(Part One)
A torrential downpour, mixed with lightning and thunder, ravaged the world as if treating all of creation like mere prey.
Bean-sized raindrops, driven by the fierce storm, pierced through the windows like sharp swords, pounding relentlessly onto the roof of the mountain inn, sounding as dense as popping beans.
Several large candles, thick as a child’s arm and placed in the corners of the room, flickered and trembled under the chilling murderous aura brought by the torrential rain.
In the flickering firelight, beads of sweat on Ge Yunfei’s square face glistened, now bright, now dim. The light also reflected off the gleaming blades of the three black-clad men before him.
Ge Yunfei’s hands had turned pale from gripping his pair of short halberds tightly. “Since you gentlemen hide your true faces, what grievances do you have with my Xingyun Manor?”
“Leave your belongings, and we’ll spare your life,” came a cold reply that seemed to suppress even the roaring wind and rain.
“These items belong to Xingyun Manor and have nothing to do with you. Why do you insist on taking them? Aren’t you afraid of disrupting the harmony of the martial world?”
“Leave your belongings, and we’ll spare your life,” repeated the same chilling voice.
“Who on earth are you? Even daring to rob items from Xingyun Manor—you are too much!” Zhao Dahai, the burly man beside Ge Yunfei, could no longer bear it. He shook his broadsword and shouted angrily.
A clap of thunder suddenly rumbled across the sky, shaking dust and debris from the inn’s walls. As if accompanying the thunder, a flash of blade light sliced through the flying dust, and a spray of blood splattered. Zhao Dahai’s head flew several yards away, causing those hiding in the corners to cry out in unison.
Zhao Dahai’s head rolled to the corner of the room, stopping beside a pair of finely crafted deerskin boots.
From beside those deerskin boots, a large, square dog head emerged. Its big black nose sniffed at the bloodied head.
Suddenly, a sharp voice scolded, “San’er! If you dare sniff that filthy thing, I’ll beat you to death!”
The owner of the deerskin boots lifted a foot and kicked at the dog.
The people in the inn had just been frightened into deathly silence by the swift blades of the three black-clad men. Now, this clear voice pierced the quiet, and everyone turned to look at the one who had spoken.
Black hair tied into a topknot, bound with a silk headband. On a round face, a pair of bright black eyes. Thin lips hinted at a natural wit, and when he spoke, he revealed white rabbit-like teeth. He wore a short yellow jacket, with a large pearl adorning the collar, and sat leisurely by a long table in the corner of the room, legs casually crossed.
The big dog, with a glossy yellow coat, stood guard beside the young man.
Noticing the gazes of everyone in the room, the young man rolled his eyes. “What’s there to look at? There’s fighting and killing over there—aren’t they more entertaining than me?!”
Beads of sweat finally dripped down Ge Yunfei’s face.
Zhao Dahai’s corpse lay beside him. Blood continued to flow from the neck.
A chill rose along Ge Yunfei’s spine. He didn’t know his chances of winning.
“Leave your belongings, and we’ll spare your life.” The three blades advanced another step.
Ge Yunfei couldn’t help but step back. His subordinates also retreated.
The young man in yellow carefully observed everyone. He saw that Ge Yunfei still clutched his short halberds tightly, but he was carrying a blue cloth bundle on his back.
The item that the assailants wanted must be in that bundle.
His dozen or so subordinates each held weapons, advancing and retreating in unison—battle-hardened. Yet, amid the flashing blades and swords, there was a child.
The child appeared to be twelve or thirteen years old, thin and weak, wearing a green cloth garment. His face was covered with freckles, and he was hiding behind the group. But his face was unusually pale, and under the flickering firelight, he looked almost lifeless, making the freckles on his face even more conspicuous.
The young man in yellow noticed that this child’s physique showed no signs of martial training. He wondered why the boy was mingling with this group from Xingyun Manor. Although his face was ordinary, the fact that he remained indifferent in such a dangerous situation made the young man take a few more glances.
Blades flashed again.
Under the lightning, the blades emitted a blue gleam—the signature blue of the Tang Clan of Shu.
Ge Yunfei’s face turned ashen.
“So… so it turns out… I didn’t know… didn’t know what it was… you want?” His throat tightened, and he didn’t even realize he was stammering.
Another bolt of lightning, followed by rolling thunder.
In the trembling firelight, the three blades had already attacked Ge Yunfei and his men.
