《天堂旅館》長篇奇幻愛情小說

【二十三】強弩之末：安德森的豪賭
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鬼夜犬偵察敵情回來。
鬼夜犬拱手說「報告首領、大法師，經我詳細偵查，琉森湖周圍並無禁衛軍蹤跡。」
安德森納悶說：「這就奇怪了，這夥禿鷹都跑哪裡去了？」
魯夫說：「先不管禁衛軍，我們直接前往天堂旅館，控制旅館，從俘虜口中就問得到天空城堡的入口。」
安德森憂心問：「法師，禁衛軍會不會就在旅館四周等著我們？」
魯夫說：「主人，現在還操心這個已經沒意義，就算前方是龍潭虎穴，我們別無選擇，
還是得硬著頭皮去闖。」
安德森下定決心：「好吧！鬼夜犬，集合部隊，今晚就直闖天堂旅館。」

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安德森的黑蝙蝠軍鬼卒殘兵敗將，一行人來到天堂旅館周圍。
魯夫下令：「鬼夜犬，你帶一對鬼卒封鎖旅館周邊，不許任何人員靠近。」
鬼夜犬拱手領令：「是，法師。」
魯夫陪同安德森和幾名貼身侍衛，來到旅館門口。威爾森見到安德森和魯夫，相當驚駭，但仍保持鎮靜，轉身走向大廳櫃台，向羅伯特和林曉陽使臉色。
安德森一夥人進到旅館大廳，裡頭只有林曉陽和威爾森、黃立華、謝慧君、羅伯特以及幾個服務生。
安德森坐在大廳椅子上吆喝：「瑪莉亞姪女，我特地來會一會妳，請出來見我，不要龜縮在城堡裡。」
威爾森小心地應對說：「大公爵，今天什麼風把你給吹到我們小旅館來？」
安德森怒斥：「你是什麼東西？瑪莉亞身邊的一條走狗而已，快去叫你主子出來！」
黃立華趨前拱手作揖說：「公爵，你幹什麼火氣這麼大呢？我請各位享用餐點，各位想吃些什麼，儘管吩咐。」
安德森見到黃立華，火氣立即上來：「黃立華，你這個叛徒，虧我剖心待你，你卻勾結敵營，暗中出賣我，待會兒看我怎麼收拾你！」
黃立華苦笑說：「大老闆，你惡貫滿盈，殘害無辜生靈，是暗黑世界的恥辱，我雖然只是一介畫師，也明白暗黑世界存亡，匹夫有責。」
安德森揮手怒斥：「呸！你少跟我耍嘴皮子，要取你性命，比捏死一隻螞蟻還容易，
滾開去，叫你主子出來見我。」
這時，陳約翰神父和阿多諾從門口走進來，阿多諾手上提著鬼夜犬的首級。
大法師魯夫雙手抱胸，冷眼斜睨著陳約翰，擋在門口。
陳約翰跟阿多諾使眼色，阿多諾把鬼夜犬血淋淋的首級丟給安德森身旁一名侍衛。
侍衛們臉上出現懼色。
魯夫冷言說：「你就是逼得喬治和傑克一走一死的鬼見愁陳約翰吧？」
陳約翰說：「沒錯，魯夫法師好眼力，我知道你因愛生恨，不能和瑪莉亞公主在一起，才投身公爵門下。今天，你若仍不覺醒，休怪我手下不留情。」
魯夫表情顯得有些驚訝說：「這事情是公主告訴你的吧？人各有志，不必多言，使出
你的本事來吧？」
安德森一臉狐疑問：「且慢！法師，剛才這臭嘴神父所言，是否屬實？」
「主人，緊要關頭你別聽他一派胡言，中了對方的離間計。」魯夫不想被撩起痛處，上了敵人挑撥離間之計。魯夫隨即催動魔法，和陳約翰打了起來。
陳約翰曾聽瑪莉亞公主說魯夫是個實力堅強的魔法師，絲毫不敢大意，也使出看家本領，拼出全力和魯夫較量。魯夫魔法修為數百年，攻勢果真相當犀利，陳約翰漸感不支。這時，林曉陽快步欺身上前，加入戰局。
林曉陽說：「神父，我來幫你。」
陳約翰大喊：「曉陽，要小心，這人不是等閒之輩。」
魯夫看見林曉陽手上只有一枝白楊樹枝，收手停下來。
魯夫不屑地冷笑說：「無知小輩，你當是孩童在玩耍嗎？」
「是不是玩耍，過招後你就知道！」林曉陽說著，揮動手中樹枝，動作看似極為柔緩，身上的那團純陽真氣卻逐漸透出來。現場除了陳約翰和安德森，沒有第三人看出其中的門道，林曉陽使的正是中國武學裡的「太極劍」。
陳約翰說：「這小夥子幾時學會了武當派的太極劍？這下可有趣了！」
安德森心想：「這小夥子身上怎會有一股純陽能量？這股能量只在大衛身上見識過。」
安德森心虛地探問：「小夥子，你到底是誰？」
林曉陽邊出招邊冷笑：「我就是你的剋星，大衛！」
安德森聽到這句話，確信他就是大衛。
「魯夫，他就是大衛，要小心應對！」魯夫聽到主人示警，腦海裡飛快閃過大衛橫刀奪愛的往事，不禁點燃起胸中鬱積數百年的忿恨。
「大衛，我們的新仇舊恨，今天就在這裡作個結算吧？」魯夫轉而猛攻林曉陽，但魯夫究竟不懂深奧的中國武學，他的淩利攻擊，竟然難以突破那枝白楊樹枝的奇怪劍招。
