Chapter Sixty-Six: The Clash of Two Tigers

"Forget it! With a sister as venomous as you, I’d rather not have one at all!" Guan Canghai reverted to his usual tone.

The entire situation suddenly veered off its expected course. Pan Yueyang, who had closed his eyes, abruptly opened them. No matter what, the Dragon Kingdom needed the Phoenix Kingdom's treasure!

Yan’er, heedless of her own safety, stepped out of the room. Her disheveled appearance lent her a peculiar beauty; the red wedding dress gleamed vividly in the firelight.

"Guan Canghai, this is your family matter. Why disturb the peace of the Dragon Kingdom?" Yan’er had already understood the relationship between Guan Canghai and Mu Qianxue. After reflecting on the events in Moon City, she realized Guan Canghai was here for revenge.

Everyone gasped. This seemingly delicate woman, unable to lift even a finger in defense, possessed a courage none of the men could muster. She walked straight up to confront a dangerous figure, earning their silent respect.

"Woman, it seems you're unharmed," Guan Canghai ignored Yan’er’s question, scanning her up and down. Yes, his medicine was indeed miraculous.

Yan’er stared at Guan Canghai. "I’m fine."

Guan Canghai glanced sideways at Pan Yueyang, whose discomfort was obvious. Clearly, he still cared for this woman.

"Release Mu Qianxue. Though the Dragon Palace may not rival the Phoenix Kingdom, it is not a place you can escape so easily," Pan Yueyang suppressed the chaotic energy within his body.

"Never!" Guan Canghai pressed on Mu Qianxue’s acupoint, causing her body to stiffen. Suddenly, he abandoned Mu Qianxue and grabbed Yan’er.

"Ah!" Yan’er nearly fell into Guan Canghai’s arms from the sudden force. She quickly pressed her hands between them, but her forehead accidentally struck his chin hard.

"If you can’t protect this woman, why not let go?" Guan Canghai spoke directly, while watching Yan’er’s expression.

Yan’er stopped struggling, gazing at Guan Canghai with hatred. "Must you make it so humiliating?" She could not fathom the workings of this devilish man’s mind.

"Attack! Don’t let him escape!" Pan Yueyang didn’t allow further conversation, commanding the guards to attack. He had already noticed that Guan Canghai had no intention of harming Yan’er—in fact, there seemed to be a layer of concern for her. This infuriated him most.

Guan Canghai didn’t release Yan’er. Instead, he picked her up and evaded the guards’ assault. Amidst the flashing swords, Yan’er clung desperately to his robe, terrified that one misstep would send her into the path of the guards' blades.

Pan Yueyang, enduring his physical discomfort, joined the fray. Guan Canghai was a master; no matter how many guards there were, capturing him was a fool’s dream.

Pan Yueyang leapt into the air, drew his flexible sword, and struck at Mu Qianxue. Her acupoint was released, and she collapsed to the ground. This time, she didn’t flee but watched as the crowd encircled Guan Canghai.

Pan Yueyang could only wield a third of his strength. Though his power was insufficient, his technique remained sharp as he advanced toward Guan Canghai and Yan’er.

"Heh!" Guan Canghai faced the onslaught, cradling Yan’er. He spotted a flicker of light rushing toward him and threw Yan’er aside. Threads of silver burst from his body, aiming to entrap Pan Yueyang.

As expected, Pan Yueyang, weakened in skill, was caught by the living silver threads, struggling desperately as they attacked his body.

"You have some skill after all." Guan Canghai, though he had entrapped Pan Yueyang, had not managed to touch him with the threads.

"Hmph, mere tricks of the devil. Nothing more," Pan Yueyang stubbornly refused to admit he was nearly overwhelmed.

"Don’t hurt him!" Yan’er crawled to Guan Canghai’s feet, clutching his shoe with desperate, frightened eyes.

Guan Canghai kicked Yan’er aside, glaring furiously at her as she lay on the ground.

"Don’t hurt him," Yan’er repeated.

During their exchange, Pan Yueyang managed to restore some inner strength, giving himself a moment's respite.

"General Pan, how about we make a deal?" Guan Canghai suddenly changed his approach.

"Enough nonsense!" Pan Yueyang, wielding his flexible sword, stood without its support, clearly less steady than usual.

"Hand your woman over to me for safekeeping," Guan Canghai stated bluntly.

Pan Yueyang did not answer, glaring fiercely at the devilish man before him. Though he didn’t love Yan’er deeply, this was a further humiliation as a man. The emperor forced him to send Yan’er away; as a man, he failed to protect her. Now, before everyone, Guan Canghai suggested trading a woman for the palace’s safety. Was this not a grand joke? What would the world say? That Pan Yueyang relied on a woman to keep his position, that he traded her for peace in the Dragon Kingdom? Were his ten years of achievements all for nothing?

