Chapter 64: The Wind-Chasing Death Sword (Seeking Your Continued Reading)

Over twenty days passed before the auxiliary spirit herbs and corresponding martial food seasonings were nearly gathered. Altogether, it had cost five thousand taels of silver, making Lu Yan wince in pain. The most expensive among them was the auxiliary spirit medicine, Nine-section Ginseng—just one root cost three thousand taels of silver. But the thought that he would soon be able to cook Mutated Nine-section Heart Meat made him grit his teeth and endure the expense. After all, a single serving of Mutated Nine-section Heart Meat was valued at forty thousand taels. The current investment was well worth it.

There was no need to worry about the Mutated Heart Meat spoiling. According to Lu Yan's understanding, the meat of exotic beasts contained blood toxins; as long as the toxins remained, no bacteria or microorganism could survive on it, so it didn’t easily rot or deteriorate. Of course, over time, the blood toxins would slowly dissipate, and with them, the essence of the exotic beast meat would also vanish, rendering it useless. But within a year, that was not a concern.

...

Now, Lu Yan and his group were once again on ‘rotation duty,’ stationed at the Scarlet Guards. That day, just as he entered the headquarters, he ran into Wang Lin.

“Lu Yan, you came at just the right time. There’s a task,” Wang Lin said, grabbing Lu Yan’s arm and leading him away.

“Captain Wang, what’s the matter?” Lu Yan asked.

Lu Yan had already been part of the Scarlet Guards for three years and nine months. When he first joined, Wang Lin was a three-limit breaker, diligent for many years, having redeemed a second-rate martial art and, after years of arduous practice, finally succeeded in breaking through to the fourth limit.

After Wang Shun’s fall, Wang Lin was naturally promoted to squad leader of the Seventh Squad.

“Lu Yan, with our relationship, do you still need to address me so formally? Just call me Brother Wang—it sounds better,” Wang Lin patted Lu Yan’s shoulder.

“Brother Wang!” Lu Yan smiled.

“That’s more like it. Let me tell you about the task. Do you know Liu Xingming?” Wang Lin said.

“I do. He’s a direct descendant of the Liu clan, one of the outstanding young men,” Lu Yan nodded.

Liu Xingming, twenty-eight years old, had recently broken the fifth limit. Though not as exceptional as Liu Xingren, he was still quite impressive.

“He has a favorite concubine from Red Willow Town. Just yesterday, her younger brother was killed at home. Today, Liu Xingming is going there himself to investigate and find the murderer. Our Scarlet Guards are assigned to assist—just you, me, and Huo Tian,” Wang Lin explained.

“Do we know who did it?” Lu Yan inquired.

“Not yet. Let’s go—Liu Xingming is waiting inside.” Wang Lin said.

The two entered the hall to find a young man standing with hands behind his back, dressed in sapphire silk robes, his waist cinched with a crocodile-leather belt inlaid with three blue gems. His features were delicate, but tinged with a hint of effeminacy and his complexion pale—an air of excess indulgence about him. Clearly, this was Liu Xingming. Huo Tian stood beside him.

Upon seeing Wang Lin and Lu Yan, Liu Xingming waved his hand, “Come, let’s go to Red Willow Town. We’ll find the murderer—I want blood for blood.”

Four swift horses raced out from the north gate toward Red Willow Town. Red Willow Town, one of the eight towns governed by the Liu clan, lay just over twenty li from Changfeng City, and they soon approached it.

But on a mountain path near Red Willow Town, two figures blocked their way.

Two tall, thin men, both wearing bamboo hats, stood with swords in their arms.

The four pulled their horses to a sudden stop.

“Friends, you’re blocking the way,” Liu Xingming said.

“We’ve been waiting for you,” one of the sword-holding, bamboo-hatted men replied, lifting his head to reveal a gaunt, sharp face, about forty or fifty years old.

As soon as he finished speaking, two figures flashed from the woods behind Lu Yan’s group, cutting off their retreat. They too wore bamboo hats and carried swords.

Clearly, these men meant trouble.

Lu Yan and the others tensed every muscle, their blood surging, ready to strike at any moment. At the same time, they realized that Liu Xingming’s concubine’s younger brother had almost certainly been killed by these men. Had they done all this to lure Liu Xingming out? What was their purpose?

“Courting death,” Liu Xingming spat, urging his horse forward to charge the two blocking their path.

Swish!

One of the bamboo-hatted men suddenly drew his sword—swift as lightning. The sword’s gleam flashed, like a bolt of lightning carving through the sky, and in the next moment, blood sprayed as a horse’s head flew off.

Liu Xingming vaulted backward, landing on the ground, his face dark. “Wind-chasing Death Sword—you’re from the He clan of Wind-chasing City?”

The four bamboo-hatted men remained silent, but the answer was obvious.