There was no answer.
When words end, blades speak.
A sudden outburst of clashing sounds erupted, fiercer than the storm outside. The three blue blades instantly shattered the sword walls and knife defenses of Xingyun Manor. Severed limbs and broken weapons flew in all directions, mixed with continuous screams and blood splattering everywhere.
The stench of blood instantly filled every corner of the inn. The guests curled up and hid on one side—some had already begun to vomit.
The thin, weak boy had fallen by the window, his clothes splattered with blood. The young man in yellow, who had been leisurely watching the “free show,” frowned upon seeing the Tang Clan killers slaughter so mercilessly.
At last, Ge Yunfei suddenly realized he was the only one still standing.
The three blue blades still locked down Ge Yunfei’s upper, middle, and lower paths, as if they had never moved.
Ge Yunfei’s eyes were already filled with blood. Killing intent surged, and his hands trembled!
Suddenly, with a roar, Ge Yunfei threw his double halberds, spinning and sweeping!
This was his famous killing technique in the martial world. One must know that if the double halberds failed to kill the enemy, he would surely perish. The formidable momentum was such that even the Tang Clan killers did not dare face it directly. All three blades were raised, and under the clash of internal forces, the blades emitted a sharp whistle.
With a thunderous crash, the three blades broke simultaneously!
The double halberds, momentarily checked by the three men’s internal strength, did not lose momentum, flying backward rapidly. The left short halberd flew toward the young man in yellow, while the other flew toward the hiding guests with unstoppable force.
The young man in yellow swiftly stepped back, his long sleeve sweeping. Using the momentum of this motion, he caught the halberd’s handle with both hands. With a “rip,” one of his sleeves was pierced by the halberd’s wind!
He only had time to catch one short halberd, and could only watch as the other flew toward the group of hiding guests, unstoppable. Wanting to save them was already too late. Knowing someone would surely be hurt, he couldn’t help but exclaim!
At this critical moment, a hand suddenly reached out from the crowd.
That hand seemed to make a gesture.
In the flickering candlelight, it appeared as if an infinite warmth emanated from that gesture, only to vanish instantly into the cold of wind, rain, and thunder.
The halberd was in the hand!
The young man in yellow stood agape, his two rabbit-like front teeth appearing even brighter in the flickering light. Who was hiding among the crowd with such skill? Since he had such ability, why did he watch the Tang Clan killers slaughter the people of Xingyun Manor without intervening?
In the dim light, he could only vaguely see that hand clad in a black sleeve; it seemed the person was wearing black clothes. A wide bamboo hat concealed most of the face, revealing only the lips and chin. In the night, the features were even more indistinct.
He was about to step forward to see clearly when he heard a muffled sound.
The three broken blades had pierced into Ge Yunfei’s chest.
(Part Two)
The Tang Clan killers were still standing there like nails, but Ge Yunfei’s men had all fallen!
A pair of black boots slowly moved to his side. A hand wearing a black leather glove gently untied the blue cloth bundle.
Ge Yunfei’s eyes were already oozing blue-tinted blood, filled with utter despair.
From beginning to end, the three Tang Clan killers had only said that one sentence.
“Leave your belongings, and we’ll spare your life.”
Ge Yunfei did not leave his belongings, so naturally, he couldn’t keep his life.
Perhaps until his death, he didn’t know that those he faced were the Tang Clan’s Wuning Hall killers. The assassins of Wuning Hall were not only famed for their mastery of poison but also renowned for their exceptional martial arts—the pride of the Tang Clan and the dread of the martial world.
Perhaps until his death, he didn’t realize how precious the treasure hidden in that bundle was.
The three members of the Tang Clan turned around; six cold eyes swept over the young man in yellow.
Earlier, when he intercepted Ge Yunfei’s ultimate technique of the flying halberds, they had noticed his extraordinary skill.
The young man in yellow chuckled, casually crossing his legs, appearing utterly unruffled. It was hard to guess his background. His big yellow dog bared its teeth at them, emitting a low growl.
While the standoff remained unresolved, several bolts of lightning flashed, illuminating the inn as bright as day.
“Crack!” A nearby old pagoda tree outside was split in half, one side’s branches catching fire but quickly extinguished by the torrential rain.
Everyone was still reeling from the shock. When they looked back, the three Tang Clan killers who had stood like nails in the inn’s hall had already vanished!
