Suddenly, a yellow firework burst in the sky.
The man set down his teacup and walked slowly into the courtyard. “It seems things won’t be resolved so smoothly after all,” he said unhurriedly.
Another firework, blue this time, exploded overhead.
The man’s expression suddenly changed.
Lord Haoyue hurried to the door, exclaiming: “The first firework signals they’ve encountered enemies, and this second one… they’ve found Zhuo Yue’an in the city.”
A dark shadow flashed, and Sword Unrivaled appeared beside the man.
“It seems what we sought far and wide has fallen right into our laps,” the man smiled. “Well then, Sir Sword Unrivaled…”
“Back shortly.” Sword Unrivaled leaped away, leaving the courtyard.
Lord Haoyue approached the man, whose expression shifted slightly. “Follow him.”
“Yes, Your Highness.” Lord Haoyue immediately departed.
Sword Unrivaled rushed toward the direction of the fireworks. His lightness skill was exceptional—a few leaps left Lord Haoyue far behind. As Lord Haoyue was about to call out in frustration, he noticed Sword Unrivaled suddenly halt. He hurried to catch up and stopped. “What’s wrong?”
Sword Unrivaled turned his head, looking at a nearby tavern, remaining silent for a long while.
Lord Haoyue wondered if Sword Unrivaled had suddenly decided to stop for a drink. This man was obsessed with swords—why stop now when he was about to face a real challenge? Could he be afraid of Zhuo Yue’an?
“Setting Sun Tavern,” Sword Unrivaled slowly read the establishment’s name.
Lord Haoyue asked, puzzled: “Sir Sword, do you wish to have a drink?”
“There’s a city in the west called Muliang, where lives a Lone Sword Immortal, said to be the strongest of the Five Sword Immortals. His name is Luo Qingyang,” Sword Unrivaled said quietly.
“Hmm?” Lord Haoyue didn’t understand why he suddenly mentioned this.
A deep voice suddenly rang out from within the tavern: “Luo Qingyang closed his city gates long ago and hasn’t crossed swords with any Sword Immortal for years. What right has he to claim first place?”
“Someone’s here?” Lord Haoyue started.
“Hmph. Such petty tricks, trying to harm me?” The voice inside was full of disdain.
Lord Haoyue heard anger in that voice but could see no one. He ventured: “If they’re such petty tricks, why not come out and fight? Hiding in a tavern, what kind of hero are you!”
“Hmph!” An angry shout came from within.
Sword Unrivaled pushed Lord Haoyue aside as an incredibly sharp, invisible sword energy grazed his cheek, leaving a bloody mark. Had Sword Unrivaled not pushed him away in time, Lord Haoyue would now be a corpse. Though capable enough to manage Tianxia Lodge, with some martial arts skills of his own, could this person inside really take his life with just one invisible sword strike?
“Such powerful sword energy,” Lord Haoyue gasped, sitting on the ground.
“Not just powerful,” Sword Unrivaled shook his head. “This sword energy’s most unique quality is its killing intent. The weight of it, the density, the angry sword intent within—of all I’ve encountered, it ranks first.”
“You’ve encountered many?” The voice inside spoke disdainfully.
“A fair few. Wushuang City, Martial Hall’s Sword Unrivaled,” he replied gravely. “Pleased to meet you.”
The voice laughed coldly: “Wushuang City, is that supposed to be impressive? Your name is interesting—Sword Unrivaled, you dare claim to be unrivaled before me?”
“This person is…” Lord Haoyue realized, cold sweat breaking out on his back. “Why is he here?”
“You’ve guessed his identity?” Sword Unrivaled asked.
“Among the Five Sword Immortals, he represents ‘Rage,'” Lord Haoyue replied. “Rage Sword Immortal Yan Zhantian, wielding the famous sword Breaking Army, the one with the strongest killing aura among the Sword Immortals.”
Sword Unrivaled nodded: “A worthy opponent. But it seems he’s trapped by this flower poison?”
“Such trivial techniques, thinking they can trap me?” Yan Zhantian sneered. “This flower poison will not affect me in two hours. Then I’ll draw my sword and emerge—none of you will survive.”
Sword Unrivaled glanced at Lord Haoyue: “Don’t you carry the antidote to the Flower Ash Poison?”
Lord Haoyue started, then quickly shook his head: “Impossible! Sir, you can’t sacrifice the greater goal! If we release him, our entire plan might come to nothing!”
Sword Unrivaled fingered his sword hilt, pondering for a long while.
Lord Haoyue stepped back slightly, ready to flee. This Sword Unrivaled was truly unhinged—considering giving Yan Zhantian the antidote just for a chance to cross swords with a Sword Immortal.
“Never mind,” Sword Unrivaled sighed.
Yan Zhantian unleashed another sword energy, splitting the main door: “If you won’t fight, then get lost.”
Sword Unrivaled grabbed Lord Haoyue’s collar and leaped away: “No need for regret. The day for our battle will come.”
Lord Haoyue felt a chill: “Why would this demon appear in Si Huai City?”
“You think he’s the only one?” Sword Unrivaled continued forward while scanning in all directions.
“Sir means to say there’s more than one master here?” Lord Haoyue asked, confused.
Sword Unrivaled shook his head: “No, there’s more than one Sword Immortal.”
Tianqi City.
Lang Ya Prince’s Manor.
Xiao Ruofeng and Xiao Chuhe sat playing chess under the moonlight. Xiao Ruofeng remained composed, drinking tea and eating snacks, while Xiao Chuhe fidgeted anxiously, picking up black pieces to place them, hesitating, withdrawing them, trembling as he tried again, finally slapping his thigh: “Ah, wrong move!”
“A wrong move is a wrong move. Your uncle is crafty and experienced—how could you hope to win at chess at your age?” Ji Ruofeng emerged from the shadows wearing a mask.
“Master, why do you always appear so mysteriously?” Xiao Chuhe wiped his sweat. “Ah, Master’s disrupted the game! This doesn’t count, this doesn’t count!” He scattered the chess pieces.
Xiao Ruofeng didn’t know whether to laugh or cry: “That’s your excuse for being a sore loser?”
Ji Ruofeng smiled: “That city has begun to move.”
“Tonight?” Xiao Ruofeng asked.
“News hasn’t traveled that fast, but based on earlier signs, tonight is when they’ll make their move,” Ji Ruofeng replied.
Xiao Chuhe asked, confused: “What are you talking about?”
“Children shouldn’t listen to such things,” Xiao Ruofeng waved dismissively.
Ji Ruofeng smiled: “But they probably didn’t expect today’s Si Huai City isn’t ordinary Si Huai City anymore. Dark River’s three masters gathered together, and three of the Five Sword Immortals have arrived—is this still Si Huai City? Together they could even handle those three from Xueyue City.”
“Your calculation is off,” Xiao Ruofeng smiled. “How could Little Winter Clothes fight himself?”
Xiao Chuhe suddenly realized: “Master, you’re quite the schemer!”