novelraw Chapter 71 : Demon King Assault
Chapter 71 : Demon King Assault
Chapter 71: Demon King Assault
The voice echoed throughout the entire venue, breaking the calm.
Yet everyone kept their gaze fixed, all eyes landing upon the high platform.
Old Master Qin slightly nodded and spoke a few words of praise.
Only then did Li Yunqing place the zither on the table, slowly take her seat, and raise her hand to gently stroke the strings.
“Ding……”
The crisp sound of the zither flowed like trickling water, melodious and pleasant, falling into the ears of all present.
At that instant, the entire venue fell silent once more.
Many people’s gazes landed upon those slender fingers, watching as the fair, delicate fingers lightly plucked the strings.
Even more people, upon hearing that beautiful melody, gently closed their eyes and listened with utmost focus.
The sound of the zither entered the soul, captivating the mind.
At that moment, it seemed as if a landscape painting unfolded before everyone’s eyes.
Towering mountains stood tall, green waters wound around them, and ancient trees grew lush and dense.
The Mountain and Water Birthday Melody made one feel as if they were personally within the scene, sensing the endless vitality between mountains and rivers, freely wandering within it.
And as the music flowed, birds actually began to gather in the sky, circling above without leaving, as if their spirits had also been entranced by the melody.
“A single piece draws a hundred birds to pay homage—truly divine skill!”
On the high platform, Old Master Qin spoke softly, unable to hold back his praise.
The people beside him also nodded, their eyes filled with deep astonishment.
Drawing a hundred birds was not difficult. As long as one understood sound-based attacks, using vibrations of music to disturb birds could make them dizzy and cause them to circle endlessly.
But Li Yunqing was not in the Qi Realm, had no True Qi, and could not possibly understand sound-based attack techniques.
Relying solely on the zither’s sound to draw a hundred birds—this alone demonstrated the peak of her mastery.
“Drawing a hundred birds… her zither skill is actually this extraordinary?”
“This kind of scene—even those great masters of zither art couldn’t achieve it, could they?”
Watching the birds circle unwilling to leave, an indescribable shock arose in everyone’s hearts.
Such zither artistry was enough to be called the finest in Qingzhou.
Even in the capital, it would likely be rare.
“What a piece, what a sound—one feels truly immersed, even able to genuinely sense the beauty of mountains and rivers!”
“Once this melody is played, no one could surpass it!”
As the piece ended, praises rose one after another, without restraint. Some even lightly clapped their hands in applause.
Many eyes were filled with longing.
They finally understood the source of Li Yunqing’s ethereal temperament—such zither artistry was enough to nurture that otherworldly aura.
Listening to the admiration, Li Yunqing stood, put away the zither, gave a slight bow, and then turned to leave.
Even as her figure faded into the distance, many still could not regain their senses for a long time.
It was only when a servant spoke again that everyone reluctantly returned to reality.
“Miss, how was it?”
Back in the small courtyard, Xiaolan quickly stepped forward, holding Li Yunqing’s arm, showing off as if claiming credit.
Miss was too beautiful—no matter how she dressed, she stood above all others.
“It was quite good!”
Li Yunqing softly responded, acknowledging Xiaolan’s taste.
But at that moment, the sound of footsteps approached from afar.
“Miss Yunqing!”
A crisp and pleasant voice rang out. A figure as graceful and noble as a blooming peony appeared before Li Yunqing.
“You are Miss Zhou Ru?”
Looking at the woman before her, dressed in red just like Qin Wan’er she had seen before, Li Yunqing asked with slight confusion.
She still remembered what Qin Wan’er had said—Zhou Ru seemed dissatisfied with her and had once instigated Qin Wan’er to trouble her.
“It’s me!” Zhou Ru nodded lightly, then glanced around before lowering her voice. “If you have nothing else, you’d better return home quickly.”
Hearing this, Li Yunqing’s heart tightened as she instantly understood.
What people feared most was not uselessness—but usefulness.
With her connection to the Sword Saint, many would inevitably want to get close.
And for the sake of personal gain, many would likely resort to any means to obtain her, in order to draw closer to the Sword Saint.
As for how to make a woman willingly submit—there was no need to elaborate.
“Thank you!”
Li Yunqing expressed her gratitude.
Zhou Ru might have once looked down on her, but after her engagement, she had clearly thought things through. Her nature was not bad.
And from her attire so similar to Qin Wan’er’s, it was not hard to see—Zhou Ru’s rivalry was directed at Qin Wan’er.
“No need. I simply don’t wish to see a fellow woman being schemed against.”
Zhou Ru’s tone was not warm. After speaking, she turned and left directly, unwilling to linger.
She had indeed once instigated Qin Wan’er to trouble Li Yunqing, but it had been more about targeting Qin Wan’er.
As for Li Yunqing, after seeing her today, she understood the gap between them.
Such beauty—like an immortal maiden. If she were schemed against, her reputation ruined, forced into compromise—it was something Zhou Ru did not wish to see.
Being a woman was already difficult, lacking autonomy. Since she knew, she was willing to offer a reminder.
Whether Li Yunqing listened or not was no longer her concern.
“Let’s go back!”