安德森公爵同樣看不懂摸不透林曉陽的劍招，只覺得它似慢實快、似柔實剛。無論魯夫如何進攻，小夥子手上那枝白楊樹枝彷彿魔法棒似的，瞬間就將魯夫的招式化解掉。
這時，櫃檯前的謝慧君走出來：「魯夫，回想一下，你載我去山坡上採野花、追蝴蝶…。」
魯夫一聽，突然後退幾步跳出圈外，驚訝說：「妳是瑪莉亞。」
謝慧君說：「如果你的心裡還有瑪莉亞，請停止你的魔法。」
「不可能！妳是安妮。」魯夫欺身向前，以移形化影抓住慧君的右手，瞬間將慧君擄過去。
林曉陽見謝慧君落入魯夫手中，急得大叫：「妖怪，不許你傷害慧君！」
林曉陽變換另外一套劍法，口中跟著喊出劍招：「蕩劍式。」
林曉陽飛身攻過去。
這時，陳約翰完全看不懂這是哪門派的劍法，唯一能確定的是這套劍法是純中國式的，招招都故意露出空門，只攻不守險中求勝。
「挑劍式。」林曉陽手中的白楊枝專刺魯夫身上幾處死穴，逼得魯夫不得不使出渾身解數來應對。
「你這臭小子，一身邪門的法術。」魯夫嘴裡罵著，雙手左遮右掩，可就絲毫不敢稍停下來，已逐漸顧不得謝慧君。
陳約翰見機不可失，揮動手中的人骨十字架，使出詠春拳法，加緊攻擊魯夫下盤，想趁機拉出謝慧君，但這時安德森卻冷不提防自背後出手偷襲，當陳約翰感覺背後一股陰風欺近，雖然一個反轉身跳脫，仍被安德森的煙鬥打中背部和腰桿，一陣劇痛傳遍全身。陳約翰立即跳出圈外，感覺全身血液逆行，臉上一陣青白。
安德森隨即向謝慧君出手，煙鬥直接敲在慧君天靈蓋上，慧君一聲慘叫，立即倒地不起，幾條鮮血從長髮裡流出來。
曉陽眼見慧君遭到毒手，悲憤交集：「破劍式。」
林曉陽直撲安德森，白楊枝刺擊安德森胸口，安德森急著以煙鬥回擋，煙鬥卻被白楊枝給劈成數段，安德森驚嚇倒退數步，暫且收手。魯夫見狀也感到相當驚駭，暫時收手。
林曉陽抱起慧君，疾呼：「慧君，慧君，妳振作些，慧君！」
安德森喘息著喊停：「且慢！小夥子，你果然有一身過人的本事，公爵我不想趁人之危，也沒打算趕盡殺絕，我求才若渴，想跟你談條件。」
一旁正在運功調息的陳約翰倏然起身，疾呼：「曉陽，萬萬不可和惡魔打交道！」
安德森喝斥：「住口！你這臭嘴神父，死到臨頭還來攪局。」
安德森怒斥陳約翰後，隨即轉身和顏悅色地面對林曉陽：「小夥子，聽著，我不管你是不是大衛，或者他的傳人，現在只有我能救回你心愛的女人，我們來談這筆交易，如何？」
這時，慧君拼出最後一口氣說話：「曉陽，把這隻惡魔送回地獄去。」
說完，謝慧君嘔出一口鮮血，閉上眼睛沒了氣息。
林曉陽嚎啕大哭起來，他將慧君交給阿多諾，轉身走向魯夫和安德森。
「安德森，大衛回來了！」林曉陽隨即緩緩喊出劍訣：「獨孤九劍第九式九龍飛天！」
林曉陽隨即飛身而起，幻化成九條飛龍，圈圍住安德森公爵，安德森哪裡見過東方的飛龍，被眼前的景像驚嚇得完全亂了方寸，胡亂地揮舞著雙手，但那雙手卻越揮越短，一截一段地被削落地面。
魔法師魯夫和侍衛們看得目瞪口呆大為驚駭，竟沒有人敢趨前援手。片刻後，安德森已經被削得像一隻不倒翁，手腳均已不在身軀上。
這時，陳約翰將人骨十字架丟過來給曉陽：「使用我的法器，給安德森致命一擊，把他打回地獄去。」
林曉陽伸手淩空抓下人骨十字架，朝安德森的心臟刺入，安德森慘叫一聲，登時嘴歪眼斜，身軀逐漸扭曲變形，皮肉一片片剝落，一陣輕煙竄出，卻被林曉陽伸手攫獲。
林曉陽說：「逮到你的原靈了，公爵，我永遠都是你的剋星：大衛。」
此時，躺在阿多諾懷裡的謝慧君忽然睜開眼，往魯夫走過來。慧君舉手在臉上一揮，登時變了一張臉，果然是清妍秀麗的瑪莉亞公主。
魯夫乍見瑪莉亞，心中震憾不已：「妳，妳是瑪莉亞？妳真的是瑪莉亞！」
瑪莉亞張開雙臂柔情款款說：「魯夫，是我，我來帶你離開這裡。」
魯夫撲向瑪莉亞，兩人深情相擁。
安德森的幾個侍衛們看見此情景，知道大勢已去，紛紛轉身想離開現場。陳約翰雙手抱胸擋在門口，橫眉豎眼地斥喝：「誰想離開，就得留下命來。」
這幾個侍衛面面相覷，陸續放下手中武器。
侍衛A拱手鞠躬：「我們願意歸順！請給我們一條生路吧。」
林曉陽攔下瑪莉亞問：「公主，公主，慧君呢？我的慧君呢？」
瑪莉亞望著曉陽說：「慧君已經回到主耶穌身旁了，曉陽，放下吧？慧君希望看見你快樂地活下去。」
林曉陽雙眼淚光閃閃，緊咬下唇，神情黯然…。
瑪莉亞說：「魯夫，我的好朋友，跟我回去城堡吧？」
瑪莉亞公主挽著魯夫的手，兩人化成一雙彩蝶，飛出門去。

