Chapter 10

Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh...

A series of whistling sounds filled the air, and Yu Canghai's expression changed once again.

"Watch out for the hidden weapons!" He shouted, drawing his sword and swiftly waving it, creating a curtain of sword strikes. From a distance, it looked like a bright silver curtain that no water could penetrate, firmly protecting Yu Canghai behind it.

Clang, clang, clang. The hidden weapons collided with the sword curtain, sparks flying everywhere.

Yu Canghai's disciples behind him were protected, but the outer disciples were not so fortunate.

At first, they could still resist, but the hidden weapons rained down, with several people attacking one. Soon, some of them were hit by darts and fell to the ground.

"Ah! Master, Master, the hidden weapons are poisoned!"

Yu Canghai, while defending against the hidden weapons, was growing increasingly anxious. He couldn't understand how the Fuyi Escort Agency knew he was coming to wipe out the family and had set up such a trap. The rain of hidden weapons had already made him furious. Now, hearing that the weapons were poisoned, he was enraged!

"Despicable scoundrels, do you dare to face me in a fair fight!" Yu Canghai shouted in anger.

Su Zhong stood at the entrance of the hall, expressionless, and ignored Yu Canghai's provocation.

Yu Canghai had thought Su Zhong would be provoked into a face-to-face battle. Then, no matter the outcome, the hidden weapons would have to stop. With a moment to catch his breath, he could use his lightness skill to quickly eliminate those throwing the weapons from the roof!

But Su Zhong didn't fall for it. Yu Canghai knew there was no chance tonight. Seeing his disciples lying on the ground, their faces black with poison, he knew they wouldn't survive. If he hadn't blocked the hidden weapons and protected the few behind him, he might have been hit and killed as well.

"What are you standing there for? Retreat quickly!" Yu Canghai shouted at the few behind him.

The Four Flowers of Qingcheng had come confidently to wipe out the family, but they were caught off guard by the rain of hidden weapons, which chilled their hearts. Hearing their master's shout, they immediately turned and fled.

Sichuan's terrain was treacherous, and Songfeng Temple's lightness skill was the best in the region. Although the main gate was locked, they could climb over the wall. With quick steps, the remaining dozen disciples, led by the Four Flowers of Qingcheng, one by one scaled the high wall.

Su Zhong watched from a distance, not stopping them.

"Little thief, with no worries behind me, these hidden weapons are like mere chickens and dogs. Watch me kill you!" Yu Canghai retracted his sword curtain, his body moving like a gust of wind, weaving through the rain of hidden weapons, leaving black afterimages.

"Die!" In an instant, Yu Canghai was in front of Su Zhong, his long sword swinging down with great force, the sword qi faintly visible, determined to split Su Zhong in two!

Su Zhong stood still, watching the sword light approach, his heart unusually calm. For sixteen years, he had waited for this day. His words about waiting a long time were not empty. In those sixteen years, he had paid a great price to improve his martial arts. All of this was due to the person in front of him.

Su Zhong drew his sword, a green light bursting forth, like a bolt of lightning in the dark night.

Clang! Sparks flew.

Yu Canghai retreated at a speed even faster than when he came!

Bang!

His back hit the locked gate, his right hand holding the sword trembling uncontrollably, his eyes wide with shock!

"How is this possible?! How is this possible?!"

"Why not?" Su Zhong, who should have been at the entrance of the hall, suddenly appeared in front of Yu Canghai. In a single step, he had crossed the courtyard and stood before Yu Canghai!

Yu Canghai was greatly alarmed! His feet moved, trying to escape. That one sword had made him feel the breath of death!

Su Zhong wouldn't let him escape, his sword swinging again.

Clang!

An even louder sound of weapons colliding rang out.

Boom!

Yu Canghai's figure shot back, crashing into the red gate. The gate, unable to withstand the impact, collapsed with a loud crash!

Yu Canghai rolled to the ground, landing on the Fuyi Escort Agency's banner!

"Who are you?!" Yu Canghai's voice was shrill, his tone changed: "This isn't the 'Evil-Dispelling Sword Technique'!"

Su Zhong said nothing, his feet moving, instantly appearing in front of Yu Canghai. His sword thrust out quickly.

Yu Canghai's face changed drastically, holding his sword horizontally to block Su Zhong's sword tip with the flat of his blade.

Ding!

Sitting on the ground, unable to gain leverage, Yu Canghai was hit by the powerful force and slid rapidly across the ground.

Su Zhong, determined to finish off the fallen enemy, was about to move forward to stab Yu Canghai. But the sound of hooves rang out, and a group of horses galloped down the street. Although Su Zhong was highly skilled, he didn't want to face the charging horses.

He pushed off with his feet, stepping away from the path of the horses.

"Master, get on the horse quickly!" Luo Renxiong shouted. Yu Canghai, not caring about his dignity, quickly got up, leaped onto the horse, and galloped away.

This sudden change happened in the blink of an eye, and Su Zhong couldn't stop Yu Canghai in time. Watching Yu Canghai flee, Su Zhong felt a deep sense of frustration. With a martial arts master like Yu Canghai still at large, his family would live in constant fear.

He wasn't afraid of Yu Canghai, but others might be. Yu Canghai had to die!

Su Zhong's feet moved rapidly, chasing after the fleeing horse!

