Peach Blossoms in Chang'an

Chapter 142: The Wrong Peach Blossom, Missed Opportunity

The dazzling white light gradually dissipated, and Black Wind Ridge returned to its former gloom. Only the rustling sound of the breeze blowing through the treetops seemed to be telling of the various mysterious things that had happened here.

"Master!" Li Xiaoyao stepped forward quickly, knelt on one knee, his eyes full of excitement and respect.

The old man in white nodded slightly, his eyes swept across Hu Bugui and Wu Tao behind Li Xiaoyao, and finally landed on the jade pendant in Wu Tao's hand. "The Kunlun Mirror sensed your call, so I came."

Wu Tao was shocked when she heard this. This seemingly ordinary jade pendant was actually related to the legendary Kunlun Mirror? She subconsciously looked at Hu Bugui, but saw that he was also shocked.

"Master, what is going on?" Li Xiaoyao asked in confusion.

"It's a long story," the old man stroked his gray beard, his eyes deep, "The Kunlun Mirror is an ancient artifact that has the power to reverse time and space, but it also attracts countless covetous people. To prevent the artifact from falling into the hands of evil people, I split it into two, one half is hidden on the top of Kunlun Mountain, and the other half is sealed in this jade pendant."

"I see." Li Xiaoyao suddenly realized, and then asked, "Then why did you suddenly appear, Master? Could it be that..."

The old man nodded. "Yes, the men in black are after the Kunlun Mirror! They have already found the half of the artifact hidden on the top of Kunlun Mountain. Now they only need this last piece of jade pendant..."

"What?!" Hu Bugui and Wu Tao exclaimed at the same time. They never thought that they would be involved in such a shocking conspiracy.

"There is no time to lose. We must find a way to open the barrier before the men in black do!" Li Xiaoyao said solemnly.

Under the guidance of the old man, they came to a hidden cave. The cave was dark and damp, and an ancient altar could be vaguely seen. In the center of the altar was a bronze mirror, emitting a faint light.

"Is this the Kunlun Mirror?" Wu Tao couldn't help but ask.

The old man shook his head and said, "This is just a teleportation array leading to where the Kunlun Mirror is. Only by placing the jade pendant in it can the teleportation array be activated."

Just as Wu Tao was about to place the jade pendant on the altar, a familiar voice suddenly sounded behind everyone: "Wait a minute!"

When everyone looked back, they saw a handsome man in green clothes slowly walking out of the cave. He was none other than the mysterious visitor who had been fighting alongside them before!

"You... why are you here?" Wu Tao asked in surprise.

The mysterious visitor raised a meaningful smile, "Are you surprised? Wu Tao, I have been lying to you. I am not an ordinary knight-errant, but a member of an organization. I have been lurking beside you from the beginning, just to get the jade pendant in your hand!"

This statement was like a bolt from the blue, shocking Wu Tao and Hu Bugui. They couldn't believe that this person who had lived and died with them could actually be an undercover agent of the organization? !

Wu Tao was struck by lightning, looking at the familiar yet strange man in front of her in disbelief. He had fought side by side with them, resisted the pursuit of countless men in black, and even protected her safety at the risk of getting hurt. The warmth and trust they had once had were now like a sharp blade, piercing her heart.

Hu Bugui protected Wu Tao behind him, his eyes wide open, and asked sternly: "Why did you do this?! We treated you well, why did you betray us?!"

A trace of struggle flashed across the mysterious visitor's face, but it was soon replaced by coldness and determination. "I have no choice," he said coldly, "My fate has been determined since the day I joined the organization. I must obey orders and complete the mission."

"Order? Mission?" Wu Tao smiled bitterly and shook his head. "Don't you have any friendship in your heart? We have experienced life and death together. Is it just acting in your eyes?"

Facing Wu Tao's questioning, the mysterious visitor's heart was stirred, but he still suppressed the guilt and pain in his heart and said coldly: "Stop talking nonsense! Hand over the jade pendant quickly, otherwise don't blame me for being rude!"

“Don’t even think about it!” Li Xiaoyao drew his sword and stood in front of Wu Tao and Hu Bugui. “Master, please take them away first. Leave this to me!”

The old man in white looked at Li Xiaoyao deeply. He knew his disciple's determination and no longer hesitated. He took Wu Tao and Hu Bugui and quickly evacuated the cave.

