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Chapter 31: The Sword Forest Changes
Tang Shayun was not entirely at peace with her own decision to bring Yan Buxuan into the Sword Forest. She carried the Kuisha on her body and was naturally not afraid that any harm would befall her, but the disciples of the Lingshan Sect behind Yan Buxuan were different. The moment they entered the Sword Forest, they etched their bloody fate in stone.
Qin Kaiyi’s hand was still attached to the black brick, and the demonic energy in his body surged along his arm towards it. However, he currently didn’t pay attention to that, instead turning his head to gaze at the wall which displayed Tang Shayun and the team.
Not knowing that someone was spying on her, Tang Shayun showed a frightening, chilly sneer after entering the Sword Forest. She said towards Yan Buxuan: “Yang Gongzi, I am very grateful that you helped me before, but I also have repaid you. Since you have already entered the inside of the secret realm, then let us rely on our own skills from now on. How about we take different roads and ride forth our horses (T/N: idiom meaning “part ways”), what do you think?”
Not expecting Tang Shayun to make this kind of statement, Yan Buxuan frowned, showing an expression of disapproval: “Why does Miss Tang say this?”
“Well, of course, if you don’t die here, I don’t mind continuing to walk with you.” Tang Shayun’s smiling countenance was like a flower, but that smile on her beautiful face was vicious: “Then Yan gongzi, after this, you should be careful in this Sword Forest.”
After finishing her speech, she raised her hand and flicked at the sword closest to her that was suspended in midair, triggering the Sword Forest’s formation.
Qin Kaiyi felt shocked at the scene in front of him even when he was just watching a projection. The Sword Forest, which was originally still, had been triggered by Tang Shayun’s motions. Undulating layers of swords came together to strike, filling the air with crisp, ringing sounds. Those countless swords overflowing with killing intent and strikingly sharp sword qi could easily slice apart regular blades, killing those who had mistakenly entered forbidden grounds.
Qin Kaiyi couldn’t see that sword qi through the wall, but he could clearly see the people killed by that qi. Just like ling chi (T/N: ancient Chinese execution method where one dies by a thousand cuts), skin and flesh peeled off bit by bit, muscles and bone ground away, until finally blood drenched and dripped as if from a skinned rabbit. The sword forest burst out with innumerable sword qis, and easily broke Yan Buxuan’s team apart.
Qin Kaiyi looked at the already scattered team and sighed slightly. From the moment Tang Shayun led these people into the Sword Forest, he should have understood that no one could escape alive… These sword qis were just the beginning.
Sure enough, when the fierce sword qi exhausted the spiritual energy of those present, the next mechanism activated. Those swords that were originally suspended in the air and had no life, like evil wolves that smelled blood, swarmed toward those who were not yet fatally wounded by sword qi.
Thousands of swords pierced hearts. Seeing countless sharp blades piercing the bones and flesh of the dying cultivators, Qin Kaiyi’s hands shook slightly. He had never seen such a bloody scene before, and to accept it peacefully was too difficult.  Looking at those bodies become indistinct red messes of flesh, he fiercely resisted the urge to vomit.
“Can’t take it anymore?” Yan Gu’s face was full of smiles in his sea of knowledge: “Is it pretty? This scene?”
“…” Qin Kaiyi gritted his teeth, ignoring Yan Gu’s ridicule. He turned his head to look at Shen Feixiao standing beside him, and found that the twelve-year-old kid didn’t react in any way.
Sure enough, he was the protagonist… With a long sigh in his heart, Qin Kaiyi hung a bitter smile on his mouth. If he could, he really wanted to leave here immediately and return to his original world.
“Hey, there seems to be something wrong,” Yan Gu suddenly said: “… how is that person so familiar.”
“Which one?” Qin Kaiyi looked back to the wall: “What do you mean?”
“That one called Yan Buxuan… Um, I always feel something isn’t right.” Yan Gu touched his chin with his hand thoughtfully: “His reaction… why does it feel so familiar…”
“Yan Buxuan?” Qin Kaiyi looked at the frowning man in the Sword Forest, and didn’t quite understand Yan Gu’s meaning: “What are you talking about?”
“I mean… ai?” Yan Gu was about to say something, but then suddenly his tone rose: “I’ll just say, how is Yan Buxuan a righteous cultivator? He is actually the same as Tang Shayun. They are demonic cultivators! “
“What?” Qin Kaiyi was surprised, but found that the Sword Forest suddenly changed at this time!
Yan Buxuan, who was originally struggling to resist the Sword Forest’s attack, suddenly smiled coldly. That smile felt a bit familiar to Qin Kaiyi.  Soon after, Yan Buxuan made a seal with his right hand–unexpectedly, Tan Shayuan, who was originally standing safely to the side with an expression full of schadenfreude, was caught by him!
“This…” Qin Kaiyi’s eyes widened in surprise. He really didn’t expect Yan Buxuan to retain so much strength!
Like Qin Kaiyi, Tang Shayun also didn’t expect this development. According to her plan, she should have exterminated Yan Buxuan’s entire team. Instead, she somehow fell into Yan Buxuan’s hands. Tang Shayun opened her beautiful eyes in horror. She shouted with fright: “What do you want to do??”
“Don’t yell.” Displaying a gentle smile, Yan Buxuan whispered softly: “If you don’t want to lose your tongue.”
“…” Tang Shayun’s pale face was wan as she fell silent, and she greatly regretted miscalculating Yan Buxuan’s strength. She thought that this Sword Forest could destroy him!
