you,"
"You start first,"
!
Xiao Shuxiang and Lan Guan Zhi heard the sound of applause and praise from his friends.
Dai Chen had just realized the presence of Jing Mi and the others, the dance of Xiao Shuxiang and Lan Guan Zhi seemed to wash away himself until unconscious with the presence of these three friends.
"Amazing, Brother Xiao..! That's so beautiful..!"
"True, I cried. You guys are so compatible..!"
Jing Mi and Hu Li were unceasingly clapping. Siu Yixin and Dai Chen also praised him, making Xiao Shuxiang gently brush her hair and say that it was not yet how much.
"Don't praise me too much, I don't want to be arrogant. But yeah.. I am amazing..! You have just witnessed Xiao Shuxiang's first dance, so be proud.." Xiao Shuxiang smiled proudly, he actually did not believe in having another pent-up talent and he did not know what dance he was doing earlier.
!!
Xiao Shuxiang and Lan Guan Zhi felt the floor below them begin to move. Slowly, the circles under their feet widened and lifted up.
The roof above them began to form a hole. Xiao Shuxiang asked his friend to board immediately, where Duan De must be up there.
Jing Mi carried Mo Huai and jumped up onto the moving floor slowly, Dai Chen, Siu Yixin, and Hu Li followed her.
The building where Shao Nu is located looks only one building, but actually this is a two-story pagoda.
The distance between the first and second levels is so long. Moreover, the second level of this building was invisible from the outside as it was surrounded by seals.
Xiao Shuxiang and his companions continued downstairs riding by the floor they were on.
They were like they were in a deep, dark hole, but they kept rising towards the light.
Xiao Shuxiang started to take out a sword from his Spatial Ring, he exhaled softly as now there was only one weapon left inside his Spatial Ring.
"I've spent a lot of money.." Xiao Shuxiang wanted to cry, if he could control Yinng xiong, he might not need to change swords anymore.
Lan Guan Zhi and Siu Yixin began to sense they had already increasingly arrived at the top. The mood began to feel.
!!
"You heard it?" Hu Li heard the sound of iron in the wrought, as well as his other companions.
Upon arriving at the top, they were startled by the large number of human organs and bones on the floor, as well as a large black burning furnace with a blazing flame.
Xiao Shuxiang could see the long white-haired little boy in front of the furnace, the hammer in his right hand constantly moving hitting the iron held in his left hand.
"Long Beard Grandpa..? Is that you..?"
!!
The little boy that Xiao Shuxiang and his friends saw started to turn his head. The child's face was like an old man with a long white beard.
"Naughty boy, you finally came too. You made me wait a long time,"
There was no doubt, the little boy was Duan De. His body and face still remained the same as the last time Xiao Shuxiang saw.
"You seem to be fine, Old Grandpa.."
"Surely he's good, because we take care of him."
!!
Xiao Shuxiang flinched, he was unaware of the presence of the person who had just spoken. Not even his friends were aware.
As he turned his head towards the empty wall, Xiao Shuxiang could see the right leg of someone starting to step out of void space. There were not many cultivators who could do this even for Xiao Shuxiang himself.
A person in front of him had a strapping posture, in a black uniform with visible abdominal muscles. His hair was short sticking out red, there were rarely such haired people in the Eastern Continent.
"During the meeting,"
!!
"You Zan..!" Hu Li knew very well this voice, both of his hands trembling withstanding anger. How could the person he hated the most be part of the Scarlet Shadow?! Moreover, he was the lower pillar that occupied the first seat.
Unknowingly, Hu Li's fingernails injured her own hands. You can imagine what his anger is now. It was this person who made her part with her master for so many years and it was certainly not the only reason for her anger.
"The Traitor of Mu Zan..! How Dare You Appear In Front of My Lord..! This time.. Even if I have to die, I will definitely kill you!"
"Hu Li, hold your emotions. I'll do it myself." Xiao Shuxiang patted Hu Li's shoulder softly, he stared coldly at the 39-year-old looking man in front of him.
Mu Zan smiled faintly, "Not met for over a hundred years.. You're still the tail to him, hmp! Fox suck..!"
Xiao Shuxiang smiled wryly, he deliberately provoked Mu Zan by saying that it had been a long time since they had met, yet Mu Zan was still just like before, not changing at all.
".. You're not even getting stronger, hmp."
Dai Chen and Jing Mi looked puzzled by their friend's conversation with Mu Zan. It was as if Xiao Shuxiang had a relationship with this red-haired man in front of them.
"Why don't you prove it yourself," Mu Zan suddenly disappeared and instantly appeared right in front of Xiao Shuxiang with a fist pointed at his face.
A BAAAM!
Xiao Shuxiang resisted the attack even though his body was pushed up to three meters back, he snorted as his left hand gripped Mu Zan's fist.
"You met an old friend and gave me a welcome like this? Huh! That's great.."
"Hahaha, this is the best welcome I have for someone like you, Shuxiang..!"
Lan Guan Zhi, Dai Chen and his other companions were very unexpected when Mu Zan suddenly attacked.
They wanted to help Xiao Shuxiang, but instantly dozens of small daggers darted and blocked their intentions.
Mo Huai realized he would only be a burden to Jing Mi and her friends. He immediately ran to Duan De's place.
A BAAAM!
Xiao Shuxiang and Mu Zan hit the wall, both of them hit by their respective powerful attacks.
"You're not as stupid as other cultivators. It's good if you fight me as hard as you can from the start.." Xiao Shuxiang spat out blood, he instantly darted and attacked Mu Zan back.
THE TRAANG!
On Mu Zan's arm grew bones similar to the claw of the praying mantis, this was what blocked Xiao Shuxiang's attack.
Mu Zan retorted back, the two fought fiercely even interfering with the fight of Lan Guan Zhi, Siu Yixin, Dai Chen, and Jing Mi.
THE TRAANG!
"To fight you, of course, must be serious from the beginning..!"
"Good, there is at least one person who does not underestimate Xiao Shuxiang..!"
A BAAAM!
Mu Zan got a powerful kick from Xiao Shuxiang, himself bouncing but trying to maintain his standing position.
Lan Guan Zhi and his friends were fighting with a woman, she was Keyi Fen, the lower pillar that occupied the second seat of Scarlet Shadow.
Keyi Fen can divide himself as much as he wants, but of course his strength will also be divided.
Currently Lan Guan Zhi, Dai Chen, Siu Yixin, Hu Li, and Jing Mi were fighting each with one Keyi Fen.
In addition to focusing on the fight with the 25-year-old woman, they must also focus on the stray attacks caused by the fight Xiao Shuxiang and Mu Zan.
THE TRAANG!
"Do your friends know who you are? Look, right now they're fighting with you because they don't know the real you, right?" Mu Zan smirked, his words just now made Xiao Shuxiang jump back and sheathed back his sword.
***
