322: past

Boom.

Following a muffled sound.

Mu Changan retreated several steps, his face grim as he panted heavily.

Sword light suddenly appeared, its impact incredibly powerful.

At that moment, Nan Qingyue turned her head; sensing this powerful Spiritual Qi, she couldn't help but gasp, her heart trembling.

"Nie Mingjue, you must stay alive!" Nan Qingyue clenched her fists tightly. Watching this scene, she was even more at a loss for what to do.

A cold glint flashed in Nan Qingyue's eyes as she stood frozen on the spot.

After a long while.

Nan Qingyue finally had an answer in her heart. With a grim expression, she said, "Let's go!"

In truth, Nan Qingyue understood one thing: Nie Mingjue was already using his life to stop Mu Changan. If she turned back now, wouldn't she just be throwing her life away?

It would be better to return to the inn and rescue Mr. Li.

That way, there would be a solution.

"Master, you must wait for me. I will definitely be able to rescue you!" Nan Qingyue clenched her fists tightly, a cold glint flashing in her eyes.

Actually, Nan Qingyue had already made up her mind; even if it meant death, she had to rescue Nan Qingyue.

Boom!

Following a loud explosion, a bright light burst forth.

This scene had also appeared twenty years ago, except back then, it was that strike from the Bai Xian Emperor.

With one strike, he perished along with tens of thousands of Rebels. Although the Nie family fell, the Bai Xian Emperor's single strike had demonstrated the Nie family's prestige.

And how could Mu Changan not recognize this strike!

"This is the Nie family's Sword! Who are you?! Just who are you?!" Mu Changan raised his Sword and swung it violently, breaking the Sword Qi with a single blow.

Then, Mu Changan stepped forward and came directly before Nie Mingjue.

And it was at this time.

Mu Changan's reaction was swift; after cutting down the Sword Qi, he knocked the Sword out of Nie Mingjue's hand.

In just an instant, Mu Changan forcefully hoisted Nie Mingjue up, a cold glint flashing in his bright eyes.

"Who exactly are you?!" Mu Changan barked. "If you won't talk, I'll kill you first, then go kill Mr. Li."

"You wouldn't dare!" Nie Mingjue said with a grim face. He was naturally unwilling to submit, being handled like this.

"Then why don't you try me!" Mu Changan gritted his teeth and slammed Nie Mingjue hard onto the ground.

Bang.

Following a dull thud.

Nie Mingjue fell heavily to the ground. He looked up at Mu Changan with his bright eyes, his heart filled with indignation.

However, Nie Mingjue had no other choice; he was simply no match for Mu Changan.

"Come on, kill me!" Nie Mingjue roared, his expression twisting into a snarl.

In fact, Nie Mingjue didn't care at all; as far as he was concerned, he wasn't afraid of death.

Now, Nie Mingjue had already covered Nan Qingyue's escape and bought her time. In this interval, Nan Qingyue would surely be able to protect Mr. Li and eventually leave with him.

This way, Nie Mingjue's mission would be complete, which was a decent outcome.

"Do you know Baiyi Luo?" Mu Changan asked grimly, staring intently at Nie Mingjue.

At this moment, Mu Changan just wanted a result, an answer that satisfied him.

Twenty years. It had been a full twenty years.

The knot in Mu Changan's heart should finally be untied.

"Baiyi Luo?" Hearing that name, Nie Mingjue's heart trembled, and he showed a look of surprise. "You know my aunt?"

Nie Mingjue looked wary as he stared fixedly at Mu Changan.

In truth, Nie Mingjue was also afraid that Mu Changan had other motives, so he had to be even more cautious.

Upon hearing this.

Mu Changan threw his head back and laughed wildly, looking triumphant. This was exactly the result he wanted!

"To think I'd find it without any effort at all!" Mu Changan's lips curled into a smirk. "So you really are from the Nie Family! Your surname is Nie?"

"You're looking for me? For what?" Nie Mingjue clenched his fists. He reacted quickly, scrambling up from the ground in an instant.

Finally, Nie Mingjue straightened his back, a cold glint flashing in his bright eyes.

Nie Mingjue was full of hostility toward Mu Changan; he wanted to protect everything he held dear.

"Hahaha, you silly child. After all this fighting, who would have thought we're family?" Mu Changan smiled slightly and lowered his Sword.

"Child, Baiyi Luo—your aunt—and I were close friends despite our age difference. I came looking for Mr. Li this time just to find the location of your aunt's grave."

"In truth, I mean no harm. You've all misunderstood me."

Mu Changan appeared quite relaxed, his smile widening.

But after hearing this, Nie Mingjue felt like Mu Changan was joking.

Setting aside whether Baiyi Luo and Mu Changan actually knew each other, even if they did, so much time had passed; it didn't seem right.

Furthermore, if Baiyi Luo and Mu Changan didn't know each other and Mu Changan was just talking nonsense, Nie Mingjue had no way to verify it.

This was truly a difficult situation!

"My aunt has been dead for so long, and you claim to be her close friend just like that? I don't believe you. Besides, you were just trying to kill me!" Nie Mingjue said with a grim face, retreating several steps after standing up.

In fact, Nie Mingjue didn't believe Mu Changan at all; he was naturally a suspicious person.

Seeing this, Mu Changan felt somewhat helpless.

Then, Mu Changan fished a jade pendant out of his robes and carefully brought it out.

"Do you recognize this jade pendant?" Mu Changan asked grimly, staring at Nie Mingjue. "Kid, look closely."

"If you say you don't recognize it, that would prove one thing: you're lying to me, and you aren't Baiyi Luo's relative or a member of the Nie Family at all."

"Speak, do you recognize it or not?"

Mu Changan's face was grim as he stared intently at Nie Mingjue, waiting for an answer—one that would satisfy him.

Nie Mingjue knew what was what. He slowly raised his head, his eyes lighting up as he reached a conclusion.

"This is the Nie family's Sect Leader Seal. How did it end up in your hands?" Nie Mingjue looked up, staring fixedly at Mu Changan.

Now, Nie Mingjue was even more suspicious. This was clearly the Nie family's Sect Leader Seal, yet it was in Mu Changan's possession.

This made things seem even more wrong.

"Your aunt, Baiyi Luo, gave this to me. I think you know that after the Nie family passed the position of Sect Leader to Baiyi Luo, she disappeared. In truth, she never wanted to be the Sect Leader; she just wanted to be an ordinary woman." Speaking to this point, Mu Changan let out a long sigh.