Chapter 1691 - 627: Before the Blood Lotus
The longsword hummed, directly aiming at the Vice Sect Hierarch.
The Vice Sect Hierarch, whose martial arts were currently restricted, watched the approaching longsword. Although they knew how to parry and break the attack, they immediately thought of seventy to eighty countermeasures.
But not a single one could be used.
Just as they were about to close their eyes and wait for death, they saw two fingers clamping onto the blade.
With a flick of the fingers, a "ding" was heard, and the longsword veered off course.
A strong force dragged the woman back, making her stagger several steps back. She looked up at Su Mo, her eyes full of dread, and immediately bit her teeth:
"Sisters, let’s fight them together!"
A group of exhausted women behind her exchanged glances, bit their teeth, and were about to join in the attack.
Su Mo quickly reached out his hand:
"Wait! I am not one of the Blood Lotus Sect. I am here to save someone!"
"I don’t believe your nonsense."
The woman at the front who had initially struck out with her sword was furious:
"If you are not colluding with the Blood Lotus Sect, how could you have arrived here with their Vice Sect Hierarch?
"Now, stop trying to deceive us!"
Although the Vice Sect Hierarch was dressed like an ordinary maid, her appearance was remembered by these women, who recognized her identity at a glance.
"Miss, don’t be anxious."
Su Mo had no choice but to say:
"This Vice Sect Hierarch was captured by me to serve as a guide. Without her, I would not have found this place so easily."
"!!!"
The group of women looked at each other in disbelief.
Then someone said:
"The Vice Sect Hierarch of the Blood Lotus Sect is extraordinarily skilled, how could this person capture her?"
"But looking at the Vice Sect Hierarch, she does seem a bit strange... Seeing us escape, she doesn’t try to capture us immediately?"
"Hey... what you said makes sense, sister, you are indeed clever."
"So, is what he said the truth?"
A chorus of whispers filled the room.
Su Mo listened, growing impatient, with a furrowed brow:
"If any of you wish to leave, I won’t stop you. I’m here only to save someone.
"Do any of you know Miss Fang Hongying from Nong Yue Villa?
"Is she here?"
No sooner had he spoken than the woman who had initially brandished her sword became furiously angry:
"So, you’re a liar! I don’t know you, why would you be here to rescue me?"
"..."
Su Mo was stunned, unable to resist glancing at Little Situ, who also seemed at a loss:
"Miss, don’t be anxious... You are the young lady of Nong Yue Villa; do you know Fang Jie?"
"You know my brother?"
Fang Hongying’s expression softened noticeably upon hearing this.
She looked at Su Mo, then at Little Situ, and finally at the Vice Sect Hierarch, tightening her brow:
"Also, I know my brother is weak; he’s been scared by toads into tears. What could he possibly have that would make you take such risks for him?
"You’re not trying to trick me, are you?"
"May I ask, Miss, what could possibly be worth deceiving you about now?"
Su Mo gently shook his head, retrieving a short blade from behind him and tossing it over:
"If you are Fang Hongying, you should recognize this blade."
"This is..."
Fang Hongying caught it effortlessly, her eyes immediately reddening:
"This was Xiao Jie’s personal belonging; how did it end up in your hands?"
"It’s a long story."
Su Mo’s brow furrowed slightly.
Fang Hongying nodded at his words:
"Alright then, since you have obtained this blade, I’ll trust you for now.
"Shall we leave here immediately?"
Su Mo shook his head:
"If it were me, I wouldn’t leave so easily.
"Tonight, the Blood Lotus Sect is in chaos; they won’t have time for this place.
"Besides Miss Fang, I have another person to save... And there are some questions I want to ask the Blood Lotus Sect Leader.
"If you truly trust me, why not rest here for a while, and when I’m done, I’ll take everyone out together?"
"This..."
Fang Hongying’s brow furrowed.
She turned to look at the others.
This group of women exchanged glances, and finally, someone sighed:
"Sister Hong Ying, even if we could get out of here, could we fight our way out of the Blood Lotus Sect?"