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在504號房，陳約翰裸露上半身，盤腿坐在床上，正接受林曉陽以真氣推拿治療。
陳約翰問：「曉陽，昨晚和安德森老賊的那場惡鬥，你先使出太極劍，這段落我都看得出名堂，但是後來你喊出的獨孤九劍，這我就有看沒有懂了…。」
林曉陽打開抽屜，取出兩本漫畫，微笑著遞出：「神父，你翻翻看，就會懂了。」
「喔？我看看…。」陳約翰好奇接過漫畫，翻了幾頁。
陳約翰開心地笑著：「哈哈哈！原來，你是從這兩本漫畫學來的。」
林曉陽說：不完全是，它啟發了我的靈感，給了我源源不絕的創意。
陳約翰不可思議：「這可真是聞所未聞！」
林曉陽說：「其實，我把繪畫和書法的筆法也融入其中，所以到後來我也弄不清楚，怎麼會有那些源源不絕的劍招。」
陳約翰說：「看見你把一枝白楊樹枝當成長劍來使，讓我想起中國劍法裡，有所謂鈍劍無鋒，大巧不工這樣的說法。」
林曉陽微笑說：「沒錯，還要再加上一個：心中無招式，手中有劍式。」
這時，有人推門進來，一個美麗的身影。
林曉陽：「敏華！」驚喜寫在曉陽臉上，林曉陽起身迎上前。
「曉陽大哥，敏華回來渡假喔！」黃敏華把頭髮蓄長，一張瓜子臉顯得嫵媚動人。
林曉陽深情款款凝視著敏華：「歡迎妳！敏華。」
黃立華跟著進來，特地輕咳了兩聲，和陳約翰示意。
黃敏華說：「發生在旅館裡的事，爺爺大略跟我說了。」
黃立華微笑說：「神父，咱們去大廳喝咖啡，別留在這裡當電燈泡。」
陳約翰微笑著起身，穿起襯衫：「老爺子說得是，小兩口久別重逢，肯定有不少貼心話想說，咱們就去大廳喝咖啡，喝咖啡蛤！」
兩人會心一笑，相偕離開。
林曉陽張開雙臂，敏華趨前和曉陽深情相擁。
林曉陽說：「敏華！我好想妳…。」
黃敏華說：「大哥，回程的火車上，慧君姐曾經入我夢裡來。
林曉陽柔情款款問：「慧君跟妳說了些什麼？」
「慧君姐要我這輩子當你圖畫裡，最忠實的模特兒。」黃敏華說完，輕輕閉上雙眼，抬起下巴。曉陽給了她一個很長、很深情的吻…。