The horrific scene of corpses strewn about and the nauseating smell of blood made the inn seem close to collapsing. After a while, the plump old innkeeper cautiously poked his head out, looking left and right. The guests began to tremble and followed suit.
The young man in yellow frowned, seemingly deep in thought. Absentmindedly, he heard people whispering.
“Dead… so many dead!”
“Innkeeper, aren’t you going to report to the authorities?”
“Yes, yes! So many killed—hurry and report it!”
“Do we even need to report? Lately, the prince’s guards have been coming daily to search for the imperial fugitive. They might arrive before the officials do.”
“By the way, who is that young fellow in yellow clothes?”
“Hey, that child who came with the people from Xingyun Manor isn’t dead!”
“He doesn’t seem injured, just frightened.”
Suddenly, the crowd scattered, as if seeing a ghost, retreating behind the young man in yellow.
Startled, the young man looked up and saw Ge Yunfei.
Ge Yunfei was covered in blood. The blood flowing out was tinged with a faint blue. He was not dead yet! He was crawling!
Using both hands and feet, he crawled on the ground toward the freckle-faced boy!
His face was twisted, a string of saliva flowing from his mouth that was missing a few front teeth.
The thin boy petrified by his distorted and gruesome face, collapsed under the window, motionless—allowing the heavy rain, driven by the storm, to pour in through the window and soak him.
In full view, Ge Yunfei lunged forward and grabbed the boy’s arm!
The boy let out a hoarse scream, his voice like a howl.
Although Ge Yunfei no longer had any strength, at death’s door, he couldn’t think of anything else. He raised a dagger and stabbed toward the boy!
The boy let out a shrill scream. Blood gushed from his arm as Ge Yunfei grabbed it, pulling the boy into his embrace and dragging him down to the ground.
The young man in yellow couldn’t help but exclaim. He hadn’t expected Ge Yunfei to still be alive, nor that he would be vicious enough to harm this frail child. Ge Yunfei’s first stab caught him off guard, too late to intervene, but he could still stop the second stab.
In that critical moment, yellow robes fluttered. Taking advantage of the lightning and candlelight, he had already moved to their side. Raising his palm to rescue, he suddenly noticed Ge Yunfei’s eyes were wide open and motionless—he had breathed his last.
The young man in yellow gently shook his head and whispered, “The Tang Clan’s poison blades are truly formidable.”
Turning around, he squatted beside the boy and asked softly, “Little brother, what’s your name?” As he spoke, he lightly tapped the boy’s acupuncture points to stop the bleeding, then took out a handkerchief to bandage the wound on his arm. His dog, San’er, also ran over, wagging its head and sniffing around the boy.
The boy only made hoarse “ah ah” sounds, unable to speak. It turned out he was mute.
The young man in yellow saw that the boy was friendly with San’er, seemingly forgetting the pain in his wounded arm. He smiled and asked, “Do you like him?”
The boy shyly nodded.
“Ah, so you can’t speak but can understand me. You’re mute but not deaf.”
The boy nodded again.
The young man in yellow smiled, pointing at the yellow dog. “Do you want to know his name? He’s called ‘Three Wolves.’ If he encounters someone he doesn’t like, he bites bad guys more fiercely than three wolves combined.” As he spoke, he rolled up the boy’s sleeve to bandage his wound.
Another flash of lightning streaked across the sky, instantly lighting the world as bright as day. At that moment, the young man in yellow couldn’t help but gasp.
He saw that the boy’s arm was covered with scars, old and new. Horizontal cuts, vertical cuts—dense and overlapping, deep and shallow. Who knew how many times he had been stabbed?
The young man in yellow furrowed his brows again. After bandaging the wound, he pondered and asked, “Who inflicted so many wounds on you? Who are you?”
(Part Three)
Upon hearing the young man’s question, the boy suddenly shrank back, as if shivering, instinctively pulling his hand away, his face filled with wariness.
The young man smiled and said, “If you don’t want to tell me, that’s fine. Poor thing, at such a young age, who made you suffer like this? Tell me, and I’ll stand up for you.”
The boy turned his face away, shaking his head, reverting to his indifferent demeanor. San’er circled him, sniffing here and there, occasionally grunting softly, seeming more interested in him than in its own master.
The young man wasn’t angry, baring his bright rabbit-like teeth, smiling warmly. “So, where are you going? Do you want me to take you back to Xingyun Manor?”