Yu Canghai, lying on the horse's back, just as he was about to breathe a sigh of relief, felt something strange. Turning his head, he immediately saw Su Zhong running alongside the horse, his face pale with fear.

"Such incredible lightness skill! An ordinary 'Swallow Three Times the Water' can be practiced to the point of being faster than a galloping horse? Who is this person?!"

Su Zhong's sword aimed at the horse Yu Canghai was riding. If Yu Canghai fell, his pride in his lightness skill would be meaningless against Su Zhong.

Yu Canghai, with a lifetime of martial arts experience and countless battles, immediately saw the key. He quickly drew his sword to block Su Zhong's attack. Although Su Zhong's lightness skill was remarkable, this speed would soon exhaust him. Once Su Zhong was tired, they could use the horse's speed to escape.

Clang, clang, clang!

For a moment, the sound of weapons colliding filled the air, a lively scene.

...

"Where is Yang?" Lady Lin, hearing that Yu Canghai had retreated, came to the hall but didn't see Su Zhong, and asked anxiously.

"Master has gone to chase Yu Canghai," Xiao Sheng said succinctly.

"Chase Yu Canghai?!" Lin Zhenan was still dazed.

Too many changes had happened in one day, making it hard for him to accept. Unbeknownst to him, his family had almost been wiped out, and then, unexpectedly, his eldest son, whom he had never favored, had become the notorious Death-Dealing Sword, forcing the martial arts master Yu Canghai to flee in disgrace.

"Chief, you didn't see it. Those scoundrels were driven off by us, running away in fear," Captain Ji laughed heartily. The heavy rain of hidden weapons had defeated the mighty Qingcheng Sect, and he was thrilled.

"The young master's skills are truly remarkable. You didn't see it. Just two strikes, and Yu Canghai was rolling on the ground. Ha, what a relief!" The other guards and captains also laughed heartily. With the young master's exceptional skills, they could walk with their heads held high. After this victory, how could they not be happy?

Lin Zhenan forced a smile, his lips twitching.

"Lord, what should we do?" Lady Lin asked, her face filled with worry.

Lin Zhenan pondered for a long time, looking at the captains, and said, "First, we'll dissolve the escort agency and go to my father-in-law's house in Luoyang for a few days. Once we have news from Yang, we'll regroup. This way, we'll be safe, and Yang will have no worries. Second, with Yang's emergence, he will stir up the martial arts world. He has offended the Green Forest too deeply, so it's best if the escort agency doesn't operate for now."

Lady Lin thought about it and nodded in agreement.

"I'll go pack. You arrange for the captains first," Lady Lin said, turning to walk to the back courtyard.

Lin Zhenan dismissed the captains, telling them to collect their pay from the office tomorrow and take a temporary leave.

He then went to the main gate, looking at the banner trampled on the ground. He felt a deep sense of fatigue, his face appearing ten years older. The foundation he had built all his life had vanished in an instant, a huge blow to his spirit.

With the Death-Dealing Sword's reputation, the Fuyi Escort Agency had offended the entire Green Forest. In just this month, Su Zhong had destroyed forty bandit strongholds. The Death-Dealing Sword's name had been known for five years!

It seemed the escort agency's future was uncertain. Lin Zhenan shook his head and smiled bitterly, realizing his eldest son's deep scheming. Why did the Death-Dealing Sword choose to target the Green Forest, especially those who had dealings with the Fuyi Escort Agency? Lin Zhenan understood that Su Zhong was cutting off the Fuyi Escort Agency's future, forcing them to change their profession.

Although he didn't know his son's plans, since he dared to do this, he must have laid the groundwork. Lin Zhenan could only accept it helplessly.

...

Zuo Lengchan, after years of studying the "Cold Ice True Qi," had finally made some progress, and the ambition in his heart began to grow.

"Fei Bin, has the message been sent?" Zuo Lengchan sat in the middle of the hall, eyes closed, cultivating his inner strength. His face was stern, with thick eyebrows that exuded authority.

"Master, the message has been passed to Mu Gaofeng. He should be on his way to Fuzhou City," Fei Bin replied respectfully.

"Good. The water must be stirred to catch fish. Chaos brings a sense of crisis. This is the time to propose the unification of the Five Mountains. The 'Evil-Dispelling Sword Manual' is a small matter. If we get it, it's a bonus; if not, it's no big deal. We have enough skills in the Shaolin Sect to learn. There's no time to learn other sects' techniques. Don't waste effort on this. With Mu Gaofeng and Yu Canghai causing trouble, Yue Buqun won't have any chance! Focus on the unification."

"Master, you are right!" Fei Bin's eyes were fiery, admiring his ambitious master. "All the forces have been arranged to make them feel the threat of the demonic sect. When the time comes, the other four sword sects will have no choice but to unite!"

Zuo Lengchan nodded, indicating he had heard. He placed his hands on his abdomen, slowly finishing his cultivation. He exhaled, the breath turning into white smoke, cold and icy. Just one breath made Fei Bin feel a chill. Fei Bin's face was filled with joy. "Congratulations, Master, the 'Cold Ice True Qi' is complete!"

"Ha... With the Cold Ice in hand, who can stop the rise of the Shaolin Sect!" Zuo Lengchan's dominance was overwhelming.