Cultivation Simulator: Starting From The Empress' Palace

Chapter 81: 81 Chen Mo’s Attack

”You knew I was here all along?”

Luo Qiao believed the rioting disaster victims surrounding Luo Mansion were instigated by Black Shadow, aiming to deal with him.

Black Shadow shook his head, saying, ”Seeing you is purely by chance, but it’s also my luck, as I gain some credit—betrayer of your organization.”

Although the disaster victims’ riot was instigated by them, it wasn’t solely aimed at dealing with Luo Qiao.

”Father...” Luo Zhen was astonished beside him, not knowing what was happening.

What past did Father have?

”This should be your and Cyan Simurgh’s child, right?” Black Shadow curled an evil smile, sinisterly saying, ”So pretty, truly takes after Cyan Simurgh.”

”What do you want to do?” Luo Qiao’s expression turned fierce as if he wanted to swallow Black Shadow whole.

”Mountain Tiger, rest assured, as Nanyang’s first beauty, I can’t bear to harm her, but you...” Black Shadow paused, his longsword flicked a flourish in the air, ”I’ll borrow your head for a use...”

With that, he struck instantly, the longsword like a venomous snake, darting out its tongue, stabbing straight at Luo Qiao’s chest.

Every strike was a killer move.

Black Shadow’s longsword was a soft sword, flexible, whereas Luo Qiao’s attacks were vigorous and domineering.

Therefore, using softness to counter hardness, plus Black Shadow’s attack method was decidedly treacherous and cunning.

In the initial bout, many wounds appeared on Luo Qiao, blood flowing.

”Looks like you haven’t wielded your blade for a long time.” Sensing his advantage, Black Shadow began speaking to Luo Qiao with a hint of contempt.

”Father...”

Under the protection of the old woman, they had indeed fought their way out a distance. Luo Zhen, worried for Luo Qiao’s safety, kept glancing back. If she weren’t being forcibly taken away, she might have already returned.

”Go...” Luo Qiao roared.

”Oh...” Black Shadow was somewhat surprised by the old woman’s combat strength, quickly dispatching his men to assist, indicating he could handle Luo Qiao alone.

Luo Qiao said no more, swinging his broadsword toward Black Shadow.

Luo Qiao’s offensive was fierce; Black Shadow naturally avoided confronting it directly, sidestepping, his soft sword wrapping around Luo Qiao’s broadsword like a snake coming out of its hole, aiming for the tendons in Luo Qiao’s hand.

Normally, one should withdraw the blade to evade.

But Luo Qiao seemed blind to it, his left hand clawing out, not as fierce as before. His arm snaked past, coiling up Black Shadow’s arm, directly attacking Black Shadow’s neck.

However, his arm was not long enough to strangle the neck, clearly too distant, so he transformed his claw into a fist, pounding at Black Shadow’s chest.

”Tsk...”

This forward thrust made his wrist holding the blade bloom with blood.

The tendons snapped.

Bang!

Naturally, Black Shadow didn’t fare well. The punch landed on his chest, caving it in slightly, his whole body flying out.

But Luo Qiao didn’t strike to kill, his right hand unable to hold the blade anymore, swapping it to his left hand to hack at the enemies attacking Luo Zhen and the others.

The blade rose and fell, carving a bloody path.

Among them, people like Black Shadow were scarce; most were disaster victims wielding sticks, hoes, or sickles.

They might not have killed anyone before.

Thus, under Luo Qiao’s god of slaughter-like intimidation, they dared not advance.

So, the three of them broke through the siege, heading straight for the County Government Office.

...

On the street, as Luo Zhen was just an ordinary person, she couldn’t keep up the speed, so Luo Qiao carried her on his shoulder, running. Luo Zhen, seeing his constantly bleeding right hand, had tears in her eyes: ”Father, your hand...”

Luo Qiao had no time to answer; he dared not stop, not knowing how many of Black Shadow’s men were around.

He could only keep running, running towards the County Government Office, where it would be safe.

They had county soldiers there.

”Whoosh!”

Suddenly, a stream of light shot forth, the old woman swiftly rushing ahead of Luo Qiao, swinging her cane to cleave the light in two.

”Conical Hat...” The old woman paused slightly, staring at the broken conical hat she’d chopped.

At this moment, a Black Shadow lunged from behind, his sidekick brutal, sweeping towards Luo Qiao.

With a ”bang”, Luo Qiao was smashed to the ground, and Luo Zhen, who he carried, suffered considerably, immediately passing out.

Luo Qiao’s face twisted, rising without hesitation to shield Luo Zhen, looking at the Black Shadow before him.

It wasn’t the same person from before.

Yet another person.

He was rather short.

He picked up the broadsword that Luo Qiao had dropped without a word, raising the blade to chop.

”Take the young lady away...” Luo Qiao didn’t call for the old woman’s help. Shouting once, he charged forward.

The old woman didn’t hesitate, carrying Luo Zhen and running afar.

However, she hadn’t run far when Luo Zhen awoke, just in time to see Luo Qiao stabbed through the heart with a sword.

And Luo Qiao, who fell, didn’t die immediately. Blood foaming at the mouth, he murmured, as if even in death, telling her to leave.

”No...” Luo Zhen, overcome with grief, fainted once more.

It turned out that the Black Shadow who had been blown away by Luo Qiao had caught up and ambushed him.

Black Shadow pulled the longsword from Luo Qiao’s heart.

Then, with a swing of the sword, he beheaded him, holding the head up to meet his own gaze: ”As an assassin, having emotions is fatal.”

He glanced at the nearby Black Shadow: ”Chase, there’s another credit to be made.”

...

The time shifted back to five quarters past the unitary period.

Bianliang.

Weiyang Palace.

”Your Grace, how’s the taste?” Chen Mo knelt behind the small desk, watching Xiao Yunxi dining at the long table, inquiring.

”Not bad, though a bit plain.” Xiao Yunxi glanced at the dishes on the long table, none of which were heavy, not even fruit wine.

”Given Your Grace’s current condition, eating something light is better. Once Your Grace’s period passes, this servant will prepare some rich dishes for you.”

Chen Mo’s words were somewhat flippant, even discussing Xiao Yunxi’s privacy.

Fortunately, neither of them found it inappropriate.

”Thank you for your concern...” Xiao Yunxi cast her eyes down, eyeing the small portion of shared dishes on Chen Mo’s small desk, saying, ”Come to my side and dine with me.”

With Cai’Er absent, Chen Mo hesitated briefly before stepping forward.

In theory, even if Xiao Yunxi invited him, Chen Mo should sit across from Xiao Yunxi, separated by the long table.

But Chen Mo didn’t, instead kneeling beside Xiao Yunxi, just half an arm’s distance apart.

Chen Mo could easily smell the faint fragrance on Xiao Yunxi.

”Your Grace, please try this ginger tea; it has a warming...stomach effect, helping Your Grace through your period smoothly.”

Chen Mo picked up the small steaming bowl from beside the long table, offering it to Xiao Yunxi.

As Xiao Yunxi took it, their fingers brushed ever so briefly.