"Hahaha, Huo Ying won't let you go today."
Huo Ying's face, which was as cute as it was a bit chubby with baby fat, wore a sinister smile.
"Then we'll see," Leng Ruoli retorted, not to be outdone.
Seeing that the King and Consort were being stubborn, Huo Ying angrily shouted, "You really refuse a toast only to be forced to drink a forfeit!"
With that, Huo Ying waved her hand, and the illusions she had conjured immediately attacked the King and Consort.
The King and Consort immediately raised their long swords and swung them at Huo Ying's illusions. Upon contact with their swords, the illusions instantly turned into wisps of black mist, which then gradually dissipated. Next, they reappeared behind the King and Consort, their faces contorted strangely as they spewed black smoke towards them.
"Li'er, be careful!"
Sensing danger behind them, Jun Mohan immediately reached out, embraced Leng Ruoli's slender waist, and dodged aside, causing the illusion to miss.
"Li'er, this Huo Ying has mastered the art of phantom poison. The black smoke she releases is highly toxic, so you must be careful," Jun Mohan reminded Leng Ruoli after dodging Huo Ying's attack.
"Alright, you too," Leng Ruoli replied.
Following this, Huo Ying's illusions surrounded the two once more, forming a large circle and spinning rapidly while emitting shrill, unpleasant laughter that greatly irritated the King and Consort.
"Jun Mohan, this sound can affect one's mind, and the spinning illusions can make one dizzy. We should quickly cover our ears and close our eyes."
After warning Jun Mohan, Leng Ruoli quickly covered her ears and closed her eyes. Jun Mohan did the same as Leng Ruoli.
However, the shrill laughter grew louder and louder. Even though they covered their ears, it was not very effective. Leng Ruoli had no choice but to pull Jun Mohan into her space.
When Huo Ying realized that the King and Consort she had surrounded had suddenly vanished into thin air, she immediately dispelled her illusions. The small face with baby fat creased into a frown.
"This young couple is truly peculiar. How did they disappear just now when I had them surrounded?" Huo Ying muttered to herself.
However, Huo Ying was unaware that her every move was being monitored by the King and Consort from within their space.
"Jun Mohan, this Huo Ying is quite strange. Who is this enemy of ours?" Leng Ruoli said thoughtfully, watching Huo Ying search everywhere for the King and Consort outside the space.
"This Huo Ying was originally a high-ranking assassin in the Residual Moon Tower. Her martial arts were not much different from the former Lord of the Residual Moon Tower. But for some unknown reason, Huo Ying betrayed the Residual Moon Tower and established the Dark Night Pavilion with the current Pavilion Master of Dark Night Pavilion. Later, after the Dark Night Pavilion was founded, Huo Ying disappeared from the sight of the martial world. It was rumored among people in the martial world that Huo Ying had already died, but unexpectedly, she reappeared over a decade later. It is said that she not only learned the most difficult technique of 'Shifting Steps and Shadow Play' but also the Phantom Poisonous Art in this world." Jun Mohan recounted plainly and concisely.
"Residual Moon Tower, isn't that the organization managed by Ming Jiu Xiao?"
"Yes, it's his organization. I heard that the Residual Moon Tower was in a state of chaos in the past. Later, after Ming Jiu Xiao took charge, it took him several years of effort to clear out the traitors within his organization," Jun Mohan added.
"Alas, this Ming Jiu Xiao is truly capable," Leng Ruoli remarked casually.
"Indeed!" Jun Mohan agreed.
This time, Jun Mohan was uncharacteristically not jealous.
Meanwhile, outside the space, Huo Ying went mad, emitting wave after wave of black smoke near where the King and Consort had vanished, attempting to force them out.
"Jun Mohan, let's go out. We'll deal with her using the old method."
As Leng Ruoli spoke, she mentally retrieved two sniper rifles and handed one to Jun Mohan. Just as she was about to flash out of the space to hide in a dense patch of grass, Ming Jiu Xiao and Leng Ruo Rui suddenly descended from the sky. Both had grim expressions on their faces. They scanned their surroundings and only saw Huo Ying standing there, with no sign of the King and Consort.
Ming Jiu Xiao anxiously asked, "Huo Ying, where did the girl and that block of ice go?"
Upon hearing this, Huo Ying turned around and scrutinized Ming Jiu Xiao and Leng Ruo Rui.
"Oh, Little Jiu'er, it's been many years, and you've grown so handsome, but your taste in clothes is truly beyond reproach."
Huo Ying smiled mockingly upon seeing Ming Jiu Xiao dressed in a bright red robe. Ming Jiu Xiao, however, had no intention of engaging her.
Then, Huo Ying turned her attention to Leng Ruo Rui, who was wearing a moon-white, wide-sleeved robe embroidered with auspicious cloud patterns.
"You must be Xie Yichuan, the heir of the reclusive family from five hundred years ago. However, I recently heard some news about you. It is said that you are the long-lost son of the great General Leng Jinyu." Huo Ying continued with a smile.
"These matters are none of your business. What I want to ask you now is, where are my sister and brother-in-law at this moment?"
Leng Ruo Rui's normally gentle and handsome face was now so cold that ice seemed to be falling from it.
"Heh heh, but I don't want to tell you. What can you do?" Huo Ying said provocatively.
"Huo Ying, if anything happens to the girl, I will dismember you into ten thousand pieces."
At this moment, Ming Jiu Xiao's usual flippant demeanor vanished, replaced by a very serious expression.
"Little Jiu'er, your father was not my match back then, let alone you! Hahaha..."
Upon hearing Ming Jiu Xiao's words, Huo Ying let out a triumphant, booming laugh.
"Heh! If not for your schemes with Lin Zhenfei and Ming Yulan back then, could you really have defeated my father?" Ming Jiu Xiao retorted angrily, looking at Huo Ying.
"Hahaha... That's because your father was foolish enough to be betrayed by his own sister." Huo Ying mocked him.
Enraged, Ming Jiu Xiao waved his sleeve and sent a volley of embroidered needles flying towards Huo Ying. Ming Jiu Xiao's move caught Huo Ying by surprise.
"Hmph! I didn't expect you to have learned your father's Scattered Flower Needle technique. Then you must not know that the reason I, Huo Ying, betrayed the Residual Moon Tower was because your father absolutely refused to teach me the Scattered Flower Needle technique." Huo Ying said, gnashing her teeth at Ming Jiu Xiao.
Immediately after, she retaliated, sending her own embroidered needles towards Ming Jiu Xiao's.
Watching this scene unfold outside the space, Jun Mohan immediately signaled Leng Ruoli to retract her intention to leave.
"Jun Mohan, why aren't we going out?" Leng Ruoli asked, looking at Jun Mohan.
Upon hearing this, Jun Mohan pondered for a moment.
"Let's go out later. I want to see Ming Jiu Xiao's current combat power," Jun Mohan replied pettily.
This was because he believed that by understanding his rival, he could prevent him from luring away his wife.
"This isn't good. They'll be worried sick about us," Leng Ruoli said, frowning.
"Li'er, it's alright. We'll go out when the fight outside is almost over," Jun Mohan said, reassuring her while holding her hand.