Chapter 56: A Tyrant Can Also Be a Hero (1)

Whoosh!

A person darts through the air, the sound of tearing air echoing around them. Hong Weimin’s eyes widened.

‘What the hell!’

Xu Liang’s charge was like a storm. It was a speed and agility rarely seen before. Despite moving so swiftly, he seemed to have the freedom to change direction at any moment, and the aura he exuded was as fierce as fire.

The targets didn’t even catch a glimpse of his clothing before they died, thanks to the lethal footwork, the Nine Heavens Earth-Constricting Divine Step (九天縮地神步), which was now being displayed.

Feeling the urgency, Hong Weimin hurriedly unleashed his palm force.

Boom!

Most of the area in front of him was covered by the palm shadows. The martial arts he unleashed in such a short time were an excellent response.

Xu Liang’s demonic eyes flashed.

Boom!

“Gah!”

Hong Weimin’s body was pushed back again. His hand, which was still red, had his flowing sleeves torn to shreds.

‘Madman! He really attacked with all his might?!’

The hand technique of the Heavenly Skill (提天技), the Wall of Hands.

But that wasn’t the end. After breaking through Hong Weimin’s palm technique with a single strike, Xu Liang’s hand had already turned into a fist, compressing the overflowing power into a solid mass like a lump of iron.

Rumble!

Xu Liang stepped into the true stance and thrust his fist forward. The target was Hong Weimin’s sternum.

Swinging a fist capable of shattering rock at a person’s sternum was a move that required the will to kill; otherwise, no one would dare attempt it.

‘Gah!’

Boom!

Back, and then further back.

Hong Weimin, who had been retreating continuously, looked extremely worn out in just a short moment. Although he managed to block the final lethal move, the excessive use of his inner energy left him unable to control it.

If only he had a few moments to catch his breath, he could have regained his composure.

‘He won’t give me any chance! I need to prepare for the follow-up attack…’

Suddenly, Hong Weimin’s eyes flickered.

To his surprise, Xu Liang, who he thought would immediately launch a follow-up attack, was standing at a distance, tapping his foot on the ground.

“…?”

Why? He couldn’t have been unaware that this brief pause would decide the outcome of the battle, could he?

At that moment, Xu Liang’s muttering reached his ears.

“The overall hand techniques, starting with the Wall of Hands, are indeed well-practiced. But as expected, they have lost their cleanliness. I’ll check this part later…”

“…!”

“Should I draw my sword once? No, I can control it, but if the battle intensifies, I can’t rule out the possibility of innocent people getting hurt… Hmm?”

Xu Liang blinked.

“Oh, have you caught your breath?”

“…What are you up to?”

“I’ve waited long enough. This time, you come to me.”

Whoosh.

A deep killing intent clouded Hong Weimin’s eyes.

Daring to test his martial arts against me?

Sssss!

The Four Kings’ Dark Art flared up instantly, turning his pupils purple, and a sinister aura burst forth from his eyes.

Whoosh!

A foul, snake-like stench seemed to waft through the air.

With a sound like bones cracking, Hong Weimin’s fingers grew longer and thicker. His nails, sharpened to a point, turned pitch black, losing their original color.

Xu Liang smirked.

“Truly, this martial art takes a long time to prepare. That’s why you get pushed back without even being able to land a blow in a surprise attack.”

“You must be mad to want to die so much!”

“Since you’re planning to kill me anyway, why should I let you off easily?”

I never imagined he would push me this far.

Hong Weimin’s lips curled into a cold smile. His purple pupils grew noticeably larger, exuding a strange and evil aura.

“This can be considered self-defense. I’m grateful.”

“I’m even more grateful. You agreed to the drinking session so calmly.”

Rumble!

A crimson lightning bolt shot out from his right hand, concentrated with the Dark Shadow Demon Energy.

It’s not fire, but lightning. This was a completely different form of energy from what he had shown before.

“Enough talk. If you’re ready, come at me.”

Sssss!

A sound that induced a sense of unease in the listener echoed.

