Chapter 44

As for the grudges and conflicts between the Hui people and Yan Shizhang, Jingwei, Liu Hongjun, and Zhao Dingkun had no interest. They were busy exchanging information about their progress and any gains they had made.

Among the eight, Liu Hongjun and Jingwei were temporarily in the lead, having killed six and five officials and constables, respectively. The others had also completed some tasks to varying degrees.

Even the seemingly weakest of them, Xiu Yongqing and Fan Qi, had each killed one official and constable, learned a basic martial art, and gained some initial self-defense capabilities.

Moreover, as long as they took action, they generally obtained skill books, even if they were the most basic forms of swordsmanship, knifework, or spear techniques.

Everyone's first kill in the Book and Sword world had a good drop rate. After that, even without skill books, they would still receive some main god points, healing potions, weapons, or other items.

Seeing everyone discussing enthusiastically, Fang Junjie and Guo Siyu could only look on enviously, unable to join in the conversation. Unconsciously, the two of them felt isolated.

Ignoring Liu Hongjun and Jingwei's excitement, Li Wucheng closely watched Hu Qingtong. After a moment's thought, he decided to ruin Chen Jialuo's good fortune.

Hu Qingtong's affection for Chen Jialuo was not a good thing for her. Chen Jialuo could never be a good man, and such a fine woman should not be trapped in a love trap.

The Hui people pressed forward with their weapons gleaming, about to hack Yan Shizhang to pieces.

He suddenly handed both wheels to his left hand, pulled the red cloth bundle from his back with his right hand, raised the wheels high, and shouted, "If you want to win by numbers, I'll destroy this bundle first."

The Hui people were all greatly alarmed and retreated a few steps.

Seeing himself surrounded, Yan Shizhang knew he could only rely on his skills to try to survive. He shouted, "You have many people, and taking my life would be easy. But I, Yan Shizhang, will die unsatisfied unless we fight one-on-one. Whoever beats my dual wheels, I will respect as a hero and hand over the bundle. Otherwise, I would rather die with the bundle. If you want it, hah, it's just a delusion."

Zhou Qi couldn't hold back and jumped out of the circle, shouting, "Fine, let's see who's better." She brandished her goose feather saber and was about to step forward.

Zhou Zhongying pulled her back and said, "With so many heroic uncles and uncles here, why do you, a girl, have to show off?"

Hu Qingtong waved her left hand at Zhou Qi and said, "I thank you for your kindness, Sister."

Zhou Qi said, "It's nothing."

Hu Qingtong said, "I'll go first. If I can't do it, please lend me a hand, Sister."

Zhou Qi said, "Don't worry, I think you're a good person, and I'll definitely help you."

Zhou Zhongying whispered, "Silly girl, didn't you see that her martial arts are stronger than yours?"

Zhou Qi said, "Does she think I'm wrong?"

Lu Feiqing interjected, "This red cloth bundle contains something very important to them. She must take it back herself."

Zhou Qi nodded and said, "That makes sense."

Zhou Zhongying shook his head and laughed.

Zhou Zhongying was a first-rate martial artist in the martial arts world, but his personality was rough and he was not patient with teaching. As a result, his disciples and daughter's skills were far inferior to his. This precious daughter of his was especially hot-blooded and would always rush forward whenever she encountered something, regardless of whether it was related to her.

Because he was not good at teaching, Zhou Zhongying's two sons died in the struggles of the martial arts world, and even Zhou Zhongying, at a young age, had caused great trouble.

Yan Shizhang, with the bundle on his back, said, "Who will come up? Have you decided?"

Hu Qingtong said, "I'll take on your Five Elements Wheels."

Yan Shizhang said, "What will happen after the fight?"

Hu Qingtong said, "No matter who wins, the scripture must be left behind. If you win, you can go. If you lose, you stay with the bundle."

With that, she changed her sword technique and thrust at his left shoulder. Yan Shizhang's dual wheels followed the Five Elements and Eight Trigrams, with sixty-four moves, specializing in disarming opponents, blocking, and sealing. The moves were very tight. They exchanged several moves in an instant.

Hu Qingtong's sword moves became even faster, changing before the sword even reached its target. Yan Shizhang's dual wheels tried to lock her sword, but they couldn't.

Wu Chen, Lu Feiqing, Zhao Banshan, and others, all skilled swordsmen, commented from the side.

Wu Chen said, "This thrust to his right side is fast enough, but not ruthless enough."

Zhao Banshan laughed, "How can she compare to your decades of skill? Were you as agile as her at her age?"

Wu Chen laughed, "This girl is likable, everyone is helping her."

After exchanging another twenty moves, Hu Qingtong's cheeks were slightly flushed, and fine sweat appeared on her forehead, but her spirit and energy were steady, and her steps and movements were not disordered. Suddenly, her sword technique changed, and the Tianshan Sect's ultimate skill, "Mirage," emerged from the tip of her sword. The moves were both real and illusory, seeming real but also illusory.

In the midst of the wheel and sword shadows, a white blade flashed. Yan Shizhang's right wrist was struck, and he let out a cry of surprise. His right wheel flew into the air, and everyone cheered spontaneously.

Yan Shizhang leaped back a few feet and said, "I admit defeat, the scripture is yours!"

He reached back to untie the red cloth bundle. Hu Qingtong's face lit up with joy, and she stepped forward, sheathed her sword, and reached out to take the Quran, which her people revered as a holy book.

Yan Shizhang's face darkened, and he shouted, "Take it!" He raised his right hand, and suddenly three flying darts shot toward her chest. This sudden move left Hu Qingtong unable to dodge. She did a "Iron Board Bridge," bending backward to avoid the darts, which narrowly missed her face. Yan Shizhang, not stopping, threw three more darts in quick succession. Hu Qingtong, with her eyes looking up, did not see the danger approaching.

The onlookers were all shocked and angry, and they rushed forward together.

This sudden move was unexpected by many, and they were too late to help. But a shadow flashed, and someone intervened.

Just as Hu Qingtong straightened up, she heard three "ding" sounds. The three darts were knocked to the ground by some hidden weapon, landing at her feet. If not for the rescue, the darts would have hit her vital points, and she broke out in a cold sweat.

"Despicable and shameless."

She heard a light shout and saw a young gentleman wielding his sword like lightning, swiftly attacking Yan Shizhang.

It turned out that Li Wucheng had anticipated this and, seeing Hu Qingtong in danger, immediately intervened. His speed with the Lingbo Microstep was even faster than Chen Jialuo's hidden weapons.

If one looked closely, they would see that Chen Jialuo was holding three chess pieces, ready to throw, but had not yet done so.

With full force, Li Wucheng's combat power was astonishing. The Beiming True Qi drove his ordinary long sword like a venomous snake, extremely dangerous.

With a move called "White Rainbow Piercing the Sun," the sword whistled and roared, and Yan Shizhang blocked with his Five Elements Wheels but was thrown back by the force. The sword thrust forward and pierced Yan Shizhang's chest and abdomen.

Yan Shizhang let out a loud cry and fell backward.