Chapter 74: The Might of a Single Blade
Jiang Yiran said, “That ‘Mu Heng’ you mentioned must be Chi Mu Heng. The Chi Mu clan is one of the four great barbarian families, but he’s from a lesser branch. He’s a seventh-rank expert and uses the Nether Iron Bow.
“Because of his lower status within the clan, he’s trying to climb the ranks through military achievements. He’s cunning and ruthless, and many righteous martial artists have fallen victim to his schemes.
“As for that tall, thin man with the goose-feather saber, if I’m not mistaken, it’s Xue Lang, the ‘Flying Scorpion Blade’ of the Six Gates. He used to be a despicable villain in the martial world, but he joined the Six Gates and became a constable. He’s also a seventh-rank expert, a difficult opponent.”
Lu Tong said worriedly, “We don’t have enough experts to deal with them. But if we ignore them, they’ll continue killing our brothers.”
Shi Hao said solemnly, “We have the advantage now; they don’t know we’re aware of their presence. If we miss this opportunity, the situation will reverse. We have to take them down now.”
Jiang Yiran said, troubled, “Although we have many men, they’re mostly eighth and ninth-rank. No one here is a match for Chi Mu Heng and Xue Lang…”
Shi Hao said coldly, “We’ll deal with them. You handle the rest.”
Xu Xiaoyan exclaimed, “Don’t include me!”
Shi Hao smiled faintly, “I’ll take on Chi Mu Heng. You just need to keep Xue Lang occupied.”
Lu Tong said, worried, “Brother Hao, that Chi Mu Heng, despite being from a lesser branch, still comes from one of the four great barbarian families. His foundation is strong, and his techniques are formidable. He won’t be easy to defeat.”
Shi Hao said calmly, “Don’t worry. But we’re not familiar with this area. You’ll need to choose the ambush location, and we’ll lead them there.”
Jiang Yiran gritted his teeth, “You can lead them to Deer Canyon.” He drew a rough map with charcoal and explained the terrain.
Shi Hao said, “In that case, we’ll go lure them, and you set up the ambush.” He had someone transfer the Minor Restoration Pills from their book boxes and medicine chests into less conspicuous containers, keeping one for himself and giving the other to Xu Xiaoyan.
Xu Xiaoyan said, “I told you not to include me.”
Shi Hao, taking her hand, smiled and said, “Let’s go!”
Xu Xiaoyan said, “Wait, wait a minute…”
Chi Mu Heng and Xue Lang, along with several Six Gates constables, searched the mountains.
Xue Lang frowned, “It seems they escaped.”
Chi Mu Heng snorted, his face grim, “They’re not familiar with this area. They can’t have gone far…”
“Over there!” someone shouted.
Chi Mu Heng and Xue Lang looked and saw the two figures with the book box and medicine chest at the foot of a distant hill, seemingly deciding which way to go.
Chi Mu Heng whispered, “Let’s approach them quietly. Be careful.”
They stealthily approached. The two figures were talking, their voices low, when suddenly, some birds took flight. They looked back, startled, and then ran.
Chi Mu Heng sneered, “They’re heading towards a dead end. After them!”
They leaped forward, pursuing the two figures.
The two, seemingly panicked, were forced to change directions repeatedly as they encountered cliffs and obstacles.
Chi Mu Heng and Xue Lang, seizing the opportunity, closed in.
Finally, the two fugitives, with nowhere left to run, entered a canyon.
Chi Mu Heng sneered, “Deer Canyon. It’s a dead end. They’re trapped.”
They entered the canyon and saw the two figures sitting on a rock ahead, talking and laughing.
The young man with the hooked nose held a saber that radiated a faint, menacing aura.
He looked down at them and smiled, “You’ve arrived.”
Chi Mu Heng and Xue Lang, sensing something amiss, became wary. Chi Mu Heng said, “Retreat…”
Boulders and logs suddenly rolled down from the canyon walls. Those who reacted quickly leaped aside, but others were crushed, their bodies mangled.
Shi Hao laughed loudly, “You’ve fallen into our trap!” His laughter echoed through the canyon, like thunder, demoralizing their pursuers.
His laughter ceased abruptly as he drew his saber, his body seemingly propelled by the blade, a streak of light arcing through the air towards Chi Mu Heng, who had leaped to his feet.
Chi Mu Heng roared, “You dare!” He quickly raised his Nether Iron Bow.
A resounding boom echoed as the saber and bow collided.
Instead of the expected impact, a strange pulling force almost ripped the bow from Chi Mu Heng’s hands.
He almost spat blood. But he was from a prominent family, and although not from the main branch, he had still been trained in powerful techniques.
He shouted, channeling his energy, and twisting his bow against the pulling force. He slapped his left hand forward, and a wave of stone erupted from the ground towards Shi Hao – the “Stone Transformation Technique,” a secret art of the Chi Mu clan.
