Chapter 67

Shenma's Selection (67)

Taewon has long been a military city that has defended against the northern barbarians. This is why the ancient fortress built in the past still stands.

Fenghuang City, known as one of the two great ancient fortresses alongside Pingyao City.

Baijian Sect was located at a strategic point facing the north gate of Fenghuang City.

Although its influence in the martial world had diminished with the decline of the city, its position in the region was very solid due to its shared history with Fenghuang City.

It was the only righteous sect that had played the role of a guardian in this area.

Around midnight, as darkness descended.

Fan Jiawei, who had taken in the sight of the pavilions of Baijian Sect in the distance, took out a pill from his pocket.

"Should I only take half of it? It's a waste."

Fan Jiawei, looking at the few remaining Shengshui Xindan, seemed reluctant as he licked his lips.

After a moment of hesitation, Fan Jiawei made up his mind.

"Ah, I'll just take it."

Even if he bleeds, his mind must remain clear.

Fan Jiawei, who had swallowed the pill without hesitation, released the killing intent he had suppressed deep in his chest.

"Who dared to touch Doctor Dan?"

Thinking of Dan Aoxian, who must have suffered greatly because of this, his anger boiled up on its own.

Rumble.

As Fan Jiawei rolled his True Form, the earth, unable to withstand the shock, caved in, and cracks like spider webs spread in all directions.

At that moment, Fan Jiawei's figure soared into the air.

With a single leap, he flew over thirty yards and rushed straight to a place.

Bang!

The main gate of Baijian Sect exploded outward due to Fan Jiawei's meteoric descent.

Crack.

The reception hall for external guests, the Zhike Hall, was also completely destroyed.

"It's an attack!"

Starting with a warning cry that was almost a scream, the sound of horns and shouts echoed from all directions, and martial artists began pouring out of the pavilions.

Most of them were in their nightclothes, clearly having been woken from sleep.

Despite this, the weapons they held exuded a severe aura as intense as their gaze.

However, they were all in a state of confusion.

Who could dare to jump over the walls of Baijian Sect? Even at its peak, the Zhangluo Sect had never thought of jumping over the walls of Baijian Sect.

Baijian Sect was that symbolic in Taewon.

"The enemy is only one person!"

Over fifty martial artists had already surrounded the intruder.

Despite their overwhelming numerical advantage, their faces were all tense.

The intruder's momentum was not ordinary.

Fan Jiawei, who had surveyed his surroundings, gripped the large scythe he carried on his back.

Rumble.

"Who is this Baidu Hui?"

A seasoned martial artist, who had much experience in the martial world, exclaimed in shock.

"Mountain Sweeper!"

He recognized Fan Jiawei's massive build, his bristling beard, and his unique weapon, the large scythe.

"......!"

Indescribable unease spread among the martial artists of Baijian Sect.

Now that Fan Jiawei's identity was known, no one could move first. Fan Jiawei, observing them, growled softly.

"Bring me that guy."

Clank.

Fan Jiawei tightened his grip on the large scythe.

"Or I'll kill all of you."

Since he lacked the skill to overwhelm his opponents with words like Chao Aoliang, this was better. But wasn't Fan Jiawei the one who was most confident in devastating his opponents?

'I'll sweep them away, and he'll be among them.'

Fan Jiawei was a master who had reached the realm of Heart and Will Guiding Qi.

The killing intent that arose naturally with his will intensified explosively. The overwhelming aura that instantly enveloped the area made the faces of the Baijian Sect disciples pale.

The oppressive gaze and formidable presence.

A terrifying pressure that only a grandmaster could possess dominated the entire space they stood in.

Just as Fan Jiawei was about to launch himself.

―I found him.

A mental message flew in.

Fan Jiawei turned his head to look in the direction the message came from. His eyes met those of a man peeking over the collapsed wall.

It was Ye Dan Ying.

His face was drenched in sweat from rushing here.

"Tch! Why now?"

Fan Jiawei frowned with regret.

"Lucky for you."

Without hesitation, Fan Jiawei turned and launched himself, following Ye Dan Ying, who had disappeared. He vanished into the darkness.

"What is going on here?"

The late-arriving leader of Baijian Sect, Bai Yunjing, pressed the dazed disciples.

But they were just as clueless.

One of them stepped forward, his face bewildered.

"The intruder was Fan Jiawei."

"What?"

Bai Yunjing, taking in the sight of the destroyed gate and reception hall, was filled with incomprehensible doubt.

"Why him?"

Bai Yunjing couldn't understand the current situation.

Baijian Sect did not participate in the martial alliance's campaign to eliminate the Ten Great Evils. Moreover, there was no significant past between them. Or rather, their areas of activity were far apart, so there was no chance for them to be involved.

"I also don't know the details, but..."

The reception hall master, who was responsible for the outer security, mentioned a point that was unclear.

"He mentioned the name of Young Master Bai Yun Hui."

"Why would he look for Hui'er here? He hasn't been here for a long time."

"I don't know either."

Bai Yunjing, looking around with a bewildered expression, let out a heavy sigh.

'What have you been up to?'

Attracting a monster like Fan Jiawei was no small matter.

The groans of the injured seeping through the ruins of the pavilions made Bai Yunjing's heart even heavier.

"Take care of the injured and send a message to the martial alliance!"

As soon as Bai Yunjing's instructions were given, the dazed disciples of Baijian Sect began to move busily.

* * *

A small village half a day's journey from Taewon.

In the darkness that enveloped the surroundings, the only inn with a lit lamp stood out.

Inside, Bai Yun Hui was facing Bai Tian Ren.