[Twenty-Three] At the End of His Strength: Anderson’s Desperate Gamble

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Ghost Hound returned from scouting the enemy’s movements.

Ghost Hound cupped his hands and reported, “Leader, Grand Mage, after conducting a thorough reconnaissance, I found no trace of the Imperial Guards anywhere around Lake Lucerne.”

Anderson said in puzzlement, “That’s strange. Where did those vultures run off to?”

Ruf said, “Forget about the Imperial Guards for now. We will go directly to Paradise Inn, take control of the hotel, and we can learn the entrance to Sky Castle from the prisoners.”

Anderson asked worriedly, “Mage, could the Imperial Guards be waiting for us around the hotel?”

Ruf said, “Master, there is no point worrying about that now. Even if there is a dragon’s lair or tiger’s den ahead of us, we have no choice but to go through with it.”

Anderson made up his mind. “All right! Ghost Hound, assemble the troops. Tonight, we will go straight to Paradise Inn.”

**84**

The surviving remnants of Anderson’s Black Bat Army arrived around Paradise Inn.

Ruf ordered, “Ghost Hound, take a group of ghost soldiers and seal off the area around the hotel. Do not allow anyone to approach.”

Ghost Hound cupped his hands and accepted the order. “Yes, Mage.”

Ruf accompanied Anderson and several personal guards to the hotel entrance. Wilson was quite shocked when he saw Anderson and Ruf, but he remained calm, turned, walked toward the lobby desk, and signaled to Robert and Lin Xiaoyang.

Anderson and his group entered the hotel lobby. Only Lin Xiaoyang, Wilson, Huang Lihua, Xie Hui-jun, Robert, and several hotel employees were inside.

Anderson sat down on a chair in the lobby and shouted, “Niece Maria, I came here especially to see you. Come out and meet me. Don’t hide in your castle.”

Wilson cautiously replied, “Grand Duke, what brings you to our little hotel today?”

Anderson angrily rebuked him, “What are you? Nothing more than a lapdog at Maria’s side. Go get your master and tell her to come out!”

Huang Lihua stepped forward, cupped his hands, and bowed. “Duke, why are you so angry? Let me offer everyone something to eat. Whatever you would like, just tell me.”

When Anderson saw Huang Lihua, his anger immediately flared. “Huang Lihua, you traitor! After I treated you with complete sincerity, you still colluded with the enemy and secretly betrayed me. Just wait and see how I deal with you!”

Huang Lihua gave a bitter smile. “Boss, you have committed every imaginable evil and harmed countless innocent beings. You are a disgrace to the Dark World. Although I am only a painter, I understand that everyone has a responsibility for the survival or destruction of the Dark World.”

Anderson waved his hand angrily. “Bah! Stop trying to talk your way out of this. Taking your life would be easier than crushing an ant. Get out of my way and go get your master.”

At that moment, Father John Chen and Adorno walked in through the entrance. Adorno was carrying the blood-covered head of Ghost Hound.

Grand Mage Ruf folded his arms and stared coldly at Father John Chen as he blocked the doorway.

Father John Chen exchanged a glance with Adorno. Adorno threw Ghost Hound’s bloody head to one of Anderson’s guards.