“Impressive!” The young man with the hooked nose, seeing this technique for the first time, showed no fear.
He unleashed three swift slashes, each at a bizarre, unpredictable angle. Chi Mu Heng, landing on a rock, blocked the three strikes, but his internal organs were shaken.
The Violet Vortex Blade Technique, combined with the Unfettered Demon’s Boundless Art, was most powerful because its force was unpredictable, pulling and twisting from unexpected directions. Chi Mu Heng had to block each strike, but the swirling demonic energy would then pull his bow, forcing him to exert even more effort to maintain control.
A fraction of the young man’s strength could redirect his full power.
Chi Mu Heng, having never encountered such a bizarre technique, grew increasingly alarmed.
At the same time, Xu Xiaoyan, her movements light and agile, harassed Xue Lang, the Flying Scorpion Blade, also a seventh-rank expert.
Xue Lang’s saber techniques were fierce and deadly, but he couldn’t even touch her. He had never seen such nimble footwork, like a willow branch in the wind, unpredictable and elusive.
Shi Hao glanced at her. This girl had clearly been hiding her true skills. Even now, she wasn’t using her full power.
The other Six Gates members were faring even worse. With Chi Mu Heng and Xue Lang occupied by powerful opponents, and caught in the ambush, they were being slaughtered. Jiang Yiran, Chen Feng, Lu Tong, and the others emerged from their hiding places, their attack relentless.
“You’re finished!” Shi Hao laughed loudly, using the Sacred Heart Clear Mirror Technique to amplify his aura, demoralizing Chi Mu Heng.
Chi Mu Heng’s confidence wavered. He unleashed his most powerful techniques, combining the Stone Transformation Technique with several killing moves, desperately trying to escape. Finally, he found an opening and fled towards the canyon exit.
Another laugh echoed, “Taste my blade!” The voice, seemingly far away, suddenly appeared right behind him, a saber slashing down towards his back.
Impossible! Chi Mu Heng, horrified, channeled the Stone Transformation Technique to his back. With a thud, like leather being struck, a shallow cut appeared on his back.
Shi Hao sheathed his saber and chuckled, “Impressive! Very impressive!”
Chi Mu Heng stumbled out of the canyon and collapsed, writhing in pain. He convulsed, his legs twitching, and died.
Although his Stone Transformation Technique had blocked the saber, the swirling demonic energy of the Violet Vortex Blade Technique had ravaged his internal organs, a far more painful death than being disemboweled.
Chi Mu Heng lay there, his eyes wide open, his expression filled with disbelief. He couldn’t understand how his opponent, whom he had momentarily forced back, had suddenly reappeared behind him.
Such speed couldn’t be explained by any ordinary movement technique.
Shi Hao, halfway through sheathing his saber, turned to Xue Lang.
Xu Xiaoyan, cracking her whip, smiled, “My task is complete. He’s all yours!” She gracefully floated away.
Shi Hao slowly approached Xue Lang.
Fear gripped Xue Lang’s heart. The young man was approaching, the girl had retreated. Logically, this was his chance to escape.
But as a martial artist, his senses were sharp. He had seen how the young man had caught up to Chi Mu Heng, who had a significant head start, and killed him instantly.
He was frozen, unsure whether to flee or fight. And the young man’s menacing demeanor, his cold, disdainful gaze, his overwhelming killing intent, as if he wasn’t even worried about him escaping, paralyzed him.
With each step, the young man’s aura intensified, like a rising tide.
Suddenly, he stepped forward, his saber flashing, the world before Xue Lang’s eyes splitting apart like the separation of yin and yang at the beginning of creation.
Xue Lang cried out, raising his goose-feather saber to block, but with a clang, the powerful pulling force ripped the saber from his hand, sending it spinning around Shi Hao’s saber.
Shi Hao’s saber sliced downwards beside Xue Lang, and the spinning goose-feather saber sliced across his throat. Xue Lang collapsed, his eyes wide with despair.
The young man with the hooked nose didn’t even spare him a glance, slowly sheathing his saber, his figure imposing and unwavering.
Xue Lang, the “Flying Scorpion Blade,” was a seventh-rank expert, his nickname a testament to his skill with the saber. In a normal fight, Shi Hao wouldn’t have been able to kill him with a single blow, perhaps not even after a dozen or twenty.
But Shi Hao, having just killed Chi Mu Heng, capitalized on Xue Lang’s fear, building his momentum, his overwhelming aura crushing his opponent’s will, allowing him to kill the seventh-rank expert with a single strike.
Jiang Yiran, Chen Feng, and the others, witnessing his swift victory, roared their approval.
Their cheers echoed through the canyon—
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