A thick candle as thick as an arm dripped wax, illuminating the surroundings, but deep shadows still covered their faces.

The flickering candlelight, disturbed by the wind seeping through the window, and the undulating shadows on the wall further disturbed their already troubled minds.

"There will be another opportunity."

After a long silence, Bai Yun Hui broke the ice.

"Fortunately, the news about the whereabouts of the Divine Son has not spread."

Bai Tian Ren, stroking his white beard silently, showed signs of anxiety in his eyes.

"But we don't have much time."

Once the elite members of the Zhangluo Sect disappeared, it was only a matter of time before the rumors started circulating among the gossips.

"Don't worry. If we keep knocking, the door will eventually open. There are plenty of people who can replace the Zhangluo Sect."

Bai Tian Ren frowned at Bai Yun Hui's confident tone.

"Are you sure you're not just stirring up trouble and scaring the snake?"

After the first encounter, the Bingyu Xianzi's vigilance would have increased. Moreover, the members of the Zhangluo Sect sent to Shenma Valley had vanished without a trace.

"Perhaps the rumors about the Bingyu Xianzi are true..."

To disappear completely without a trace, as if erased from existence, was not a trivial matter.

"Don't worry. This time, it will definitely succeed."

"How?"

Bai Yun Hui lifted the cold tea to his mouth.

After moistening his lips with a sip of tea, Bai Yun Hui spoke.

"I plan to involve the Ice Palace of the Northern Sea."

"......!"

Bai Tian Ren straightened up, his eyes widening. He knew that she had once been a master representing the Ice Palace of the Northern Sea.

"Isn't it difficult to move them?"

"The position of Inspector is very useful in such situations."

Although not part of the martial alliance, the Ice Palace was the only sect in the new outer regions where the martial alliance could exert influence.

"Once I reveal the whereabouts of the Bingyu Xianzi, they will come running barefoot."

"Why?"

In response to Bai Tian Ren's question, Bai Yun Hui smiled meaningfully.

"The reason is hard to explain, but their current situation is not good."

Having thoroughly investigated the recent unusual activities in the new outer regions, he could confidently say this.

"They will definitely come for her. It's a matter of life and death for them."

Bai Tian Ren, seeing Bai Yun Hui's confident attitude, put aside his doubts.

"Soon, the day will come when our Baijian Sect will rule the world."

Bai Yun Hui's words made Bai Tian Ren stroke his beard habitually, a pleased look on his face.

"Just thinking about it makes me feel good."

At that moment.

Bai Yun Hui suddenly felt something strange.

An indescribable, alien sensation.

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing, it's nothing."

In response to Bai Tian Ren's puzzled question, Bai Yun Hui forced a smile, but his face suddenly stiffened.

"......!"

It felt as if he had been doused in ice water, and his entire body's hair stood on end.

'What is this?'

Bai Yun Hui quickly looked around.

The air around him was gradually becoming heavier.

He finally realized that the dense killing intent surging from all sides was the cause.

Bang.

Suddenly, the door opened, and a man with a massive build thrust his head in.

Before the two could react, Fan Jiawei calmly pulled a chair and sat between them.

Bai Tian Ren, bewildered, looked at Bai Yun Hui.

"Do you know him?"

He was a large man himself, but the man in front of him was a head taller. He had never seen such a monstrous figure before.

Fan Jiawei, alternating his gaze between Bai Tian Ren and Bai Yun Hui, smiled.

"Is it you?"

The Inspector was the younger brother of the Baijian Sect leader, so the old man in front of him couldn't be the one.

Seeing Fan Jiawei's smile, Bai Yun Hui's heart sank. He finally realized who the man was.

Bai Tian Ren, noticing his nephew's troubled expression, extended his palms while seated.

Swoosh!

The palm force that struck the back of the opponent fiercely swept through the room.

"Ah!"

A piercing scream echoed at that moment.

It was the scream of Bai Tian Ren, who had launched the preemptive attack.

Bai Tian Ren looked down at his dangling hands, their wrists broken, with a stunned expression. Then he spat out blood.

"How can such an unbelievable protective aura exist..."

It felt as if he had struck a massive steel wall.

Bai Tian Ren, muttering, couldn't continue. A large hand suddenly appeared in front of him, grabbing his head.

Bai Tian Ren, gasping for air, tried to extend his hands again.

Crack.

At the same time, a terrifying sound erupted from within Fan Jiawei's grip.

"......!"

Bai Yun Hui's eyes shook uncontrollably.

Bai Tian Ren's limp hands.

His head, crushed by Fan Jiawei, was bleeding from the nose, and he was dead.

His eyes, wide open in death, were filled only with shock and fear.

Seeing Fan Jiawei's gaze, Bai Yun Hui hastily shouted.

"If you harm me, the martial alliance will never let it go!"

Fan Jiawei chuckled.

"When did they put a bounty on my head? What's new about that?"

With nothing left to say, Bai Yun Hui nervously glanced around. At that moment, the door opened, and Ye Dan Ying quietly entered.

Seeing Bai Tian Ren, who had bled from the nose and died, Ye Dan Ying froze.

'This is chaos!'

Once Fan Jiawei saw blood, he would completely lose control.

Knowing this, Ye Dan Ying judged that it was impossible to quietly resolve the situation.

'Damn it!'

Not only was it impossible to resolve, but it was now difficult to escape unscathed.

Ye Dan Ying glared at Bai Yun Hui. This was all because of that fool. Then he noticed something strange.

Fan Jiawei's gaze, looking at him, was unusually clear.

Ye Dan Ying cautiously asked.

"Are you alright?"

"What do you mean?"

"That... your madness... is it okay?"