Fear appeared on the guards’ faces.

Ruf said coldly, “You must be John Chen, the Ghost-Hound Killer who forced George and Jack, one to leave and the other to die?”

John Chen said, “That’s right. Sharp eyes, Mage Ruf. I know you turned love into hatred because you could not be with Princess Maria, so you pledged yourself to the Duke. If you still refuse to awaken today, don’t blame me for showing you no mercy.”

Ruf looked somewhat surprised. “The Princess told you about this, didn’t she? Everyone has their own aspirations. There is no need to say more. Show me what you can do.”

Anderson asked suspiciously, “Wait! Mage, is what this foul-mouthed priest just said true?”

“Master, at this critical moment, don’t listen to his nonsense and fall for the enemy’s scheme to drive a wedge between us.” Ruf did not want his old wounds reopened and fell for the enemy’s attempt to sow discord.

Ruf immediately unleashed his magic and began fighting John Chen.

Princess Maria had once told John Chen that Ruf was a powerful mage, so John Chen did not dare to be careless. He also unleashed his best abilities and fought Ruf with all his strength.

Ruf had cultivated his magical powers for hundreds of years, and his attacks were indeed extremely fierce. John Chen gradually found himself unable to hold his ground.

At that moment, Lin Xiaoyang quickly stepped forward and joined the battle.

Lin Xiaoyang said, “Father, let me help you.”

John Chen shouted, “Xiaoyang, be careful. This man is no ordinary opponent.”

When Ruf saw that Lin Xiaoyang had only a white poplar branch in his hand, he stopped and lowered his guard.

Ruf sneered contemptuously. “Ignorant youngster, do you think this is a children’s game?”

“Whether it is a game or not, you’ll know after we exchange a few moves!” Lin Xiaoyang said as he swung the branch in his hand. His movements appeared extremely gentle, yet the mass of pure yang energy within his body gradually began to emerge.

Apart from John Chen and Anderson, no one else present could see what was really happening. What Lin Xiaoyang was using was precisely the Taiji Sword from Chinese martial arts.

John Chen said, “When did this young man learn the Wudang School’s Taiji Sword? This is going to be interesting!”

Anderson thought to himself, “How could this young man have such pure yang energy in his body? The only person I have ever seen with this kind of energy was David.”

Anderson nervously asked, “Young man, who are you?”

Lin Xiaoyang sneered as he continued making his moves. “I am your nemesis, David!”

When Anderson heard those words, he became certain that he was David.

“Ruf, he is David. Be careful!” Upon hearing his master’s warning, Ruf’s mind flashed back to the past, when David had taken the woman he loved away from him. The hatred and resentment that had accumulated in his heart for hundreds of years suddenly erupted.

“David, shall we settle our old and new grievances here today?” Ruf turned and launched a fierce attack on Lin Xiaoyang. But Ruf ultimately did not understand the profound principles of Chinese martial arts. His fierce attacks were surprisingly unable to break through the strange sword techniques executed with the white poplar branch.

Duke Anderson likewise could neither understand nor fathom Lin Xiaoyang’s sword techniques. They seemed slow yet were actually fast, and seemed gentle yet were actually forceful.

No matter how Ruf attacked, the white poplar branch in the young man’s hand seemed like a magic wand, instantly neutralizing every move Ruf made.

At that moment, Xie Hui-jun stepped out from in front of the counter. “Ruf, think back. You used to take me up the hillside to pick wildflowers and chase butterflies…”

As soon as Ruf heard this, he suddenly retreated several steps and jumped out of the circle. He said in astonishment, “You are Maria.”

Xie Hui-jun said, “If there is still a Maria in your heart, please stop using your magic.”

“Impossible! You are Annie.” Ruf moved forward, used his Shifting-Form Phantom Technique to seize Hui-jun’s right hand, and instantly dragged her toward him.

When Lin Xiaoyang saw Xie Hui-jun fall into Ruf’s hands, he cried out anxiously, “Monster, don’t you dare hurt Hui-jun!”

Lin Xiaoyang switched to another sword technique and shouted the name of the move as he attacked. “Sweeping Sword Technique!”

Lin Xiaoyang leaped forward and attacked.

At that moment, John Chen could not understand what school of swordsmanship this was from. The only thing he could determine was that it was purely Chinese in style. Every move deliberately exposed an opening, attacking without defending and seeking victory through danger.