Li Yunqing accepted the advice. Though she was not afraid, a woman’s reputation could be easily destroyed.
Even if she did not care too much, she did not want to be the subject of endless gossip and leering stares.
“Miss Yunqing, wait!”
Just as she stepped out of the courtyard, Qin Yu’s voice called from afar.
He quickly approached until he stood before her.
Only then did he bow and say, “Miss Yunqing, the Qin Residence is vast, and the scenery is quite good. Shall I show you around?”
Seeing Qin Yu, Li Yunqing immediately understood.
Others might not dare offend the Jiang Family, but the Qin Family and Zhou Family would.
Especially since she had a favor owed by a Sword Saint behind her.
Those daring to target her—likely only the Zhou Family and Qin Family.
“Thank you, Young Master Qin. I have matters to attend to. I shall take my leave.”
Li Yunqing replied, unwilling to say more, and turned toward the main gate of the Qin Residence.
“Wait!”
Qin Yu hesitated for a moment but still spoke. “I fell in love with you at first sight. Would you be willing to marry me?”
“As for the Jiang Family’s engagement, my ancestor will handle it—as long as you agree.”
“No.” Li Yunqing’s tone was distant and cold. “Young Master Qin, please return.”
With that, she turned and left, leaving Qin Yu standing there with a bitter expression.
If Li Yunqing agreed, they could easily act out a scene and withdraw from the Jiang Family’s engagement.
At most, her reputation would suffer slightly—but as long as she married him, everything would be fine.
Unfortunately, he had planned it well but had not expected such a decisive rejection.
She did not even spare him an extra glance.
“One after another, all dreaming nonsense.”
Li Yunqing cursed inwardly. Just as she turned past a small gate, a figure suddenly collided toward her.
She quickly sidestepped. Though she avoided the person, her dress was splashed with soup.
“I’m sorry, Miss Li! I tripped over a stone—I didn’t mean to dirty your clothes!”
The young maid, holding an empty tray, spoke nervously. “I… I’ll take you to change.”
“The abacus beads are practically hitting me in the face!”
Seeing the maid’s act, Li Yunqing felt speechless. Her spiritual power instantly spread out.
Almost instantly, she discovered Zhou Ke hiding in the shadows.
“I didn’t even go looking for trouble with you, yet you delivered yourself to me!”
Her fingers formed hand seals beneath her sleeve, and the Ghost Gate Needles hidden on her body instantly shot out.
Like bees, they lightly brushed the maid’s neck before flying straight toward Zhou Ke in hiding.
“Thud!”
Two heavy bodies fell to the ground. Li Yunqing did not even glance at them, directly pulling Xiaolan away.
The entire Qingzhou City knew she was taught by Ghost Granny—skilled in both medicine and poison.
Before, she did not use poison because she lacked the ability to protect herself and did not want others to know she had killed.
But now, since Zhou Ke dared to scheme against her, she had no intention of sparing him.
“Trying to drug me? Then I’ll satisfy you—ten times the dosage, let it kill you!”
Li Yunqing did not stop. Silver needles silently danced around her, moving back and forth several times before disappearing.
And Zhou Ke had already been sentenced to death.
Only after leaving the Qin Residence did she slowly let out a breath.
The Qin Residence was too large, with too many uncertainties—she did not want to take risks.
But at that moment—
A blood-soaked, extremely disheveled figure suddenly appeared not far away, rushing straight toward them.
“Miss Xun Fei?”
Seeing the blood-covered figure, Li Yunqing was startled. The moment she spoke, Xun Fei also saw her.
With a flash, Xun Fei arrived before Li Yunqing. Her body swayed—and she collapsed to the ground.
“Quick… tell Master… the Demon King has broken through Great Azure Mountain…”
Before finishing, Xun Fei began coughing blood. Her aura rapidly weakened, and she fainted.
Li Yunqing did not dare delay. A flash of silver needles landed directly on Xun Fei’s chest—the Seven Absolute Needles to Sustain Life.
As long as she was not dead, even the gravest injuries could be held at bay.
Then her fingers moved, resting on Xun Fei’s wrist.
“Such severe injuries—she was on the verge of complete exhaustion.”
Li Yunqing’s expression turned serious. With a thought, the essence of surrounding vegetation gathered at her fingertips.
It flowed through the wrist into Xun Fei’s body.
After a moment, Xun Fei’s pale face finally regained a trace of color.
“Xiaolan, carry her. We’re going back!”
Li Yunqing kept her fingers on Xun Fei’s wrist, continuously channeling the essence of plants into her, and turned back toward the Qin Residence with Xiaolan.
The Demon King breaking through Great Azure Mountain was a major event—there was no room for delay.
Even the Sword Saint’s disciple had nearly died. The situation at Great Azure Mountain was absolutely dire.
By the time they reached Mingxin Lake, Xun Fei had gradually awakened.
With the Seven Absolute Needles sustaining her life and nourishment from plant essence, though her injuries had not healed, she was no longer in mortal danger.
The moment she saw her master, the Sword Saint of Cangshan, Xun Fei broke free from Xiaolan’s support and shouted:
“Master, the Demon King has broken through Great Azure Mountain!”
“Leading hundreds of thousands of the Demon Race, heading straight for Qingzhou City!”