Chapter 33

Gao Shu (2)

"......Ribu City?"

The noble who had reprimanded the ronin broke the silence, muttering to himself. His demeanor, which had been relaxed as he chatted with the two women, changed. He seemed to be both perplexed and intrigued.

The ronin's eyes darted up and down.

"Are you truly a warrior of Ribu City?"

Zheng Yanshen did not answer.

"The Sect of the Four Gates has been insulted by your words. Do not think your patience will last long."

Xian Yuan Chang spoke with a rare serious expression. When he drew his sword, his killing intent would be evident.

Zheng Yanshen, who had witnessed Xian Yuan Chang's battles, did not want to waste time.

Without a word, he rotated the remaining chopstick between his index and middle fingers. The ronin's expression changed dramatically.

"I had no intention of insulting Ribu City. I was merely......"

"I'm not interested in your affairs. You said the Blue-Eyed Demon Sword lost its sight. Tell me about that."

Zheng Yanshen, who had his hand on the sword hilt, looked at him intently.

"Devil! The Blood Flame Sect was behind it! Several Blood Demon Swordsmen and a Blood Flame Sect envoy clashed with Ma Guangyi, and he met his end while protecting a family of commoners......"

"......"

Zheng Yanshen thought Ma Guangyi was unusually gentle.

"Is it the Blood Flame Sect after the Defeated Sword Sect?"

Xian Yuan Chang muttered, looking disgusted. Zheng Yanshen slowly nodded.

He had not even seen the other thirteen thousand. It seemed only these two kept repeating their entanglements.

It was likely because Henan and Shaanxi were the main areas where they operated.

"You were probably just talking big."

Zheng Yanshen said. Perhaps it was the force in his voice that made the ronin stiffen.

After the Tanglang Sect, the Zhongnan Sect, and the Defeated Sword Sect. They had repeatedly engaged in group battles that were awash with blood.

His temperament was no longer the same as before. Zheng Yanshen was gradually becoming a true martial artist.

"I, I apologize!"

The man bowed deeply. His attitude was as if he saw Zheng Yanshen as a god of death.

The name Ribu City and the move Zheng Yanshen had shown had made him feel that way.

"It's the first time I've felt so reluctant to draw the Ribu Sword."

Contrary to Xian Yuan Chang's words, Zheng Yanshen felt as if he were looking in a mirror.

The sight of someone discarding their pride for their life. It was as if his own neck was so precious.

The scene the ronin had created did not feel like someone else's. It was himself.

Ma Guangyi and Zheng Yanshen, who had a public feud with the Ribu City Lord.

"Have some food. Pay the innkeeper for the table you broke."

He said this without thinking. Perhaps he hoped fate would show him such leniency.

"For someone of his age to possess such martial prowess, he could easily be arrogant......"

"Indeed, a master of a prestigious sect has dignity."

Zheng Yanshen's attitude was perceived as the magnanimity of a strong person.

Perhaps it was because he had shown a glimpse of his martial prowess with just a chopstick.

Not only the other ronin but even the noble young men and women, who seemed to be from prestigious martial families, expressed admiration for his composure.

The ronin, who had stood up, called the innkeeper and paid for the table Zheng Yanshen had broken.

He clearly wanted to leave but was holding back out of fear.

The noble stood up from his chair and approached Zheng Yanshen.

"Is your nickname perhaps Shan Yi?"

Zheng Yanshen nodded, and the interest in the noble's face deepened.

"I see the light of Ribu City after Bai Qilin and Nan Gong Huashen. It's truly a pleasure. I am Chen Lu of the Jin Family of Shaanxi."

"I am Ma Guangyi, Zheng Yanshen of Ribu City."

Xian Yuan Chang and Chen Lu's companions also exchanged greetings. They were the daughters of nearby martial families.

The others who had been sitting together left awkwardly. Chen Lu had given them coins.

"I have long admired the warriors of Ribu City. Being from a small family, we are close to the world of commoners as well as the martial world. When I see the sword style of Ribu City in the Jianghu, it makes my heart soar."

He said with a smile.