It was the noise made by a snake slithering on the ground. Finally, Hong Weimin moved.

Snap!

His approach was smooth yet incredibly fast. At a perfect moment, he leaped and swung his hand, much like a venomous snake attacking its prey.

Xu Liang’s eyes flashed.

Crack!

Their hands clashed in the air a dozen times. The exchange was so swift, it happened in the blink of an eye.

Swoosh!

Xu Liang took a few steps back.

It wasn’t because he found it difficult to withstand Hong Weimin’s attack. He needed to observe the opponent’s martial arts and integrate the footwork into his own.

‘This guy!’

Hong Weimin’s level wasn’t so low that he couldn’t read his opponent’s intentions.

Whoosh.

A purple aura spread from the tips of his blackened nails.

At the same time, a thick, sweet smell wafted through the air, like the scent of decaying leaves.

‘I’ll shatter that composure.’

Hong Weimin swung his hand like lightning. The Red Thread, the ultimate technique of the Four Kings’ Dark Art, the Black Bone Snake Shadow Hand (黑骨蛇影手).

Xu Liang swung his hand in response.

Clang!

Their hands collided, producing a metallic sound like that of iron weapons clashing.

Crack!

Purple energy fragments scattered into the air.

‘Still no effect.’

The Black Bone Snake Shadow Hand is a formidable martial art in itself.

But the true terror of this technique lies in its venom. It’s a nerve toxin that is difficult to detoxify, and because it leaves no trace and is injected in small amounts, it is also effective for assassinations.

Even high-level experts struggle against this venom. Right now, the purple venom was being dispersed by Xu Liang’s demonic energy.

‘Of course. This guy’s demonic energy is a powerful yang energy. Ordinary poisons won’t work.’

Then what?

Sssss.

Hong Weimin, moving twice as fast as before, had already positioned himself behind Xu Liang.

His movements were so smooth that it was hard to read his intentions. Xu Liang couldn’t help but admire his footwork.

‘Definitely different.’

Just seeing him freely use such high-level footwork at his age made it clear that he wasn’t just any disciple of Li Chianshang.

Whirr!

Suddenly, the back of his neck tingled. He could precisely read the direction of Hong Weimin’s killing intent.

Crack!

Hong Weimin’s leg swung at Xu Liang’s neck.

The upward strike of the Great Python Fang (大蟒牙) was very direct and powerful, unlike his footwork. The coordination with his footwork was also remarkable.

Whoosh!

But Hong Weimin’s kick only sliced through the air.

The combination of the Dragon Coiling Footwork and the Great Python Fang had never failed before. It was surprising, though not shocking.

Xu Liang’s counterattack was immediate.

Crack!

The Dragon Coiling Footwork performs equally well on both offense and defense. Xu Liang’s short, upward palm strike missed its mark.

Was Hong Weimin’s counterattack about to begin?

Boom! Crack!

Surprise filled Hong Weimin’s face.

He deflected a palm strike aimed at his face with his forearm, and a punch followed immediately. Whether he chose to defend or evade, he wouldn’t have been surprised, but to do both at once was unexpected.

Boom!

‘Gah!’

Despite being shaken by the palm strike, his chest felt as if it had been hit by a sledgehammer.

He wasn’t seriously injured, but he could feel his inner energy defenses being disrupted.

‘…?’

Hong Weimin’s eyes widened as he used the Dragon Coiling Footwork again.

‘How?!’

He tried to move to the left and then smoothly to the back, but his path was blocked.

Xu Liang, who had positioned himself in his path, smiled and moved his foot.

Snap!

“Hiss!”

He barely suppressed a scream out of pride. Hong Weimin’s body was pushed back.

He allowed a kick to his chest, which had already been hit by a punch. Thanks to the gathered demonic energy, his bones didn’t break, but his internal organs were shaken.

Hong Weimin lifted his head, swaying.

‘…!’

Xu Liang had disappeared from his field of vision.

There was no sound, no trace of energy. He couldn’t sense where Xu Liang had moved to.

