(The previous chapter number was wrong, but it can't be changed anymore.)
Li Daoqiang had no time to deal with him at the moment. He glanced at Ding Dian and sent a whisper: "Keep an eye on things. I'm leaving first. If you sense anything, don't act."
With that, his figure had already vanished.
Ding Dian was puzzled for a moment but asked nothing, only quietly staying alert.
Li Daoqiang's disappearance didn't cause much of a stir.
In fact, after he left, the banquet grew even livelier.
Many people, as if freed from a predator's restraint, began to show their true natures.
Only Wang Lin was secretly terrified, feeling both wronged and bitter.
He Qinghua had reached the fourth level of the Xiantian realm—how could his people keep a close watch on her?
Under the night sky.
Li Daoqiang was a bit flustered, pushing his speed to the max and fully activating his perception.
Huang Xuemei's figure appeared first, followed by He Qinghua.
About thirty-five li south of Black Dragon Village.
He took a deep breath, hoping He Qinghua wasn't too foolish and would leave some room.
Otherwise, his speed wasn't much faster than Huang Xuemei's—he might not even be able to save her in time.
After a few breaths, Li Daoqiang relaxed slightly.
Fortunately, Huang Xuemei was injured and slower, so even though she had left earlier, there was still a chance to catch up.
A few breaths later, he frowned slightly and suddenly opened his mouth.
"Xuemei."
The rolling sound waves, under his control, surged forward without being heard by Black Dragon Village behind them.
Propelled by his formidable power, the sound waves traveled swiftly and were soon heard by Huang Xuemei, who was carrying the Heavenly Demon Qin.
Dressed in a red wedding gown, she glanced back, a flicker of hesitation and warmth in her eyes.
Waiting a moment wouldn't waste much time.
But then her expression changed as she looked ahead.
There, an aura rose without restraint—one she had seen before. It was He Qinghua.
A flash of killing intent, and she sped up.
Li Daoqiang sensed it too, his eyes widening as he gritted his teeth.
Damn you, He Qinghua, have you lost your mind?
Still causing trouble.
Do you really want to die?
He clenched his fists, his face darkening with anger.
He was deeply puzzled—had He Qinghua truly gone mad?
A feeling of losing control over the situation crept over him.
It was an awful sensation, but he had to face it.
His eyes flickered, and he let out a cold snort.
His speed subtly increased again.
Within just a dozen breaths, Huang Xuemei spotted the figure standing openly under the night sky, exuding a stubborn, resolute aura.
It was He Qinghua.
Coldness nearly spilled from her eyes as she descended, but she didn't act rashly, instead scanning the surroundings warily.
He Qinghua daring to call her out couldn't be simple.
There might be traps and ambushes everywhere, just not yet discovered.
That was why she hadn't informed Li Daoqiang and had come alone.
Almost immediately, Li Daoqiang landed as well, his face dark as he stared intently at He Qinghua.
But He Qinghua smiled, a triumphant smile, especially when she saw Huang Xuemei in her wedding gown.
A hint of jealousy flickered beneath her smugness.
Under the night sky, she was like a blooming, dark, enchanting datura—breathtakingly beautiful.
Huang Xuemei said coldly, "He Qinghua, on the brink of death, what are you laughing at?"
"Death?" He Qinghua still wore a smile, eyeing Huang Xuemei playfully, then glancing at the silent Li Daoqiang. She said lightly, "Fine, as long as the man beside you nods, I'll die right away, without hesitation."
Her tone carried a mix of indifference and a stubborn, almost mad resolve.
Li Daoqiang's brow twitched. Even though he had already made up his mind and prepared himself, he still felt a bit uneasy.
Especially with Huang Xuemei's puzzled gaze on him.
Huang Xuemei frowned deeply, looking at Li Daoqiang, a bad feeling surging in her heart.
Her eyes flickered as she suppressed that sense of insecurity, snapping, "What are you talking about? Bring out whatever tricks you have. Today, you die."
"Tricks? I have none. If there's one, it's only this."
He Qinghua said unhurriedly, then looked at Li Daoqiang with amusement, smiling, "Isn't that right, my good man?"
Huang Xuemei trembled all over, disbelief rising in her eyes as she turned to stare at Li Daoqiang.
My good man~!
Li Daoqiang's expression didn't change, nor did he look at Huang Xuemei. He said in a low voice, "Enough."
"Enough?" He Qinghua's face turned cold as she erupted, "How can it be enough?
Today, everything must be made clear. Why can she marry you openly?
Why must I hide from her?
Why do you disregard even a peerless expert for her?
I came first.
Li Daoqiang, do you really think that nonsense about her being stronger so I have to hide from her can convince me?
Bullshit. On this matter, there's no negotiation.
Today, either choose her, and I die.
Or choose me, and she dies."
He Qinghua raised her head coldly and stubbornly, glaring at Li Daoqiang without backing down.
Looking at her, Li Daoqiang suddenly understood where he had gone wrong.
He had ultimately underestimated a woman's jealousy and pride.
Especially for someone as fierce and proud as He Qinghua.