As soon as he heard this, the boy’s expression changed drastically, as if he had heard something terrifying. He couldn’t help but grab the young man’s sleeve, shaking it desperately, making “ah ah” sounds, and shaking his head vigorously.
At this moment, the two were very close, and the young man in yellow suddenly noticed a faint herbal scent emanating from the boy. However, the boy was thinly dressed and didn’t seem to be carrying anything unusual. Without thinking further, he asked curiously, “Aren’t you with those people from Xingyun Manor? Don’t you want to return there? So many of your people died this time; shouldn’t you inform your Manor Lord?”
The boy continued to shake his head desperately, his eyes showing a pleading look.
The young man’s large, dark eyes rolled around, and he seemed to have an epiphany. “Ah, did you cause some big trouble there, and that’s why you’re so scared?”
The boy hesitated, first shaking his head, then nodding.
The young man immediately frowned. “What should we do? Little brother, do you have any other family?”
Seeing the boy shake his head, he stood up, pondering. “This place is so dangerous; sooner or later, you’ll lose your life here. All things considered, we’re closest to Xiangyang. Why not ask this innkeeper to take you to the city and have the officials send you home?”
As soon as he finished speaking, the plump innkeeper was already trembling all over.
Carefully moving in front of him, smiling obsequiously, he said, “Young master, you’re making things difficult for this old man. So many people from Xingyun Manor died here tonight. Not to mention that the officials won’t let this little master leave, but even Officer Jiao from Xingyun Manor won’t just let this matter go without a word. If you ask me to take this little master to Xiangyang, how could I dare? I can’t afford to offend either side.”
He had just finished speaking when another thunderclap shook the candles, dimming them momentarily before they flickered again.
When the hall lit up again, the plump innkeeper thought he was seeing things. He couldn’t help but blink hard.
Three black shadows were cast on the wall.
The three from the Tang Clan had returned!
The thin boy was so frightened that he immediately hid behind the young man in yellow. The guests who had been watching the excitement involuntarily retreated a few steps. San’er let out a low growl, standing up straight, glaring viciously.
For a moment, the inn’s hall was so quiet that only the sound of the wind and rain outside could be heard.
Six cold eyes slowly swept across the hall. Realizing that everything was untouched, they immediately split into three directions, meticulously searching the corpses on the ground as if no one else was present.
The young man in yellow was greatly puzzled. His large, jet-black eyes scanned up and down, observing everything.
Could it be that the treasure wasn’t in the bundle? Otherwise, why would the three return?
What kind of rare treasure could catch the eyes of the Tang Clan of Shu?
A treasure that could catch the Tang Clan’s attention—how did it fall into the hands of Xingyun Manor?
The corpses on the ground were quickly searched!
Even the cold faces of the three couldn’t hide their disappointment.
They had returned without delay, having already anticipated that the treasure wasn’t in the bundle, so it must still be on the people of Xingyun Manor.
But after thoroughly searching the corpses, they still hadn’t found it.
An idea flashed simultaneously in the minds of the three: the item was most likely taken by someone in the inn.
With this thought, six eyes suddenly focused on the young man in yellow and the boy.
The three stepped forward in unison.
The foremost person slowly extended a palm.
It was a hand twice the size of an average one, deathly pale, seemingly no longer made of flesh and blood.
The palm was a faint blue, glowing in the flickering candlelight.
At this moment, the young man could still laugh.
“San’er, San’er, look—they suspect us after all.”
Before the words had even faded, the palm suddenly grew even larger.
It turned out that the person’s bones had rapidly expanded; the palm shot out like lightning toward the boy beside him!
In that critical moment, yellow robes fluttered upward. The assailant suddenly found that the distance between his hand and the boy had abruptly increased! The young man in yellow gracefully turned half a circle, taking the boy several steps away, precisely dodging that palm strike that even overshadowed the storm outside.
His movement was ordinary, without any unusual tricks, but it was incredibly soft and gentle to the extreme. It’s truly puzzling how such soft and slow movements could evade that lightning-fast attack.
San’er barked fiercely, about to lunge forward.
“San’er, stand down!” The young man in yellow commanded his dog, slowly turning around, his round face still showing composed confidence.
“A fine move—the ‘Bodhi Palm’! But using it against a child who doesn’t know martial arts—it tarnishes the Tang Clan’s reputation, doesn’t it?”
