I use my daughter's body to cut down the rivers and lakes

Chapter 367: Spring comes out of dead trees
Zhang Cheng looked up quietly with a guilty conscience, glanced at Liu Qi who was lost in thought, and then quickly lowered his head.

After learning the news that Liu Qi and Zhu Wei had died together a few days ago, Zhang Cheng was briefly at a loss, but then he felt more of a sense of secret joy in his heart!
In his eyes, Liu Qihe was just like the Black Prison Gate in the past, both of them were a huge mountain weighing on his heart!
"Are you disappointed to see that I'm still alive?"

A light sentence fell into Zhang Cheng's ears, and the expression on his face froze instantly. The fear in his heart surged out like a tide, and a bone-chilling chill instantly rushed from the soles of his feet to the top of his head.

"No!"

"My Lord, I have no second thoughts about you!"

Zhang Cheng explained frantically, and became more and more excited. He simply made up his mind to kneel down in front of Liu Qi. Unfortunately, when he bent his knees slightly, he found that his legs seemed to be restrained by a strange force. No matter how hard he tried, he could not move at all.

"You don't have to pretend to be like that in front of me."

Hearing Liu Qi's voice, Zhang Cheng's body shuddered, then he looked up silently and saw that Liu Qi had turned around and walked towards the door. His eyes followed Liu Qi's back until he suddenly stopped at the door.

"Everyone has their own aspirations. It's normal for you to want to find another way out. Just don't contact Chunyan anymore in the future." Liu Qi said indifferently with his back to Zhang Cheng.

"I..." Zhang Cheng felt a surge of sadness in his heart for some reason. He looked at Liu Qi's back and opened his mouth as if he wanted to say something, but the words couldn't come out. In the end, he could only watch Liu Qi open the door and walk into the night.

boom!
After Liu Qi left the room, Zhang Cheng could no longer hold on and collapsed.

He slumped to the ground, and with a dazed look on his face he reached out and touched his sweat-soaked back. When he looked up again, deep regret was already evident in his eyes.

Zhang Cheng did not have many opportunities to make choices in his life. He was once set up by the Black Prison Gate and became a wandering soul because of his greed for wealth and beauty. Later, when he was with Liu Qi, he had no choice but to go with the flow. After Liu Qi left the capital, he finally realized the opportunity to control his own destiny.

So he chose to join the army of Cao, the leader of the Canal Transport Gang, and got in touch with Duke Qing, and gradually reduced his contact with Chunyan. In Zhang Cheng's eyes, the closer he got to Chunyan, the easier it was for him to be reminded of his past that was so dark that he couldn't face anyone.

So when he learned of Liu Qi's death, he felt confused and helpless at first, but this confusion was soon diluted by irrepressible joy.

Liu Qi is dead.

The last huge mountain pressing on his head was finally gone.

He, Zhang Cheng, can finally enjoy the vast seas as a fish leaps, and the high mountains as a bird flies!
Wealth, glory, beautiful women, everything seems to be right before your eyes and within your reach!
but now……

Zhang Cheng, who had finally recovered some strength, slowly stood up and looked outside the dark door, a complicated look flashing across his face.

Doubt, entanglement, regret, and surprise hidden in the eyes...

At this time, Liu Qi was walking leisurely on the familiar roads in the mansion, and everything was the same as before.

Even her small, shabby courtyard near the outer wall was still well preserved.

Liu Qi stood outside the gate of the yard. The air was filled with dust and the smell of decay. It seemed that no one had taken care of this yard for a long time.

creak-

Liu Qi pushed the door open and walked in. The first thing he saw was a pile of dead trees in the flower bed in the courtyard.

Actually, this pile of dead wood was all thanks to Liu Qi.

When she first realized the murderous intent, she took various plants near her residence to practice. This pile of dead wood was destroyed to this state by Liu Qi.

Liu Qi hesitated for a moment, then walked forward to the edge of the flower bed. She reached out and touched a corner of the dead tree. As soon as her fingertips touched it, the corner turned into powder and scattered.

Liu Qi's hand paused in mid-air, and then a faint light blue light lingered in her palm, accompanied by the true energy rippling around her palm like waves. Liu Qi's palm suddenly pressed down and imprinted firmly on the dead wood!
boom!
With the place where Liu Qi was standing as the center, a wave of air suddenly surged out.

The imperial palace, the queen's bedroom.

Xiao Qifeng, who was talking with the queen in her gorgeous attire, suddenly stood up, startling the elegant lady beside him. She also stood up quickly and asked in a low voice, "Your Majesty, you..."

Xiao Qifeng ignored his queen and stared out the window, as if something there attracted him deeply.

……

The true energy was still continuously overflowing from Liu Qi's body, and then extended in all directions. As the true energy continued to extend, Liu Qi's perception ability also reached every inch of land covered by the true energy.

suddenly!

Liu Qi's eyes moved slightly, and a little brightness flashed in her eyes. The five fingers imprinted on the dead wood bent slightly, and the true energy that was originally continuously overflowing came to an abrupt stop. After a brief silence, the true energy rushed towards Liu Qi frantically.