"I've heard there's a late-rising genius in Ribu City whose martial prowess far exceeds his age. He's active in Shaanxi, so it must be you."

"You have keen ears!"

Zheng Yanshen, feeling embarrassed, did not answer and merely nodded, but Xian Yuan Chang praised Chen Lu with a smile, looking very satisfied.

"If you're from the Ma Guangyi family, you seem to be heading to Lantian. Can I join you? I know it's impolite to ask on our first meeting, but I want to form a bond with the experts of Ribu City."

"Zheng Xiaoye, what do you think?"

Xian Yuan Chang did not agree immediately.

Though he treated Zheng Yanshen like a younger brother, he never overstepped his boundaries.

The blue-robed figure, recognized by Qing Ming and Bai Miyue, was above all white.

Zheng Yanshen spoke.

"Do you guess our destination? Do you know the details?"

"After the battle between the Zhongnan Sect and the Defeated Sword Sect, Ma Guangyi and the Huashan Sect are the hottest topics in the Western An martial world. Everyone's attention is on them, so even those from small martial families like us can't help but know about the big events in the Jianghu."

Chen Lu answered with a smile. Zheng Yanshen looked at him for a moment and nodded.

* * *

Xianyang was one of the most prominent cities in the Central Plains.

Lantian, located at the eastern end of the city, was quite a distance from the inn near Zhongnan Mountain where they had started.

During the journey, Chen Lu and Xian Yuan Chang became quite close.

"There, I shouted. Zheng Yanshen of Ribu City! I beheaded an elder of the Defeated Sword Sect! ... My shout was probably as loud as the lion's roar of Shaolin. All the martial artists of the Zhongnan Sect and the Defeated Sword Sect turned their heads. You should have seen it."

"Would a warrior of Ribu City lie? How could I not believe you?"

The two were naturally good at making friends. They quickly became comfortable and talked freely.

Chen Lu was not typical of someone from a small martial family. He had broad knowledge and knew how to praise others.

He had the dignity of a noble and a charisma that drew people to him.

Xian Yuan Chang, whose smile had widened, conversed with him warmly.

"Did you really behead the head of the Eight Fiendish Nalas Sword?"

One of the daughters of a martial family, who was riding with them, asked.

Her tanned face, which seemed to have been devoted to training, was full of curiosity.

Zheng Yanshen shook his head.

"It was just a chariot battle. Senior Jianlong, Wu Lingquan, Senior Dan'ai, and Xian Yuan Xiaoye all held back. The elder of the thirteen thousand is a different level of expert."

"I did receive a move! The final strike was a brilliant one by Zheng Xiaoye!"

Xian Yuan Chang laughed heartily. He seemed very pleased with Zheng Yanshen's praise.

"Let's take a break."

Chen Lu, who had been laughing with them, suggested. The sun was high in the sky.

It was also time for a meal, and the stream nearby allowed them to water the horses.

Zheng Yanshen nodded.

Xian Yuan Chang volunteered to take care of the horses. He gathered the reins and headed for the stream.

Bending down, Zheng Yanshen filled a small bottle with water from his robe. Chen Lu, sitting nearby, glanced at him and spoke.

"Do you use your left hand as well, Zheng Xiaoye?"

"I use the right sword technique. I have only superficially learned the fist and palm techniques."

"I see. Then your left side must be a weakness."

His tone was casual, as if they were discussing daily matters. Zheng Yanshen only realized the content of his words later.

Swiftly.

A dagger was thrust at him with astonishing speed, without even a hint of movement.

Chen Lu's ambush was incredibly stealthy. It was as if he had wielded a short sword with the speed of a swift sword.

The true qi of the Zheng Family's Inner Energy Technique surged within him. The internal energy that filled his entire body was heavier than before.

Zheng Yanshen had been prepared since he allowed Chen Lu to join them.

Chen Lu was far too extraordinary for an ordinary person, even though they had met for the first time at the inn after descending from Zhongnan Mountain.

'As if he had been waiting for this.'

At the moment he used the technique of the Shihua Wujiguan with his left arm, a terrifying sword light erupted from the diagonal angle.

The dazzling trajectory instantly severed Chen Lu's neck.

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