In the cave, Li Xiaoyao and the mysterious visitor started a fierce battle. Li Xiaoyao's swordsmanship was sharp and fierce, while the mysterious visitor was agile and his moves were strange and unpredictable. For a moment, the sword light flashed in the cave, and the sword lights and shadows were dazzling.

During the battle, Wu Tao and Hu Bugui were surprised to find that although the mysterious visitor's moves were ruthless, he left room for maneuver everywhere, and it seemed that he did not really want to hurt Li Xiaoyao.

"Xiaoyao, be careful! He seems to be under control!" Wu Tao suddenly realized something and reminded loudly.

Li Xiaoyao was shocked when he heard this. After careful observation, he found that there was a trace of struggle and pain in the mysterious visitor's eyes occasionally. It was obvious that he was fighting against some force.

"Who are you? Why do you want to control him?!" Hu Bugui roared, and a fierce palm wind went straight towards the mysterious visitor.

The mysterious visitor was unable to dodge and was hit in the chest by the palm wind. He groaned and took several steps back.

At this moment, a cold voice suddenly sounded in the cave: "It's really touching, but unfortunately, none of you can escape today!"

I saw a figure dressed in black and wearing a conical hat slowly walking out of the cave entrance, followed by dozens of other men in black, surrounding the entire cave.

"You are... the leader of the organization?!" Wu Tao and Hu Bugui exclaimed at the same time.

The man in black slowly took off his hat, revealing a pale and gloomy face. It was none other than the leader of the organization who had appeared in Black Wind Village before!

"Yes, it's me." The leader of the organization smiled coldly, "Today, I will not only get the Kunlun Mirror, but also kill all of you to prevent future troubles!" Wu Tao's heart was in a knot, and everything in front of her was hard for her to accept. The partner who once fought side by side has now become an enemy. How can she be cruel? She took a deep breath and looked at the mysterious visitor with a firm gaze, trying to awaken the remaining conscience deep in his heart.

"Do you still remember the first time we met?" Wu Tao's voice was soft but powerful, like a ray of light in the darkness. "You were seriously injured at that time, and it was Bugui and I who saved you. Have you forgotten the life and death tests we experienced together? We used to be partners who trusted each other!"

The mysterious visitor's body trembled slightly, and a trace of struggle flashed in his eyes, but it was quickly replaced by fear. "Stop talking! I have no way out!" He closed his eyes painfully, as if he was avoiding something.

"No, you still have a chance!" Wu Tao took a step forward with a sincere look in his eyes, "As long as you are willing to turn back, Bugui and I will help you get rid of the control of the organization. Do you remember what you said before? You said that you want to live a free life, you want..."

"Shut up!" The mysterious visitor suddenly became furious and opened his eyes suddenly, his eyes were full of bloodshot, "You know nothing! You are not qualified to teach me!"

Seeing this, Hu Bugui knew that this was not the time for a head-on confrontation, so he pulled Wu Tao behind him and said in a deep voice: "I know you are helpless, but you don't have to deceive yourself. You know better than us what kind of person the leader of the organization is. He will not let go of anyone who betrays him. Do you think you can really escape his control?"

"So what?!" the mysterious visitor screamed in despair, "I have no choice! Even if I die, I will complete the mission assigned to me by the organization!"

"You are wrong, you still have a choice." A cold voice came from the cave entrance, with a hint of sarcasm and disdain.

Everyone looked in the direction of the voice and saw the leader of the organization slowly walking towards them with dozens of men in black. There was a sinister smile on his face, as if everything was under his control.

"Leader of the organization!" Wu Tao and Hu Bugui exclaimed at the same time, and an ominous premonition suddenly arose in their hearts.

The leader of the organization looked at everyone and finally landed on the mysterious visitor. The corners of his mouth curled up in a cruel arc. "It seems that you haven't been completely blinded by emotions. Very good. I am relieved."

The mysterious visitor's body trembled violently again, his eyes filled with fear and helplessness. He wanted to resist, but found that he could not control his body at all.

"You...what did you do to me?!" He struggled to squeeze out a few words from between his teeth, his voice hoarse and desperate.

"Nothing, I just want you to face the reality." The leader of the organization said nonchalantly, "Do you think they really regard you as a friend? They are just using you! Only me, only the organization, are your only support!"

"No! It's not like that!" The mysterious visitor shook his head desperately, trying to deny it, but his body walked uncontrollably towards the leader of the organization.

"Hand over the Kunlun Mirror." The leader's voice was cold and ruthless, with an authority that could not be refused.