Boom!
A breath of vitality broke out from the ground more than ten feet deep. Liu Qi closed his five fingers instantly, and the dead wood under his palm was crushed into powder by the palm wind.

Liu Qi stood in front of the empty flower bed and slowly spread out his palms. A small root-like object slipped from his palms and fell directly onto the soil of the flower bed. The dead wood turned into powder and covered it in an instant.

Zheng——

Liu Qi suddenly took a step back, then placed his right hand on the hilt of the knife at his waist, and a low humming sound suddenly came from the scabbard.

Cang——

The sound of a knife suddenly rang out, tearing the night sky apart.

Liu Qi's eyes were focused as he watched the arc formed by the blade light pass in front of him and then quickly disappear into the flower bed.

clang!
Sheath the sword.

Liu Qi stood there for a moment.

rustling...

An extremely subtle sound came into his ears, and Liu Qi's eyes moved slightly. Then he lowered his gaze and looked at the flower bed. He saw a small sapling breaking out of the soil and growing rapidly at a speed visible to the naked eye.

rustling...

Liu Qi slowly raised his eyes and looked at the branch that had become almost as tall as himself in the blink of an eye. The corners of his mouth twitched slightly, and satisfaction flashed in his eyes. Then he turned around resolutely, tapped his feet lightly, and his figure disappeared into the night sky like smoke.

The next day, early in the morning.

creak-

The gate of this remote courtyard was pushed open again.

Xiao Qifeng, dressed in a black dragon robe, stepped over the threshold with his long legs. He raised his eyes and looked around. His sight slowly passed over the wild grass in the corners that was green and lush, which was not in line with the season, and finally stopped on the lush and green tree in the flower bed that was more than ten feet tall.

call……

Xiao Qifeng suddenly raised his arm, and as his five fingers slightly bent, a strong wind swept out from the palm of his hand. The tree branches were blown by the strong wind, and a green and oily leaf fell instantly, and was then carried towards Xiao Qifeng by the strong wind.

"Spring brings life to all things, and the world is eternal." Xiao Qifeng lowered his eyes to glance at the leaves in his palm, then looked up at the cold sky, and then said in a deep voice, "It's a pity that it's already late autumn."

After saying that, he waved his hand lightly, and a soft breeze instantly surged out from the palm of his hand.

As the palm wind blew through the courtyard, the weeds in the corner withered rapidly at a speed visible to the naked eye, and the tree in the flower bed shed its leaves like rain, and in the blink of an eye it became a bare trunk.

But it's not over yet!

The palm wind that was originally roaming around the courtyard suddenly became agitated, like a group of wolves that smelled blood, rushing towards the flower bed frantically. Bang!
Finally, after a sharp muffled sound came from the tree trunk, which was as thick as an adult's forearm, the whole tree was instantly shrouded in a layer of deathly silence.

Bang!
The sound of the door closing echoed in the courtyard which had returned to silence.

……

After Liu Qi left the former Liu Mansion last night, he returned to Chunyue Restaurant in South City.

Chunyan arranged a room upstairs for her.

Although it is called the upper room, the environment inside is even more cramped than the servants' room where Chunyan lived when she was in Liu's mansion.

Fortunately, Liu Qi is not a picky person.

There is a place where you can practice and meditate.

At dawn, Chunyan was waiting outside the door with a sumptuous breakfast. It was not until Liu Qi, who was meditating with his eyes closed, said "Come in" that she pushed open the door and walked in carefully.

Liu Qi opened his eyes and glanced at Chunyan who was placing breakfast on the table, then said, "Have a good rest these few days."

Chunyan's eyes flashed with sorrow when she heard that. Then she looked up and smiled at Liu Qi, "Don't worry, Miss. The doctor said that I have a good foundation and sufficient blood and qi. I will be back to normal in a few days."

"correct!"

Chunyan arranged the breakfast, held the food box and said to Liu Qi solemnly, "Early this morning, I saw a few unfamiliar faces outside the restaurant. They looked like spies from other families."

"Just handle it yourself. If you encounter a difficult case, just bring him to the restaurant." After Liu Qi finished speaking, he stood up, walked to the table and sat down, concentrating on his breakfast.

Chunyan acted quickly and the several spies outside were captured before noon.

Less than a quarter of an hour after capturing those spies, Chunyan hurriedly knocked on Liu Qi's door.

When she heard the familiar voice of "Come in", Chunyan pushed the door open and walked in impatiently. Then she said to Liu Qi who was looking out the window, "Three of the four spies were sent by Zhang Cheng!"

Liu Qi asked without even turning his head: "What about the other one?"

Seeing that Liu Qi was still calm, Chunyan's eyes flashed with surprise, but she quickly replied: "The other person was sent by Cao Cheng, the president of the Canal Merchants Association."

Chunyan paused, then continued with a serious expression: "He said that Chief Cao wants to see you."

