Chapter 85: Bloody Battle at the Marquis of War

“This can’t go on. If I so much as make a single mistake and let my guard down, the opponent will seize the chance and land a hit—I’ll be gravely wounded, with no hope of survival.”

Lu Yan’s thoughts raced, searching for a solution. Suddenly, inspiration struck him. While exchanging blows, he began to shift sideways.

With a loud crash, the two clashed again. Lu Yan used the momentum to retreat into a field of scattered stones.

It was a labyrinth of jagged rocks, some rising like sharp blades, arranged in chaotic disorder. Lu Yan slipped deftly among them, dodging the palm strike from Marquis Liu. Marquis Liu’s hand landed on a sword-like boulder, shattering it into pieces. Shards flew everywhere, a few striking Lu Yan, but they failed to penetrate his defenses.

Having missed his target, Marquis Liu was like a raging beast, sweeping his arm horizontally in another attack. Lu Yan tapped lightly onto a stone, vaulting onto another to evade. Marquis Liu’s fury burned ever hotter; he charged about, smashing more than a dozen boulders, yet never touched even the hem of Lu Yan’s robe.

Within this rocky maze, the power of Wind-Chasing Steps was truly unleashed. Such was the subtlety of martial arts.

On open ground, Wind-Chasing Steps was impressive, but the Marquis’s explosive strength could easily surpass him. Yet, brute force only allowed straightforward attacks; in a narrow, ever-changing terrain, agility was key.

Lu Yan darted back and forth amid the stones, seeking an opening. The opportunity soon presented itself.

After repeated failures, Marquis Liu grew restless, revealing a flaw. Lu Yan seized his chance, striking with his blade.

The blade sliced across Marquis Liu’s back, leaving a bloody gash that quickly seeped crimson. As the Marquis swung his palm in retaliation, Lu Yan vaulted away, using the stones for cover to evade the counterattack.

“A pity,” Lu Yan sighed inwardly.

The defense granted by Bone Force was formidable; when his blade struck, it was like hitting a wall of iron. He managed to break through, but only just, inflicting a superficial wound.

Still, this proved Lu Yan’s strategy was working. If he kept targeting the same spot, he would eventually breach the Marquis’s defenses.

Of course, prolonging the fight wasn’t ideal. If Patriarch Liu slew the eccentric elder and came after him personally, Lu Yan would be doomed.

He could only hope the strange elder would hold out a while longer. After all, he was a Martial Spirit—resilient and hard to kill, wasn’t he?

Having been wounded, Marquis Liu paused his assault, standing his ground with a fierce glare fixed on Lu Yan.

“We’ll wait each other out right here. Let’s see who lasts longer. Once the Patriarch arrives, you’re finished,” Marquis Liu said coldly.

A sly old fox.

Lu Yan cursed him inwardly, then spoke: “A dignified Marquis unable to slay a mere Limit-Breaker, needing his patriarch to finish the job—won’t that bring you shame if word gets out?”

“Such a low-level provocation? You think it’ll work on me?” Marquis Liu was unmoved, keeping his eyes locked on Lu Yan.

Lu Yan grew increasingly anxious. Just then, Marquis Liu sprang forward, attacking like a wild ape, his palm aimed at Lu Yan. Lu Yan leaped onto another massive stone.

But as soon as he landed, Marquis Liu flicked his hand.

A sharp hiss—

Seven or eight crimson scales shot from Marquis Liu’s palm toward Lu Yan.

Lu Yan’s expression changed. He had tasted this move before at Liu Xingren’s hands. It was fearsome; the edges of the scales were razor-sharp, each one like a flying dart. The Marquis’s scales, imbued with Bone Force, were even deadlier.

Lu Yan dared not be careless; wielding the Scarlet Blood Blade, he deflected the scales. Marquis Liu seized the chance to rush in, launching a palm strike. Lu Yan could only raise his left fist to block.

With a resounding impact, Lu Yan was sent flying backwards, his fist stinging as if pierced by a blade. He glanced down—his hand was indeed cut.

The scales on Marquis Liu’s palm stood upright, bristling like daggers.

Another hiss!

He flicked his hand again, sending a volley of scales toward Lu Yan. They whistled through the air from every direction, making it impossible to dodge them all.

And as Marquis Liu unleashed the scales, he himself charged at Lu Yan, both palms aiming for his head and chest.