The three cold faces darkened simultaneously, each thinking of a person.
Could it be him?
Under the chilling gaze, a sentence finally burst out from their mouths: “Who are you?”
“You may not know me, but I know you. I’ve seen your portraits on the Tang Clan’s ‘Dragon and Tiger Register’ of the Wuning Hall. You should know what kind of person can see the Tang Clan’s Dragon and Tiger Register. And you dare kill people in front of me?”
At the mention of the “Dragon and Tiger Register,” the Tang Clan killers’ expressions changed.
“The Tang Clan’s property must be obtained. Since you are neither friend nor foe, don’t you know that those who stand in the way will die?”
“Who cares about your Tang Clan’s property? Besides, what does your ‘Tang Clan’s property’ look like? What marks does it have? Why not tell me? Do you mean this child has taken your ‘Tang Clan’s property’?” Indeed, those thin lips of the young man weren’t just for show; he had a sharp tongue.
The three were at a loss for words.
The boy was thin and weak, wearing tattered clothes. It was clear he had no place on him to hide anything.
“Since it’s not elsewhere, it must be on you. If you have taken it, the entire Tang Clan will make your life a living hell. You should hand it over.”
The young man bared his rabbit-like teeth, looked up at the ceiling, and said in a sharp voice, “The things the Tang Clan desires are nine times out of ten deadly. So, the things the Tang Clan wants—I may not necessarily fancy them. But if you’ve decided to pin it on me, to account to the Tang Clan, is that it? You wouldn’t dare offend Tang Tianhao, but you’d still not let me go, right?”
He was still smiling, but a hint of killing intent had appeared in the corner of his eyes. Staring at the three, he asked word by word, “So now I want to know—what exactly is this item?”
He grinned again, those two mesmerizing rabbit-like teeth flashing between his thin lips.
“I want to know badly.”
The Tang Clan killers suddenly realized they had made a mistake.
They had already said too much.
The youth before them seemed to know too much about the Tang Clan’s secrets.
Just then, a sinister voice suddenly echoed. The voice wasn’t loud, but everyone in the inn felt as if it was right next to their ears.
“You truly want to know? But those who know must die!”
In the inn’s hall, at some point, two more people had appeared. Two men were drenched by the torrential rain.
(Part Four)
The two men were both middle-aged, over forty years old, one tall and one short, with bright eyes and slightly protruding temples. The tall one seemed to always be hunched over, while the short one appeared to be puffing out his chest.
Although their robes were soaked, they were exquisitely made from expensive silk, crafted by the renowned “Bai Sheng Xiang” in Bianliang. The hilts of the long swords they carried were also inlaid with pearls.
Their demeanor resembled that of wealthy landowners who owned vast fields. However, their faces were as grim as if someone had just died in their family. The plump shopkeeper was trembling like a sieve, his teeth chattering, and the flesh on his face had bunched up as he desperately nodded.
“Jiao, Master Jiao, Master Mu.”
In the martial world, “Golden Overlord, Silver Xingyun, and Jade Linglong” referred to the financially powerful Hangzhou Overlord Manor, Dongting Xingyun Manor, and Jiangzhou Linglong Mountain Manor.
The visitors were none other than Jiao Chaogui, the master of Dongting Xingyun Manor, and his second-in-command, Mu Xiuquan.
— Jiao Chaogui and Mu Xiuquan had surprisingly come without any attendants, lowering themselves to this level.
“Who killed Ge Yunfei?” the tall middle-aged man asked, each word chillingly clear. His piercing gaze slowly swept over everyone, finally resting on the three members of the Tang Clan and the young man in yellow. The plump shopkeeper was already too frightened to speak.
The short man had squinted his eyes since entering as if he hadn’t seen the people in front of him. The young man in yellow seemed to find this amusing and asked with a smile, “Are you the second-in-command of Xingyun Manor, Mu Xiuquan? Why must those who know about this matter die?”
The tall man replied, “I am indeed Mu Xiuquan. Who are you, and why do you take such an interest in our Xingyun Manor’s affairs? Our third-in-command, Ge Yunfei, was killed by you, wasn’t he?”
The young man in yellow pouted and pointed with a delicate white finger, unable to suppress a gleeful laugh. “I don’t have that ability. The death of your third-in-command and the whereabouts of that blue flower package are best known to those three.”