The mysterious visitor took out an ancient bronze mirror slowly from his arms with trembling hands. It was the Kunlun mirror they had been looking for.

The leader of the organization snatched the Kunlun Mirror, a gleam of greed flashed in his eyes. He laughed triumphantly, and the laughter echoed in the empty cave, sounding particularly harsh.

"Let's go!" The leader of the organization waved his hand and quickly disappeared into the night with a group of men in black.

Wu Tao and Hu Bugui wanted to stop it, but were stopped by the mysterious visitor.

"Let me go! I want to get the Kunlun Mirror back!" Wu Tao struggled, but to no avail.

"It's useless. You can't beat him." The mysterious visitor's voice was filled with despair and pain. "I am sorry for you. I have failed your trust..."

His voice became smaller and smaller, and finally he lowered his head weakly, his eyes full of self-blame and regret.

Wu Tao and Hu Bugui looked at each other, their hearts filled with bitterness and helplessness. They knew that this mistake made them lose a great opportunity and also made them bear a heavy burden.

The cave was dead silent, with only the crackling sound of burning torches echoing. Wu Tao fell to the ground helplessly, her eyes blurred by tears. Hu Bugui held her hand tightly, his heart filled with self-blame and pain.

"It's all my fault. If I had seen through his disguise earlier, I wouldn't have..." Wu Tao choked up, his voice full of regret.

Hu Bugui held her in his arms, patted her back gently, and said softly, "No, Tao'er, it's not your fault. We were too careless and trusted him wrongly, which gave him the opportunity to take advantage of us."

"But if the Kunlun Mirror falls into the hands of the leader of the organization, the consequences will be disastrous!" Wu Tao raised his head, his eyes full of worry, "We must find a way to get it back!"

"Don't worry, Taoer, I will definitely find the Kunlun Mirror and stop the conspiracy of the organization's leader!" Hu Bugui said firmly, with a firm light flashing in his eyes.

At this moment, a hearty voice came from the cave entrance: "You two don't have to be so depressed. Victory and defeat are common in the military. One failure does not mean eternal failure."

Wu Tao and Hu Bugui looked up and saw a young man in a green shirt and a long sword on his waist, walking slowly into the cave with a somewhat unrestrained smile.

"You are..." Hu Bugui looked at the strange man in front of him, his eyes full of confusion.

"My name is Li Xiaoyao, a wanderer in the world. I have heard of the great names of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince and the Crown Princess for a long time. After meeting them today, I find that they are indeed worthy of their reputation." Li Xiaoyao saluted with his fists, his tone full of admiration.

"Young Master Li, you are too kind." Hu Bugui said in return, "I wonder what brings you here this time, Young Master Li?"

"I came here this time to lend you a helping hand." Li Xiaoyao said, taking out a letter from his bosom and handing it to Hu Bugui, "This is what my master asked me to pass on to you."

Hu Bugui took the letter, opened it, and his face suddenly became serious. Seeing this, Wu Tao hurriedly asked, "What's wrong? What happened?"

Hu Bugui handed the letter to Wu Tao and said in a deep voice: "Master wrote to say that after the leader of the organization obtained the Kunlun Mirror, his strength increased greatly. He has begun to open the door of time and space and is preparing to return to modern society!"

"What?!" Wu Tao was shocked. "What is he doing back in modern society?"

"My master speculated that the leader of the organization might want to use the power of the Kunlun Mirror to stir up a bloody storm in modern society!" Hu Bugui's eyes were full of worry, "We must stop him as soon as possible!"

"But what should we do now?" Wu Tao asked anxiously, "We have no idea when or where he will appear."

"Don't worry, I already have a plan." Li Xiaoyao smiled confidently, "I came here this time, in addition to delivering the letter to you, I also have something important to tell you..."

Li Xiaoyao leaned close to Hu Bugui and Wu Tao's ears and whispered his plan. After hearing it, Wu Tao and Hu Bugui showed surprised expressions on their faces, but then, the flame of hope ignited in their eyes.

"Let's set off now without further delay!" Hu Bugui stood up, his eyes full of determination.

"Wait for me, I want to go too!" Wu Tao also stood up with a determined look in his eyes.

The three walked out of the cave, looking at the starry sky, their hearts full of hope and determination. They knew that a bigger challenge was waiting for them, but they would not give up, they would do their best to stop the conspiracy of the leader of the organization and protect everything they cherished!