“Raising Sword Technique!” The white poplar branch in Lin Xiaoyang’s hand thrust directly toward several vital pressure points on Ruf’s body, forcing Ruf to use every ounce of his ability to defend himself.

“You foul-mouthed brat, your entire body is filled with bizarre magic!” Ruf cursed. His hands moved left and right to block the attacks, but he did not dare pause for even a moment, and he gradually had no attention left to spare for Xie Hui-jun.

Seeing his opportunity, John Chen swung the human-bone cross in his hand and used Wing Chun techniques, intensifying his attacks on Ruf’s lower body in an attempt to pull Xie Hui-jun away.

But Anderson suddenly launched a surprise attack from behind. When John Chen sensed a sinister chill approaching from his back, he quickly spun around and leaped away, but Anderson’s tobacco pipe still struck him in the back and waist, sending waves of excruciating pain through his entire body.

John Chen immediately jumped out of the circle, feeling as though the blood throughout his body were flowing backward, his face turning pale and bluish.

Anderson immediately attacked Xie Hui-jun. His tobacco pipe struck directly against the crown of Hui-jun’s head. Hui-jun let out a terrible cry and collapsed to the ground, several streams of blood flowing from beneath her long hair.

Seeing Hui-jun struck down, Xiaoyang was overcome with grief and rage. “Breaking Sword Technique!”

Lin Xiaoyang charged directly at Anderson and thrust the white poplar branch toward Anderson’s chest. Anderson hurriedly raised his tobacco pipe to block it, but the pipe was sliced into several pieces by the white poplar branch.

Anderson recoiled in shock several steps and temporarily stopped attacking. Ruf was also deeply startled by what he had witnessed and temporarily ceased his attack.

Lin Xiaoyang picked up Hui-jun and cried out desperately, “Hui-jun! Hui-jun! Stay with me, Hui-jun!”

Anderson gasped and called for a halt. “Wait! Young man, you truly possess extraordinary abilities. I, the Duke, do not want to take advantage of you while you are vulnerable, nor do I intend to wipe you all out. I am desperate for talented people, and I want to negotiate a deal with you.”

John Chen, who had been sitting nearby gathering his strength and regulating his breathing, suddenly stood up and shouted, “Xiaoyang, absolutely do not make a deal with the devil!”

Anderson shouted angrily, “Shut up! You foul-mouthed priest! You’re about to die, and you still have to interfere!”

After angrily rebuking John Chen, Anderson immediately turned around and faced Lin Xiaoyang with a gentle expression.

“Young man, listen to me. I don’t care whether you are David or his successor. Right now, I am the only one who can save the woman you love. Let’s make this deal. What do you say?”

At that moment, Hui-jun summoned the last of her strength and spoke. “Xiaoyang, send this devil back to hell.”

After saying this, Xie Hui-jun coughed up a mouthful of blood, closed her eyes, and breathed her last.

Lin Xiaoyang burst into tears. He handed Hui-jun to Adorno, then turned and walked toward Ruf and Anderson.

“Anderson, David has returned!” Lin Xiaoyang slowly recited the sword formula. “The Ninth Form of the Nine Swords of Dugu: Nine Dragons Soaring to Heaven!”

Lin Xiaoyang immediately leaped into the air and transformed into nine flying dragons, surrounding Duke Anderson.

Anderson had never seen an Eastern flying dragon before. Terrified by the sight before him, he completely lost his composure and wildly waved his arms.

But the more he waved them, the shorter they became, as one section after another was sliced off and fell to the ground.

Mage Ruf and the guards stared in stunned disbelief, utterly horrified. Not one of them dared step forward to help.

Moments later, Anderson had been sliced until he looked like a roly-poly toy, with his arms and legs completely severed from his body.

At that moment, John Chen threw the human-bone cross to Xiaoyang. “Use my sacred weapon. Deliver a fatal blow to Anderson and send him back to hell.”

Lin Xiaoyang reached out and caught the human-bone cross in midair, then thrust it into Anderson’s heart.

Anderson let out a terrible scream. His mouth twisted to one side, his eyes became distorted, and his body gradually warped and deformed. Pieces of flesh and skin peeled away, and a wisp of smoke escaped, only to be seized by Lin Xiaoyang.

Lin Xiaoyang said, “I’ve caught your primordial spirit. Duke, I will always be your nemesis: David.”