As soon as he finished speaking, three dark figures lunged at Mu Xiuquan. Since a confrontation with Xingyun Manor was inevitable, they naturally aimed to strike first. The assassins from the Tang Clan’s “Wuneng Hall” had all been trained to possess excellent judgment.
Jiao Chaogui’s previously squinting eyes suddenly opened wide. He seemed to transform into a different person, a fierce killing intent radiating from him in an instant. Amidst the shifting shadows, the sword energy shimmered, filling the room with a dazzling light. In just a few exchanges, the clash of swords and palms produced a metallic sound.
The figures swiftly separated. Jiao Chaogui’s short stature remained upright and motionless as if he had always been standing there. However, his expression had changed.
— “Are you from the Wuneng Hall of the Tang Clan in Shu?”
No answer came. Only an increasingly intense killing intent filled the air.
Once again, several figures lunged forward. The shadows of palms and swords intertwined in a chaotic dance. Amid the fierce battle, a swift yellow shadow suddenly emerged between the dark blue palm shadows and white sword shadows! The yellow dog that had been by the side of the frail boy could no longer contain itself, barking low and lunging at the Tang Clan assassins with its mouth open.
The young man in yellow, who had been intently watching the fierce fight, caught sight of the yellow shadow and exclaimed, “San’er, come back! Don’t bite!”
Just as the words left his mouth, the agile yellow dog twisted in mid-air and bit down on the arm of a black-clad assassin. The assassin’s arm involuntarily sank under the pressure.
The previously unified formation of palm shadows revealed a flaw. A fleeting opportunity had appeared.
With a “ping,” the swords and palms clashed once more! The three members of the Tang Clan quickly retreated. The last one stumbled, clearly injured.
Mu Xiuquan and Jiao Chaogui also retreated swiftly. The two clasped hands, their faces darkening, and with a loud shout, they struck the long table beside them. The table splintered like dry leaves, and a faint blue smoke rose from the scattered fragments, quickly whisked away by the wind.
They both understood the dangers of the Tang Clan’s poisons and martial arts, which were difficult to guard against. During the fight, they not only held their breath but also carefully avoided any contact with the three Tang Clan members. With so many precautions, it was naturally hard to gain the upper hand. Unexpectedly, when their swords and palms clashed, they were still very close to the three. The sinister wind from the palm techniques still seeped through their long swords. If they hadn’t immediately forced out the poison, they might have ended up like San’er at that moment. Despite this, they exchanged a glance, both horrified, unable to suppress the cold sweat on their brows.
— At that moment, San’er let out a groan and collapsed to the ground. Its limbs twitched once and then lay still. In the blink of an eye, the yellow fur on its body had completely fallen out due to the poison! The frail boy sat dazed beside his beloved dog, unable to speak, his eyes filled with tears.
The yellow shadow trembled, letting out a scream that seemed to come from hell. “You—dare—to—kill—my—‘San’er’—”
The once cheerful round face had twisted in anguish. His thin lips quivered slightly, and tears were rolling in his dark eyes, almost spilling over. “You have been slaughtering the people of Xingyun Manor and deserved to be punished, but now you dare to kill my San’er!”
He reached into his bosom, and with a “clang,” a sword was in his hand. The back of his hand gripping the sword had faint blue veins protruding. His hand slowly raised the sword. Everyone could see the blade.
The sword was two feet long and entirely black. The hilt was crimson, resembling the blood of a heartbroken lover.
People only vaguely saw a flash of black sword light, and the yellow figure darted in and out. Suddenly, the sword had pierced the palm of the foremost person.
The Tang Clan member had raised his hand to block his throat. If he had been a moment slower or miscalculated the sword’s trajectory, the short sword would have surely pierced his throat.
That man’s palm was twice the size of an ordinary person’s. When clashing with Jiao Chaogui and Mu Xiuquan, the sound of metal clashing was unmistakable, unlike the flesh and blood of a human. However, when pierced by this young man’s short sword, there was not a single sound. The sword was drawn and sheathed without a whisper of wind, and not a drop of blood stained the blade.
The Tang Clan assassin stood there, still unable to believe what had just happened to his hand. He knew that from this moment on, this hand, which had once made him proud, would no longer be able to execute the Tang Clan’s palm techniques.
— Encountering this sword, his hand, which had ranked third on the “Dragon and Tiger List,” was forever crippled. His life as an assassin had come to an end.