The He clan of Wind-chasing City was another marquis-level family in Lianan Prefecture. Lu Yan had seen members of that clan in Qingyang City before.

“You killed Sanxun and lured me here. What’s your purpose? Do you plan to take me hostage to threaten the Liu clan? If so, you’re mistaken—the Liu clan doesn’t submit to threats,” Liu Xingming said coldly.

He was right; no noble clan would be threatened because of one individual. Even if they captured Liu Xingchao, it would be useless.

“You misunderstand. We have no intention of threatening the Liu clan with you. We drew you out only to ask a question. If you answer honestly, you may all leave unharmed today. Otherwise...” The gaunt middle-aged man’s gaze was sharp as a sword, icy with killing intent.

“Ask!” Liu Xingming demanded.

“What is inside the forbidden area sealed by the Liu and Wu clans?” the gaunt man asked.

Lu Yan stayed calm, but Wang Lin and Huo Tian’s faces darkened. The situation was dire.

No matter what Liu Xingming answered, it boded ill for them. If Liu refused, a battle was inevitable; the He clan was well-prepared and surely powerful, their chances bleak. If Liu answered, the He clan would know the Liu clan’s secret—would the Liu clan let them live afterward?

Their hearts sank.

Liu Xingming’s face fell as well, but in the next moment, he managed a smile. “Very well, I’ll tell you. Listen carefully...”

Before he finished, Liu Xingming dashed toward the right side of the woods.

But the He clan men were wary of his escape. As soon as Liu Xingming moved, the gaunt man sprang into action—his sword flashed like a meteor, chasing the wind and moon, stabbing straight for Liu Xingming’s throat.

Wind-chasing Death Sword—a sword as swift as the wind, taking life in a single stroke, leaving not a drop of blood.

Facing such a lethal first-rate martial art, Liu Xingming dared not be careless. His blood surged, and the Sky Tyrant Crimson Scale Palm was unleashed at full power; his hands and arms were covered in crimson scales as he struck out with a sweeping palm.

Clang! Clang!...

In the blink of an eye, they exchanged over ten blows, neither gaining the upper hand.

The gaunt He clan man was also a five-limit breaker.

At that moment, the bamboo-hatted man in front stepped forward, hand on his sword hilt, blood surging over the grip, his eyes sharp and fixed on Liu Xingming. This forced Liu Xingming to stay alert, a constant threat in his throat. Judging by his blood, he should be a four-limit breaker.

In a fair fight, Liu Xingming had nothing to fear, but if the man attacked from behind, the Wind-chasing Death Sword could easily take his life. Moreover, another five-limit breaker remained.

Distracted, Liu Xingming quickly fell behind.

“Aren’t you going to help?” Liu Xingming shouted.

But Wang Lin and Huo Tian dared not move. The two bamboo-hatted men behind them had locked onto them, their sharp, murderous gazes making their hearts race and sweat bead on their foreheads.

“Keep Liu Xingming alive. Capture him and force him to reveal the secret of the forbidden area. As for the three Scarlet Guards—kill them all,” the gaunt man ordered.

“Split up,” Huo Tian couldn’t withstand the pressure. He leaped toward the right side of the woods.

“Go!” Wang Lin grabbed Lu Yan’s arm and rushed toward the left side of the woods. In his mind, Lu Yan was only a second-limit breaker, unable to participate in such a battle—if he fought, he’d die for sure.

“Kill!” One bamboo-hatted man moved to intercept Huo Tian, swift as lightning. The blade flashed; Huo Tian froze in place, hands clutching his throat, but blood still seeped through his fingers.

A single stroke to the throat—third-limit breaker Huo Tian had no defense. The attacker was also a five-limit breaker.

“These two are mine,” the fourth bamboo-hatted man said quietly. He looked quite young—about twenty-five—leaping after Lu Yan and Wang Lin. In midair, his sword was already drawn, thrusting toward Wang Lin’s back.

“Lu Yan, you go ahead—I’ll hold him off,” Wang Lin pushed Lu Yan forward, turning swiftly and drawing his saber in a fierce slash.

Clang—the saber and sword collided.

This member of the He clan was a four-limit breaker, same as Wang Lin. But their combat prowess was worlds apart. Wang Lin practiced only second-rate martial arts, while the opponent wielded a first-rate style. Moreover, Wang Lin had only recently broken the fourth limit, while the He clan youth was nearly at the peak.

Saber and sword collided, Wang Lin staggered back, arms trembling violently, blood streaming from his hands, barely able to hold his saber.

“Die!” The He clan youth thrust again, sword flashing toward Wang Lin’s throat—quick as lightning.

That strike, Wang Lin could not possibly block.

“Ah, today, I’ll have to reveal myself,” Lu Yan sighed, his palm already glowing gold as he reached out to grab.