The moment this question was asked, everyone fell silent.
They had been held here, blood drawn for the nourishment of the Blood Lotus.
Though now freed, they were physically depleted.
Moreover, the path of martial arts is like rowing against the current; not advancing means retreating.
They hadn’t practiced martial arts for a long time, their skills long diminished.
In fact, some among them can’t even fight at all.
In their current state, forcing their way out is a path to death.
But staying here also meant death; all they wanted now was a fighting chance.
But this reality clearly showed its face, leaving everyone in silence.
Finally, Fang Hongying looked at Su Mo:
"Who else do you need to save?"
"A girl named Xuanyuan Xiaoshan."
Su Mo scanned the group, realizing he couldn’t tell which one was Xuanyuan Xiaoshan.
As the Holy Daughter of the Tianxin Sect, she never showed her true face.
Her distinctive veiled face made it impossible to differentiate.
"Xuanyuan Xiaoshan? The girl from Donghuang?"
Fang Hongying quickly realized who Su Mo was referring to.
Su Mo was immediately delighted:
"Miss Fang, you know her?"
"I do. Tonight, the Blood Lotus Sect’s evil people took her; she should be at the Blood Pond."
Fang Hongying said this with some guilt.
They were focused on their own fight, wanting to go all out, but didn’t think to rescue Xuanyuan Xiaoshan.
Su Mo, however, didn’t think in that direction; instead, he breathed a huge sigh of relief.
"That’s good... Ladies, if you’re willing, please wait here; I’ll be back soon."
Little Situ quickly took out a bottle of elixir and handed it to Fang Hongying:
"This bottle contains a precious elixir for invigorating vital energy and replenishing blood. The bottle has a lot, and the pills are small, so it can be shared with everyone."
Having said that, he followed closely behind Su Mo.
Fang Hongying saw them leave, stomped her foot, and handed the bottle to a girl beside her:
"I’m going with you!"
Seeing this, Su Mo nodded and continued to let the Blood Lotus Sect Vice Sect Hierarch lead the way.
The three of them followed her.
As they walked, Su Mo casually asked what exactly happened to them?
He learned that initially, there were Blood Lotus Sect disciples overseeing them under Bai Ye Lake.
But just a while ago, someone dressed in Blood Lotus Sect disciple clothes subdued all the guards.
Then they released these women.
At the time, not much was said, just that they were there to rescue.
Su Mo listened, speechless.
Lin Xiao’er truly went through great lengths for his own goals.
Freeing those under Bai Ye Lake was naturally to further delay time.
After the Blood Lotus Sect dealt with the mountain bandits and put out the fire, they would re-capture these women, but by then he would have already accomplished his goals.
Of course, the result would either be his goal achieved,
or he would die in the Blood Pond.
When Su Mo and his companions arrived at the Blood Pond, they discovered the latter scenario seemed more likely.
The Blood Pond was right in the middle of the room.
The floor was covered with bloodstains.
The Blood Pond was boiling with fresh blood, continuously steaming.
Within the pond, there was a stem extending into the pond, with a large bud standing askew.
Upon careful listening, one could hear a sound akin to a heartbeat, with the bud rising and falling in motion, as if breathing.
In front of the Blood Pond, a person sat cross-legged with their back to Su Mo and others.
Clad in blood-soaked clothes, their features were indiscernible.
Only their posture seemed calm.
Looking up, they saw someone pinned to the room’s ceiling.
The Yangtze River transfixed their limbs, barely securing them, yet their body was slowly sliding down along the blade.
With each inch they slipped, a piercing scream escaped their mouth.
Their blood dripped along the sword’s hilt, drop by drop.
But before the blood could reach the Blood Pond, the woman sitting in front of the pond flicked her sleeve, sweeping it aside:
"Such impure blood, daring to contaminate my Blood Lotus?"
Su Mo glanced around apprehensively.
Where was Xuanyuan Xiaoshan?
...
...
ps: Still a long Chapter of ten thousand words, hmm... so no second Chapter. Also, still seeking monthly tickets~~