“I thought you could bear it, I didn’t expect you to lose your cool, ai… It seems that each generation of the Tang family is not as good as the previous one. Tsk, it’s a pity for the Tang family’s martial arts.” Yan Buxuan shook his head, his tone like that of a senior criticizing his juniors.
“You–who are you?” She finally noticed what was wrong, and Tang Shayun shouted herself hoarse: “This isn’t right, you are not Yan Buxuan!!!” She had seriously researched Yan Buxuan’s information, and knew that this elder of the Ice and Fire Sect absolutely did not have the strength to survive the Sword Forest’s attack!
“Of course I am not Yan Buxuan.” The man with a gradually changing face smiled casually: “If I were Yan Buxuan, I would have long ago stabbed your unrighteous demonic cultivator self.”
When Yan Buxuan’s face changed into another’s, Qin Kaiyi finally couldn’t help but scream out: “Zi Yangpei!!!”
“Old monster!” At the same time, Yan Gu shouted too. He and Qin Kaiyi had the same expression, both not daring to believe what they saw. Yan Gu muttered to himself: “How is it possible, how could he be all right… this… “
“Do you know him?” Qin Kaiyi immediately noticed Yan Gu’s change: “What is going on?”
“He is…” Yan Gu tried to hold back what he wanted to say, and only said after a while: “Let’s leave here first, Zi Yangpei appeared, that is not a good sign.”
“… Hey, Yan Gu, what’s your relationship with Zi Yangpei?” Qin Kaiyi frowned, thinking of the lotuses on the mask: “Are you from the Hua Lian sect?”
“Me?” Yan Gu smiled self-deprecatingly: “I am only a dog taught by Hua Lian.”
“…” Qin Kaiyi was speechless at Yan Gu’s self-abasement.
“Let’s go first, if later it’ll be too late. This place is very close to the Sword Forest. If he comes, we all have to die… Well, no, you have a natural demonic body, you won’t die… right?” Yan Gu hesitated.
Seeing that the person who had just been talking on the wall’s projection was already nowhere to be seen, Qin Kaiyi hurriedly withdrew his hand and said to Yan Gu: “Then hurry, tell me how to leave.”
“Go to the middle of the room, find a chair, sit on it, hurry up!” Yan Gu didn’t seem to be joking.
“Feixiao, come here.” Qin Kaiyi did not delay. He knew how strong Zi Yangpei was. If they were really caught by Zi Yangpei, then he and Shen Feixiao might have only one ending–death.
“Sit up, turn the golden lion on the right armrest of the chair three times to the left, then five times to the right, and finally press down.” Yan Gu said: “You hug your little shidi, this way is quicker.”
“Okay.” Qin Kaiyi nodded, then embraced Shen Feixiao into his arms.
“What are you doing!” Frightened by Qin Kaiyi’s movements, Shen Feixiao said angrily: “Let me down.”
“Don’t make trouble.” Qin Kaiyi frowned. He didn’t expect that Shen Feixiao would be so light, and that bony frame held in his hands actually chafed. Well, it seemed that he should help to take care of his diet in the future. As Shen Feixiao’s dear father he really had been too irresponsible.
“…” Shen Feixiao clenched his teeth and didn’t want to say anything. He was influenced by Qin Kaiyi’s serious expression, and finally rested on his stomach and allowed Qin Kaiyi to carry him.
“Good (T/N: 乖 = guāi. Usually said to a child, means well-behaved, connotes affection),  obedient.” Qin Kaiyi had no time to coax Shen Feixiao. He sat on the chair as Yan Gu ordered, and then put his hand on the golden lion… But the moment he did, he had the urge to cry. He was so stupid; he actually believed that asshole Yan Gu could be reliable for once.
“… My demonic energy is about to completely sucked away.” Qin Kaiyi looked dead inside. Not only could he not move the lion, but he couldn’t take off the hand he had attached to the lion.
“… Eh, what’s that.” Yan Gu gave a hollow laugh. He didn’t expect that the energy shortage of the Hidden Treasure Pavilion was so severe that even escaping required giving up demonic energy…
“Even if I die I won’t forgive you, Yan Gu…” Qin Kaiyi’s tone was full of deep resentment.
“Calm down, he hasn’t come yet, right… grab it harder, maybe we just…” The words that followed didn’t make it out, and Yan Gu’s voice disappeared at once.
Qin Kaiyi’s body stiffened. He heard the sound of something heavy falling behind him, okay, if he guessed right… Zi Yangpei brought Tang Shayun… and came.
“Yo, I didn’t expect there were people here.” The familiar voice, as before, carried teasing laughter. Zi Yangpei walked to Qin Kaiyi while carrying Tang Shayun like a rice bag, with a smile on his handsome face. Qin Kaiyi’s gaze was not quite as friendly as Zi Yangpei’s.
“Huh? Another acquaintance.” Recognizing Qin Kaiyi, Zi Yangpei threw the scared and wan Tang Shayun aside. Looking at Qin Kaiyi and Shen Feixiao sitting in Qin Kaiyi’s arms, he smiled: “You are in a world with only two people?” (T/N: Usually refers to a romantic couple. Meaning they’re in a romantic couple’s world.)
“…” Big brother, this joke is not funny at all, really. The corners of Qin Kaiyi’s lips quietly drew down. .
“En, long time no see, baby.” Clearly not knowing that Qin Kaiyi did not like his corny jokes, Zi Yangpei seemed no different than before entry into the secret realm. He smiled, full of greetings: “How have you been recently?”