"Don’t even think about it!" Pan Yueyang answered without hesitation.

"I’m afraid that’s not for you to decide," Guan Canghai suddenly smiled—a smile only he and Pan Yueyang understood. Outsiders couldn’t see the extent of Pan Yueyang’s internal injuries, but both men knew.

"No! Take me with you!" Mu Qianxue suddenly cried out.

The guards, Pan Yueyang, and even Guan Canghai were surprised, turning to look at Mu Qianxue crawling on the ground, her face streaked with tears. "Take me with you!"

Regardless of whether Mu Qianxue’s conscience had awakened and she wished to trade herself for Yan’er, just judging from her earlier attempts to escape and their conversation, the two bore deep grudges passed down from the previous generation.

"Hmph, I’ll leave your life for next time!" With that, Guan Canghai wasted no more time. In a flash, he picked up Yan’er and used lightness skills to leap onto the rooftop.

Pan Yueyang watched Guan Canghai’s swift movements, but his own strength was insufficient to follow. He could only shout from the ground, "Let Yan’er go! Or I’ll show no mercy and kill your dear sister Mu Qianxue!"

"Don’t threaten me with her. She should have died long ago!" Guan Canghai didn’t spare Mu Qianxue a single glance.

"Yueyang, save me—let me go!" Yan’er regained her composure, struggling and pounding Guan Canghai’s shoulder, then biting him in frustration.

"You don’t want the Phoenix Imperial Seal anymore, do you?" Pan Yueyang pressed his flexible sword to Mu Qianxue’s shoulder.

"Hmph, rest assured, even if I don’t get the seal, your Emperor Jing won’t either!" Guan Canghai believed Mu Qianxue’s resolve was already shaken. Whether he obtained the seal or not, she would eventually deliver it to him, so there was no need to rush.

"Bastard!" Pan Yueyang, seeing his threats were ineffective, angrily launched himself toward Guan Canghai.

Guan Canghai leapt to yet another rooftop, the guards on the ground chasing after his and Pan Yueyang’s fleeting figures.

Guan Canghai quickly shook off the pursuit, carrying Yan’er as he flew for an unknown distance.

"Put me down!" Yan’er was terrified of the height and of being harmed, gripping Guan Canghai tightly as she demanded to be released.

"If I let you down now, you’ll be nothing but a cripple," Guan Canghai savored the softness in his arms, then glanced back at Pan Yueyang still doggedly pursuing him. "Who would have guessed your man is so persistent?"

Prompted by Guan Canghai, Yan’er looked behind but saw no sign of Pan Yueyang. Her heart felt not only sadness but also a hint of disappointment.

"Of course you can’t see him—he’s suffered serious internal injuries, and his agility is much diminished," Guan Canghai patiently explained.

"Internal injuries?" Yan’er gazed sharply at Guan Canghai. Not versed in martial arts, she didn’t understand inner or outer force, but she did understand injury. So Yueyang was hurt; no wonder she’d noticed something was off about him earlier.

Guan Canghai arrived at a cliff edge and landed there. "Do you dare jump down with me?"

The sudden question startled Yan’er.

"Why should I jump with you? You go down alone!" Yan’er steadied herself on the ground.

"You really are remarkably calm," Guan Canghai observed the woman he hadn’t seen in months, finding her hard to read.

"As you say, these past months I’ve been through much. I am no longer the timid, cowardly person I once was." Yan’er thought of her child and hated Guan Canghai; thought of Pin’er and Feng He and hated Ou Ruolan; thought of her fate and hated the heavens themselves.

"Very good. Many women, no matter how much they endure, never change as swiftly as you," Guan Canghai praised her.

Soon, Pan Yueyang, gasping for breath, landed before Guan Canghai and Yan’er. "Let her go."

"I was waiting for you," Guan Canghai smiled, holding Yan’er tightly and pressing her acupoint.

"Let her go," Pan Yueyang repeated.

Guan Canghai seemed not to notice Pan Yueyang’s fury. He leaned down and softly kissed Yan’er’s lips. "So soft."

Pan Yueyang lifted his flexible sword, ready to strike.

Guan Canghai released Yan’er’s lips. "Do you think what I did was excessive? Just now, in the palace, another man did far worse than I did."

Pan Yueyang was stunned, staring at Yan’er. Unable to move or speak, she could only close her eyes in silent acceptance, tears streaming down her face. Yes, just moments ago, Changshun had ordered a man to violate her body... though he did not succeed, the humiliation, the sickening sensation, the feeling of being touched through her clothes—she was no longer pure.

"If you care for her but cannot protect her, you should leave her to me!" Guan Canghai lost his composure.

"You?" Pan Yueyang objected.

"I am certainly more capable than you! To be honest, I am becoming more interested in this woman. I want to possess her!"

As the flowers fell, Guan Canghai took Yan’er in his arms and leapt straight off the cliff—