Panicked, Hong Weimin pushed his Four Kings’ Dark Art to its peak. A chill ran down his spine.

At that moment, he felt a terrifying concentration of demonic energy from his right rear.

Boom! Crack!

With a loud explosion, Hong Weimin was sent flying, smashing a tree as he fell.

Xu Liang lowered his extended hand and smiled.

“Good, that’s enough.”

The combination of the Heavenly Skill, the Nine Heavens Earth-Constricting Divine Step, and the Dark Shadow Demon Energy was perfect. He had been confident, but now he felt even more so after confirming it in combat.

Sssss!

The shattered tree fragments turned to dust.

As Hong Weimin slowly rose, a vivid purple demonic energy rose from his entire body.

Sizzle!

The Four Kings’ Dark Art, now at its peak, activated the core of the venom. The dangerous purple energy surged, turning the area into a zone of death.

Xu Liang frowned.

‘Poison.’

Assassins are also skilled with poisons, as they are effective in killing targets.

‘It’s no problem for me, though.’

Sssss.

The surging purple energy slowly but surely expanded its territory.

He looked around.

Many demons were already gathered at a distance, watching the fierce battle between the two experts.

The distance was considerable, so they wouldn’t be caught in the shockwave, but the poison was a different matter.

Flash!

Hong Weimin’s eyes turned completely purple. The whites of his eyes had disappeared, giving them a mysterious appearance.

“Haa…”

Even his lazy exhalation carried a purple mist.

The aura he exuded was as strong as steel, and the energy waves were vicious. The demonic energy reached its peak, and the fully unleashed Four Kings’ Dark Art was in perfect harmony with him.

Swoosh.

Hong Weimin slowly lowered his upper body, taking a stance similar to a four-legged predator, his eyes fixed on Xu Liang.

Step by step.

Xu Liang slowly moved to the right, while Hong Weimin only turned his head to track his position.

Snap.

As Xu Liang’s step stopped, Hong Weimin’s head, which had been bent to the left, also stopped.

“….”

Silence without words. A conversation of silence.

Sssss!

Hong Weimin’s tongue, split on both sides, swept under his chin, making him look like a mythical creature.

Xu Liang, who had been watching him with a blank expression, slowly lowered his stance.

His left hand gripped the scabbard, and his right arm hung naturally. A smile formed on his lips.

“Shall we finish this?”

“Kyaat!”

Boom!

The speed doubled. His elongated and hardened hands swung wildly, as if trying to tear Xu Liang apart in one go.

At the same time, Xu Liang’s left thumb moved.

Zing!

A crimson lightning bolt surrounded the blade as it was drawn like lightning.

Xu Liang’s blade and Hong Weimin’s hands clashed.

Boom!

* * *

“What did I do wrong?”

“Shut up.”

“Shut up? When have I ever spoken to you informally! Do you know who I am? No, you don’t!”

“If you continue to cause a disturbance, you’ll face additional charges for obstructing the execution of official duties. Understand?”

“Mad! I’m already facing thirty years in prison. What’s a few more years to me, you bastard! Just get the Head of the External Hall quickly! How can you arrest the accomplice and let the mastermind go free? Especially when I didn’t even know about it?!”

On the way to the Criminal Law Hall.

The scene of a middle-aged man in his early fifties shouting and the Criminal Law Hall members maintaining a poker face was quite a sight.

The middle-aged man kept shouting.

“You bastards! I’m innocent!!”

Boom!

“Huh!”

The middle-aged man, as well as the Criminal Law Hall members, were startled and turned their heads toward the source of the explosion.

Their faces turned pale.

“What, what is this?!”

Two experts were engaged in a fierce battle in the air, completely destroying a building.

The leader of the group quickly shouted.

“What are you doing! Go to the hall head and request the Black Crow Guard to mobilize! I’ll handle the suspect’s transfer!”

The middle-aged man, whose face had turned pale, looked at the two experts.

“What the hell is this mess…”

Suddenly, his eyes widened.

“Huh? Huh?!”

His gaze was fixed on Xu Liang.

“…That sword technique?”