The survival-of-the-fittest argument might work on other matters with He Qinghua.
But when it came to Huang Xuemei, her mortal enemy, it was subconsciously a fight to the death.
No other outcome.
So, driven by jealousy and pride, she was even willing to bet her life.
To see if he valued her more?
Or Huang Xuemei?
In such matters, women were truly irrational and crazy.
It wasn't that He Qinghua loved him, Li Daoqiang, that much.
It was that she simply refused to lose—refused to lose to her sworn enemy, Huang Xuemei.
Damn, women were indeed crazy enough.
Even with his current mindset, he couldn't help cursing inwardly.
"What she said—is it true?"
Huang Xuemei's trembling voice rang out, her eyes red as she glared at Li Daoqiang.
The red wedding gown, her pale face, her shaking body.
The usually strong woman now seemed fragile.
Her fingers gripped the Heavenly Demon Qin tightly, veins showing, knuckles white.
Under the gaze of both women, Li Daoqiang remained expressionless and said calmly, "Fine, since it's come to this, let's lay it all out.
Xuemei, I didn't lie to you, and I haven't wronged you."
He looked openly at Huang Xuemei, speaking seriously, "When you and I didn't know each other yet, Qinghua was already with me.
But she's proud and didn't want to be trapped as the lady of Black Dragon Village, so she never revealed this to the outside world.
Later, I met you at Liuzhi Manor.
Everything I told you was true. I wanted you to be my wife.
Except for Qinghua's matter, which I didn't mention—of course, you never asked.
Other than that, you know everything."
"But she's the one who killed my parents. If you had her, why did you come after me?"
Huang Xuemei exploded, her voice cold and on the verge of breaking, her aura raging.
Her wedding gown fluttered without wind, and her black hair fell loose.
Li Daoqiang remained calm and replied without hesitation, "Because you're exceptional. The deeper reasons, I've already told you."
"Li Daoqiang, how can you say such things?" Huang Xuemei gritted out each word, struggling to hold back.
"Why can't I? Xuemei, from start to finish, did I lie to you?
First, let's set aside whether Qinghua actually killed your parents with her own hands.
You should know she was just a small pawn, a puppet in that affair.
Fine, let's not dwell on that.
Even if Qinghua is your enemy, I am not. I have a clear conscience."
Li Daoqiang said calmly, exuding openness and composure.
Huang Xuemei's eyes shifted, a glimmer of hope appearing.
He Qinghua being her enemy—that didn't seem to involve Li Daoqiang.
"Heh."
At that, He Qinghua let out a cold laugh, stubbornly saying, "Li Daoqiang, does that mean you're choosing her and abandoning me?"
"Choosing who? Abandoning who?"
Li Daoqiang raised an eyebrow and said lightly, "Ridiculous question. You're both my women. I'm a man of loyalty; I won't favor one over the other."
"Impossible."
Huang Xuemei snapped coldly, taking a deep breath to suppress her impulse, staring icily at Li Daoqiang. "Kill her, and I can pretend none of this happened."
He Qinghua said nothing, looking at Li Daoqiang with the same intent.
She refused to believe she would lose to Huang Xuemei like this.
Li Daoqiang's heart was calm, but his voice was firm. "Xuemei, I'm not a good man, but I am a man.
I won't abandon the old for the new, nor will I kill a woman who hasn't betrayed me."
Huang Xuemei gritted her teeth and took another step back. "Fine, then I'll kill her myself."
"No, I can't stand by and watch my woman die." Li Daoqiang said solemnly.
"Heh, so you're choosing her?" Huang Xuemei suddenly laughed coldly.
"I said I won't choose anyone, and I won't let you kill each other in front of me."
Li Daoqiang affirmed.
He paused, then sighed with a hint of helplessness. "Xuemei, He Qinghua was wrong and wronged you, but she's not your real killer. She was just a pawn.
She didn't kill your parents with her own hands; she only took part in that incident.
Can't you spare her?
Aside from this, I'll do anything for you."
Huang Xuemei closed her eyes slightly, a sense of despair deeper than grief rising within her.
She laughed coldly twice. "Do you think that's possible? Can you give up your womanizing?"
Li Daoqiang's mouth twitched. After a moment of silence, he said flatly, "Pick something else."
"Heh."
Another cold laugh. Suddenly, Huang Xuemei's killing intent erupted, her fingers about to pluck the Heavenly Demon Qin.
In a flash, Li Daoqiang reached out and tapped her acupoint.
"Xuemei, I said I won't let you kill her."
Huang Xuemei's face was icy, her gaze murderous as she looked at Li Daoqiang.
Li Daoqiang remained unmoved, turning to He Qinghua and saying coldly, "Had enough fun? Leave now."
He Qinghua was still reluctant, gritting her teeth. "Li Daoqiang, you can stop it for now, but not forever. You'll have to choose eventually."
"Scram."
Li Daoqiang's face turned cold, a murderous aura spreading.
A hint of impatience surfaced. "Don't think I won't lay a hand on you. If you keep blabbering, I'll cripple your martial arts and lock you up in Black Dragon Village forever.
Don't test me."
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