With danger pressing in from all sides, Lu Yan faced mortal peril. He could only concentrate on defending against Marquis Liu’s main attack, for that was truly fatal.

As he leapt backward, he swung his blade with all his might, blocking both palms. But some scales could not be avoided, striking him.

His abdomen, shoulder, and chest each took a hit; blood gushed forth. Fortunately, with the reinforcement of his Vajra Body and Savage Elephant Body, his defenses were strong—his thick muscles stopped the scales from penetrating deeper.

But a scale lodged in the joint of his shoulder, causing intense pain; his left arm was rendered useless for the moment.

Marquis Liu would not let such an opening slip by. He pressed in close, launching another deadly attack.

Lu Yan could only use his right hand to parry Marquis Liu’s palm, but the other palm struck his waist heavily.

Crack!

Even his layered muscles couldn’t withstand the Bone Force-infused strike—two ribs snapped, and Lu Yan’s body was sent flying, smashing through two massive stones. He spat a mouthful of blood, his whole body wracked with pain, his energy surging out of control.

“It’s over. Am I going to die here?” The thought flashed through Lu Yan’s mind.

“Kill!” Marquis Liu lunged like a ferocious tiger, casting a shadow over him.

Lu Yan had no strength left to resist.

Suddenly—

A streak of white light tore through the night sky, swift as a shooting star, aimed at Marquis Liu’s brow.

It was a throwing knife.

Its blade was razor-sharp, imbued with Bone Force.

Marquis Liu was startled, abandoning his attempt to finish Lu Yan. He thrust his scale-covered palm forward to block the flying knife.

With a sickening thud, blood sprayed—the scales of the Heaven-Strong Crimson Scale Palm, so hard and unyielding, were pierced by the knife, which embedded itself in Marquis Liu’s palm.

Marquis Liu grunted in pain, retreating rapidly.

But a figure moved faster—white light flashed, and someone was already at Marquis Liu’s side. A slender, graceful hand struck his chest.

Marquis Liu was sent flying, smashing through several huge stones, coughing up blood.

His chest was visibly caved in, a mangled hole torn through flesh and bone.

At that moment, Lu Yan recovered his strength, yanked the scale from his shoulder, and leaped forward, fusing with his blade—Scarlet Blood Blade thrust straight ahead.

With a sickening sound, the blade pierced Marquis Liu’s throat; a quick twist severed his head cleanly.

“This place is dangerous. Let’s leave at once,” said Lu Yan.

The figure who had appeared so suddenly was, of course, Shen Yinuo.

The two fled at full speed. After confirming that no one was pursuing them, they headed for Changfeng City. Only once inside did they stop.

“Why did you suddenly go to the Liu clan’s Blood Vein Grounds?” Lu Yan finally asked.

On the way, he circulated his energy to heal, his wounds already scabbed over, the broken ribs less painful.

“Usually, you go every few days to pick up martial food. But it had been so long this time, I wondered if something had happened, so I came to check.”

“As soon as I asked around, I heard all you Red Guards had been sent to guard the Liu clan’s Blood Vein Grounds. I sensed trouble and went to take a look. Didn’t expect to see you getting thrashed, crying for your father and mother.”

Shen Yinuo smiled sweetly.

“I wasn’t crying for my father and mother,” Lu Yan corrected.

“Weren’t you? Looked pretty close to me,” Shen Yinuo replied, her lips curling in a mysterious smile.

“Did you arrive earlier and deliberately wait for me to get hurt before stepping in?” Lu Yan asked.

He suspected as much; otherwise, how could it be such a coincidence that Shen Yinuo arrived just as he was on the brink of death?

“No, absolutely not. I really just happened to arrive in time. So you owe me a big thanks—after all, I saved your life,” Shen Yinuo shook her head vigorously.

Like I’d believe that.

Lu Yan was increasingly certain Shen Yinuo had arrived before and waited.

But regardless, it was indeed a life-saving favor.

Without Shen Yinuo, he really would have died.

Lu Yan was not one to forget a debt of gratitude.

“Very well, our one-year agreement is dissolved. From today, you’re free, no need to prepare martial food for me anymore,” Lu Yan said.

“In your dreams,” Shen Yinuo looked at him with disdain. “I save your life and you think that’s enough to call it even?”

“It is a bit of wishful thinking,” Lu Yan nodded. “Then how should I repay you? If you want me to pledge myself to you, I suppose I could accept that.”

(End of chapter)