It seemed he heard a familiar yet chilling sigh. It also seemed he saw a hand adorned with jade rings slowly take down a portrait from the Dragon and Tiger List.
— His portrait.
The young man in yellow seemed to be stunned as well. He had drawn this sword. He had injured someone with this sword!
— What kind of sword was this?
The only uninjured assassin from the Tang Clan seized the opportunity of the young man’s moment of shock. He raised his hand, and iron spikes scattered through the air.
Just as he was about to act, the young man leaped up, his yellow garments fluttering, and with each movement of his short sword, a series of “ding ding ding ding” sounds rang out like a rain of fine drops, as the iron spikes fell to the ground.
When he looked up again, the three members of the Tang Clan had already vanished. Only the wind and rain outside continued unabated, howling like demons from hell as if they wanted to crash into the hall.
With a “hiss,” a faint blue flame leaped up from his yellow robe.
The short sword flipped and slashed, and half a sleeve fell to the ground, the blue flame being extinguished before it could even produce smoke, as the black sword tip struck it.
— What kind of sword was this?
Upon closer inspection, the half sleeve that had fallen to the ground had been torn by the wind of Ge Yunfei’s ultimate technique, “Shaking the Spear.” An iron spike had quietly pierced through the sword’s momentum and lodged itself in the torn sleeve.
His two sword strikes finally made Jiao Chaogui understand.
It was not his swordsmanship, nor even his internal strength, but rather his agility and his short sword!
— What was astonishing was not his swordsmanship, but his seemingly delicate and light movements.
— He was able to stab the Tang Clan assassin not because his sword was fast, but because his movements were incredibly swift.
— He could draw and sheath his sword without a whisper of wind because if lightness had reached its limit, even the slowest sword could kill!
Jiao Chaogui and Mu Xiuquan exchanged a glance and finally asked in a deep voice, “Who are you from Linglong Mountain Manor?”
The young man in yellow seemed dazed as if he hadn’t heard the question.
With the strong enemies gone, his eyes were filled with sorrow, his thoughts consumed by the lifeless body of his beloved dog. Slowly, he turned and walked toward the corpse of his dog.
He gazed at his dog but did not notice Mu Xiuquan’s movement.
— Mu Xiuquan, who had been standing still, suddenly lunged forward, stabbing a sword toward the young man’s back!
Xingyun Manor was ranked fourth among the martial arts sects, and Mu Xiuquan was the second master of Xingyun Manor. His sword was not slow, and the young man never expected him to launch a sneak attack—he had just helped Xingyun Manor out of a predicament, and everyone should be grateful to him. Mu Xiuquan was not only a top martial artist but also known for his intelligence; why would he want to kill him?
Mu Xiuquan’s sword was still enveloped in the Tang Clan’s poison, and it looked as if it would pierce the young man’s back!
At that moment, a gust of wind seemed to sweep past everyone in the inn, dimming the candle flames around them!
Mu Xiuquan suddenly let out a furious roar, and the sword in his hand seemed to be shaken from his grip, plunging into the beams of the roof.
The tassels on the hilt continued to tremble, and one segment seemed to have been severed by some sharp blade, fluttering down and landing on Mu Xiuquan’s face and shoulder.
A loud spark exploded, and everyone finally saw Mu Xiuquan’s face.
His eyes bulged as if he were staring at something, nearly popping out of their sockets. His mouth was agape, but he couldn’t utter a word.
A short spear, unknown from where it had flown, had pierced his throat.
— It was Ge Yunfei’s discarded right spear, the one that had been casually caught and then vanished!
Blood trickled from the tip of the spear.
The wolf head carved on the iron spear remained menacing.
As Mu Xiuquan’s body fell with a “thud,” the last tassel of his long sword fluttered down, landing on his face.
Someone among the onlookers retched!
Jiao Chaogui’s face had turned ashen!
He had just been acting arrogantly, but now he looked like a wild ghost that had just crawled out of a grave.
— He was far too familiar with that short spear.
— The short spear of the deceased third-in-command of Xingyun Manor, Ge Yunfei, had mysteriously killed the second-in-command, Mu Xiuquan.
His hand gripping the sword trembled, and soon his entire body was shaking uncontrollably.
With a loud bang, the strong wind blew the inn’s door wide open, and the torrential rain, with its pea-sized droplets, lashed against the people.
Jiao Chaogui shouted and leaped up, darting out the door like an arrow, disappearing in an instant.