Hearing Cao Cheng's name, Liu Qi finally raised his head, turned his head to look at Chunyan, and then asked softly: "Is Cao Cheng's headquarters still in the same place?"

……

Ever since Xiao Qifeng ascended the throne, Cao Cheng somehow managed to move the headquarters of the Grand Canal Merchants Association directly from the South City to the East City, and it was only one street away from the Six Gates Headquarters.

Liu Qi arrived at the entrance of the headquarters and saw Cao Cheng wandering at the door.

"Miss Liu!" Cao Cheng also saw the stunning woman who suddenly appeared at the door. His eyes only briefly swept across Liu Qi's face, and he exclaimed with great joy.

beep, beep...

Cao Cheng hurriedly walked down the steps in front of the headquarters gate to greet him. His respectful attitude made the guards on duty at the headquarters door look at him sideways.

Who on earth is this person that could make our chief take the initiative to greet him?
As his men looked at him in confusion, Cao Cheng had already stood in front of Liu Qi. He squinted his eyes and smiled, cupping his hands and saying, "It's been a few months since we last met. Miss Liu is still as charming as ever!"

Liu Qi glanced at Cao Cheng, then said calmly: "President Cao is living a good life."

Compared to before, Cao Cheng is now at least one level thicker.

Cao Cheng touched his round belly awkwardly, then said with a wry smile: "Unlike Miss Liu who is so arrogant in the martial arts world, I, Cao, can only compete with others at the wine table."

"Please come in. I, Old Cao, have specially invited the best chef in the capital to prepare a feast for you, Miss Liu!" Cao Cheng turned sideways and made a gesture of invitation.

In the reception hall of the headquarters, there was indeed a table filled with delicacies from land and sea, but there was already someone sitting at the table, and that person was an old acquaintance of Liu Qi.

When Liu Qi stepped into the reception hall, a scholar in white shirt immediately stood up, bowed to Liu Qi and said: "Miss Liu, long time no see."

Seeing the other person's warm smile, Liu Qi immediately responded: "Bai Langhuan, what are you doing in the capital?"

Shouldn’t Bai Langhuan be with Kong Sang? Why is he appearing in the capital?
Facing Liu Qi's blunt questioning, Bai Langhuan glanced at Cao Cheng standing behind Liu Qi, then laughed to hide the embarrassment on his face, and then replied politely: "It is hard to refuse the kindness of Chief Cao, and Bai also admires the outstanding people and beautiful scenery of the capital..."

creak-

The sound of a chair being dragged interrupted Bai Langhuan's words.

Liu Qi sat down directly, and then said in a stern tone: "Bai Langhuan, with your little Taoist skills, you want to fish in troubled waters. Aren't you afraid of losing your life here?"

Hearing Liu Qi's blunt sarcasm, even though Bai Langhuan was well-educated, he couldn't help but clench his fists, and the smile on his face gradually froze.

As for Cao Cheng, he caught a glimpse of Bai Langhuan's unhappy face and was startled. He immediately stepped forward to smooth things over and said, "Miss Liu, Mr. Bai has agreed to serve as a guest of the Chamber of Commerce..."

Liu Qi just turned his head and glanced at Cao Cheng indifferently, and then he shut his mouth obediently.

Then Liu Qi's gaze moved to Bai Langhuan: "It seems that Kong Sang is unwilling to help you prolong your life, so you can only take the risk and plunge into this vortex."

Liu Qi's words were like a heavy hammer hitting Bai Langhuan's heart. His eyes froze, and then he looked at Liu Qi and asked stiffly, "Did... Kong Sang tell you?"

Liu Qi shook his head: "Do you need someone to tell you that your time is coming?"

Bai Langhuan's expression changed from pale to blue, his fingertips dug deeply into the flesh of his palms, and after a moment, the cold aura around him suddenly loosened, and then his hands at his sides also stretched out.

"You are right. Bai is dying soon."

The deepest secret was revealed by someone, and Bai Langhuan fortunately gave up and said bluntly: "I was invited by Ouyang Longcheng to go to Kongsang Fairy Boat to find a way to prolong my life."

"It's just that Kongsang is full of nonsense. No matter how much Bai begged, she just wouldn't teach me the method to prolong my life!"

Liu Qi slowly shook his head upon hearing this: "It's not that she doesn't want to pass it on, but there is no so-called method of prolonging life in this world."

Liu Qi paused for a few seconds, then said in a deep voice: "At least for you and me, the so-called life-extending method has no effect."

"Is that so?" Bai Langhuan lowered his head as if disappointed.

Cao Cheng became even more anxious when he saw this, but he couldn't get involved in the conversation between the two top masters in front of him, so he could only worry here.

Liu Qi looked at Bai Langhuan quietly, his gaze slowly lowering until it landed on the cloth shoes under his long gown.

"So... what are you still hesitating about?" Liu Qi's eyes flashed with impatience, and then he sneered, "Are you afraid that if you take action, the deadline will be brought forward?"

"Bai Langhuan, don't forget how I, Liu Qi, was able to dominate the world."

"Don't hide your murderous intentions."

(End of this chapter)