At that moment, Xie Hui-jun, who was lying in Adorno’s arms, suddenly opened her eyes and walked toward Ruf.

Hui-jun raised her hand and swept it across her face. In an instant, her face changed. It was indeed the beautiful and graceful Princess Maria.

When Ruf suddenly saw Maria, he was deeply shaken. “You… you are Maria? You really are Maria!”

Maria opened her arms tenderly and said, “Ruf, it’s me. I came to take you away from here.”

Ruf rushed toward Maria, and the two embraced passionately.

When several of Anderson’s guards saw this, they knew the battle was already lost and turned around, intending to leave.

John Chen folded his arms and blocked the doorway, glaring at them. “Anyone who wants to leave will have to leave their life behind.”

The guards looked at one another and gradually laid down their weapons.

Guard A cupped his hands and bowed. “We are willing to surrender! Please give us a chance to live.”

Lin Xiaoyang stopped Maria and asked, “Princess, Princess, what about Hui-jun? Where is my Hui-jun?”

Maria looked at Xiaoyang and said, “Hui-jun has returned to the side of the Lord Jesus. Xiaoyang, let her go. Hui-jun wants to see you live happily.”

Tears glistened in Lin Xiaoyang’s eyes. He bit his lower lip tightly, his expression filled with sorrow…

Maria said, “Ruf, my good friend, come back to the castle with me.”

Princess Maria took Ruf’s arm, and the two transformed into a pair of colorful butterflies and flew out the door.

**85**

In Room 504, John Chen was bare-chested and sitting cross-legged on the bed, receiving treatment from Lin Xiaoyang, who was using his internal energy to massage and heal him.

John Chen asked, “Xiaoyang, during that fierce battle with that old devil Anderson last night, I could understand when you first used the Taiji Sword. But later, when you shouted the Nine Swords of Dugu, that was something I simply could not understand…”

Lin Xiaoyang opened a drawer, took out two comic books, and handed them over with a smile. “Father, flip through them and you’ll understand.”

“Oh? Let me see…” John Chen took the comics curiously and flipped through several pages.

John Chen laughed happily. “Hahaha! So this is where you learned it from.”

Lin Xiaoyang said, “Not entirely. They inspired me and gave me an endless stream of ideas.”

John Chen said incredulously, “This is truly something I have never heard of before!”

Lin Xiaoyang said, “Actually, I also incorporated the brush techniques of painting and calligraphy into it. So later on, even I could no longer figure out how I came up with so many endless sword techniques.”

John Chen said, “Seeing you use a white poplar branch as a long sword reminded me of a saying in Chinese swordsmanship: ‘A blunt sword has no edge; the greatest skill appears effortless.’”

Lin Xiaoyang smiled and said, “Exactly. And we should add one more: ‘No sword technique in the heart, yet sword techniques in the hand.’”

At that moment, someone pushed open the door, and a beautiful figure walked in.

Lin Xiaoyang said, “Minhua!” Surprise appeared on Xiaoyang’s face as he stood up and went forward to greet her.

“Big Brother Xiaoyang, Minhua is back for a vacation!” Huang Minhua had grown her hair long, and her oval face looked especially charming and alluring.

Lin Xiaoyang gazed at Minhua tenderly. “Welcome! Minhua.”

Huang Lihua followed her in and deliberately cleared his throat twice as he signaled to John Chen.

Huang Minhua said, “Grandpa told me roughly what happened at the hotel.”

Huang Lihua smiled and said, “Father, let’s go to the lobby and have some coffee. Don’t stay here and be a third wheel.”

John Chen smiled as he stood up and put on his shirt. “The old man is right. The young couple has just reunited after being apart for so long, so they must have plenty of intimate things to say to each other. Let’s go to the lobby and have some coffee, shall we?”

The two exchanged knowing smiles and left together.

Lin Xiaoyang opened his arms, and Minhua stepped forward and embraced him tenderly.

Lin Xiaoyang said, “Minhua! I’ve missed you so much…”

Huang Minhua said, “Big Brother, on the train ride back, Sister Hui-jun came to me in a dream.”

Lin Xiaoyang asked tenderly, “What did Hui-jun say to you?”

“Sister Hui-jun wants me to be the most faithful model in your paintings for the rest of my life,” Huang Minhua said.

After saying this, she gently closed her eyes and raised her chin. Xiaoyang gave her a long, passionate kiss.