Murong Yun, seeing the fierce momentum of Gu Qianying and Su Cheng, realized something was amiss.
He retreated two steps, drawing the saber he carried, preparing to fight Gu Qianying and Su Cheng.
As he moved quickly, he contemplated his next course of action.
The fact that these two could enter meant that his subordinates outside the dungeon had likely met a grim fate.
At the same time, Gu Qianying and Su Cheng surged forward without delay.
Su Cheng and Gu Qianying split their actions: Su Cheng engaged Murong Yun, while Gu Qianying quickly rushed to Ouyang Qinglin's side.
Su Cheng sidestepped and thrust his sword, aiming to strike Murong Yun's vital points and defeat him.
Murong Yun, not one to be trifled with, reacted swiftly, blocking Su Cheng's thrust with his saber.
While parrying, he fiercely addressed Su Cheng, "Murong Feng, come and fight!"
With a powerful twist of his right hand, he managed to force Su Cheng back two steps.
After being pushed back, Su Cheng slightly adjusted his breathing, twirling his sword, and continued forward.
"Then let us fight!"
Before Su Cheng could reach him, Murong Yun initiated an attack, intending to defend by attacking and to advance by retreating.
While Su Cheng and Murong Yun fought fiercely, back and forth,
On the other side, Gu Qianying, taking advantage of Su Cheng tying up Murong Yun, produced the key she had found on Murong Yun's subordinate at the dungeon entrance and unlocked the chains that bound Ouyang Qinglin.
"Qinglin, don't be afraid, we've come to save you."
As she worked the lock, she comforted Ouyang Qinglin, worried that he might have suffered physical and psychological abuse during his confinement.
The iron chains were wrapped several times. Gu Qianying unfastened them one by one, careful not to rush, fearing she might aggravate Ouyang Qinglin's wounds.
Ouyang Qinglin, having just returned from the brink of death, was breathing heavily, allowing Gu Qianying to work on freeing him.
Finally, Gu Qianying removed the layers of chains and dropped them to the ground beside Ouyang Qinglin.
Ouyang Qinglin slowly moved his neck and his slightly stiff limbs.
Following Ouyang Qinglin's movements, Gu Qianying saw the scars on his neck and exposed skin, filling her with anger and indignation.
She turned her head, saw Murong Yun exchanging blows with Su Cheng, and intended to act against him.
As Murong Yun sidestepped Su Cheng's attack, his back turned to the gap where the chains were, Gu Qianying channeled the demonic power within her.
From the side, Ouyang Qinglin saw Gu Qianying's eyes turn crimson, her red robe billowing, and her red hair dancing with an unseen force.
She gathered her energy in her dantian, circulated it throughout her body, and condensed a surge of demonic power, which she unleashed with a powerful swing at Murong Yun's back.
Murong Yun, engaged in combat with Su Cheng, was naturally unaware of the situation behind him.
Gu Qianying's sneak attack, imbued with demonic energy, left him no time to dodge.
By the time Murong Yun sensed something was wrong behind him, he had already been struck by the demonic power.
Murong Yun lunged forward violently, falling to his knees and spitting out a mouthful of blood.
Seeing his brother in such a state, Su Cheng knew he had been overwhelmed by Gu Qianying's demonic power and was no longer able to resist.
He then retracted his attacking stance, waiting for Gu Qianying and Ouyang Qinglin to approach.
Gu Qianying, supporting Ouyang Qinglin, who had not yet regained his strength, walked slowly but firmly to Murong Yun's side.
She extended her foot and forcefully stepped on Murong Yun's back, venting her anger that he had nearly killed her dear friend.
Murong Yun's face was thus pressed against the ground, rendering him immobile for the moment.
However, he also knew that if he didn't do something, he might perish here today.
Thus, his eyes flickered on his dirt-stained face as he looked in the direction Su Cheng was standing.
"Xiao Feng, I am your brother. Today, are you going to kill your elder brother?"
Ouyang Qinglin, who had been silent, was surprised to learn of this familial connection between Su Cheng and Murong Yun.
He shifted his gaze back and forth between Su Cheng's and Murong Yun's faces, noticing their resemblance.
Especially in the shape of their eyes and facial contours, though Su Cheng's features were more refined, while Murong Yun's were more rugged.
The emotions expressed in their similar eyes, however, were vastly different.
Murong Yun, having lost his strength and freedom of movement, was ignominiously pinned to the ground by Gu Qianying. His eyes seemed to hold anger, along with a desperate desire to live.
Su Cheng, standing upright, had eyes devoid of much emotion.
Su Cheng's expression was calm; even when faced with his own brother's emotional appeal, he showed no hesitation or softness.
"Yes, you are my brother. But Murong Yun, you have done wrong. You have disregarded human lives and resorted to schemes; you must face the consequences."
Upon hearing this response, Murong Yun's pupils contracted. He spoke louder, trying to secure a path to survival.
"Xiao Feng, I know I have done many wrong things, but we are brothers by blood. Can you truly bear to disregard our past kinship and execute me here?"
Seeing Murong Yun's demeanor, Gu Qianying also turned her gaze to Su Cheng, wondering if he would plead for his brother.
Fortunately, Su Cheng was not a soft-hearted or unjust person. He raised the sword in his hand and pointed it at Murong Yun.
"Today, I will not kill you, but I will not let you go either, brother."
As his words fell, Su Cheng plunged the sword into Murong Yun's body.
Murong Yun cried out in pain as he felt the sting.
"Ah! Murong Feng! How could you do this!"
Ignoring his cries, Su Cheng severed Murong Yun's meridians with his sword and then pierced his dantian.
With these actions, Su Cheng completely crippled Murong Yun's martial arts!
From this day forward, no matter what wicked thoughts Murong Yun might have, he would be powerless to act on them.
Gu Qianying and Ouyang Qinglin looked at Su Cheng's actions with admiration. This person was no ordinary individual.
Meanwhile, Murong Yun, feeling the changes in his body, was unable to move no matter how much he struggled.
His heart filled with despair, but for someone who had committed so many evils to be allowed to live in such a situation was already a stroke of luck. What more could he say?
For the sake of his future days, he closed his eyes, struggled internally for a moment, and then thanked them.
"Thank you, Xiao Feng and your friends, for sparing my life. From now on, I am no longer a threat to you."
Gu Qianying and the other two nodded, intending to leave this place and return to the inn.
Seeing the three preparing to leave, Murong Yun did not quietly wait for them to depart but called out to them.
"Wait, I have a secret to tell you."
The three stopped, all looking down at Murong Yun, waiting for his next words.
"Your enemy, the Empress of Nanyi Kingdom, appears to be flawless. But in reality, there is a secret. If you know this secret, you can use it to defeat the Empress."