Chapter 91

The Art of Instant Slaying (3)

Nangong Huashen sat down beside him at the table. Zheng Yanshen gazed steadily at the person seated opposite.

He was a young man in his late twenties, with kind eyes.

His slightly pursed lips seemed to speak of firm resolve.

He was the young master of the Nangong family.

‘He is the younger brother of Bai Qilin, they said.’

Nangong Sejin, the young master of the Blue Kirin Nangong family, was said to be the foremost young hero in Nan Zhili. That was a story from the past.

Recently, there were no gossips in the martial world about him in the realm of young heroes.

His physique was as outstanding as his appearance.

His long robe, intricately woven with high-quality blue silk, seemed to be part of his body. It was even darker than the blue martial attire of the Ruyi Hall.

Thud.

The swordsman of the Nangong family, with long hair, personally served tea.

Despite his stern aura, his movements were cautious. He seemed unbothered by the role of a servant.

Rather, he seemed to take the initiative.

“Thank you, Lian Mei.”

“...”

The young woman, who responded with a slight smile to the young master’s words, retreated a few steps.

She soon stood guard at the door of the inn’s annex.

It was already a place guarded without any gaps by the Nangong family’s warriors. It seemed as if they were protecting a person of the highest dignity in the world.

‘They say he is like royalty in Nan Zhili.’

Zheng Yanshen thought. The rumors seemed to be true.

“I’m glad to see that you look well.”

The young master said. He was looking at Nangong Huashen with a gentle gaze.

“The Ruyi Hall is said to have strict laws. I was worried, but it seems the air of Yangyang in the Huoguang Hall suits you. You’ve become very strong.”

“...It’s all thanks to my elder brother.”

“Perhaps I did contribute a little.”

A playful smile formed at the corner of the young master’s mouth.

“I don’t know how much you were scolded by the elders. They punished me severely for helping you leave. I had to enter a month-long seclusion.”

“Ah...”

“The young master of the Nangong family, as I am, has a narrow mind like the elders. I’ve been pondering this even after seeing you today. However, this is the right way.”

“What do you mean?”

“I should have asked you first.”

With that, the young master stood up from his seat.

Swish.

He moved to one side of the table.

Soon, his body slowly leaned forward, extending his hands and bowing.

There was no sign of him stopping until his upper body touched the ground. Sounds of people gasping echoed from all around.

Thus,

The young master of the Nangong family bowed to the sixteen-year-old from the opposing sect.

“The saying goes, ‘a hundred apologies.’ This is the apology I should have given. Though I shouldn’t speak on behalf of the Nangong family, this is...”

The voice came from the lowest point. The young master, still prostrate, spoke.

“Your support for the Nangong family at Qingya Valley is deeply appreciated. This is the apology of the young master of the Nangong family, who repaid kindness with ingratitude, and the self-respect of a martial artist who wishes to face you in the duel with a clear conscience.”

“...”

The silence around was heavy. A martial artist who held the hegemony of a city in Zhongyuan was said to be no less than a king of a small country. The young master of the Nangong family, destined to be the ruler of the martial world in Nan Zhili, was like a crown prince in terms of power and prestige.

Zheng Yanshen looked down with a calm face.

The young master’s back did not show any sign of rising. His resolve seemed firm.

‘This person’s sword technique must be terrifying.’

The boy did not show any change in expression. However, he was inwardly perplexed.

He was a righteous hero who clearly distinguished right from wrong. He did not expect to encounter such a chivalrous spirit in the Nangong family.

He certainly did not expect his life-and-death opponent to be such a person.

“I cannot easily forgive this. I know that such a gesture cannot absolve the Nangong family of its sins. The duel is already set, so just accept it.”

The young master did not raise his head for a long time.

Nangong Huashen remained silent with a bitter expression.

The Nangong family’s warriors, who were guarding, showed various expressions. Zheng Yanshen took a sip of tea and then spoke.

“You are right. The life-and-death duel is already decided. One of us must die, so there’s no point in questioning its meaning now.”

“...”

“I will accept the young master’s apology. It’s better if you get up and speak about your business.”

“Truly, I am grateful.”

The young master got up from his seat.

He slowly raised his head. His face had an awkward smile.

‘His heart is also pure.’

Zheng Yanshen thought.

The man in front of him had a profound inner strength. It was both awe-inspiring and intriguing. What kind of sword path did he possess?

* * *

“I heard that you encountered two major incidents on your way here. I came to escort you and Ahxin. Of course, my subordinates will stay behind. How can you trust us, Siming?”

The young master did as he said. He dismissed all the Nangong family’s warriors who had come with him.

“I believe it is right for the young master to maintain your position.”

“A lone wanderer is the one who should be the unique hero of the martial world.”

There were those who did not want to leave. It was natural.

The Nangong family of Huizhou was considered the top family among the righteous sects.

The young master was not in a position to freely roam the martial world.

“Do not bring me any more shame. I am embarrassed in front of the Ruyi Hall’s experts. Do not even think of following from a distance. I will punish any act of defiance with the young master’s decree.”

The young master dismissed them with a calm command. His attitude was very resolute.

Nangong Mei wanted to leave with her subordinates, but the young master, shaking his head, stopped her.

“The Lingqi of the Puppet Master’s Three is wondrous. I know your body has recovered. This might be your last journey in the martial world. We have never toured the world together as siblings.”

“Last journey? What do you mean...!”

“Follow me. Huizhou is near. It won’t take more than a few days.”

Thus, four people remained.

Zheng Yanshen’s group, who had stayed in Huangzhou for five days unexpectedly, set out. They had an unexpected companion on their journey.

They silently entered the forest path. Occasionally, eight footprints were imprinted on the golden-dusted ground.

There might have been ten, considering the pursuit by the Ruyi Hall.

Nangong Huashen and Nangong Mei, Zheng Yanshen and the young master.

It was a group that found it hard to walk amicably. One of them had to die.

The young master’s weighty jest occasionally broke the silence.

“It’s a good thing.”

The young master suddenly spoke. The smile he gave Zheng Yanshen and Nangong Huashen alternately was strangely charming.

“Siming and Bai Qilin. The names of the two experts have started to spread beyond the land of Huoguang. If you two survive, cherish the bond of friendship. A worthy rival is someone who hones each other into divine swords. For me, it was Tai Yanlong of the Huangbao family, but he is imprisoned in the Ruyi Hall’s Thunder Prison, isn’t he?”

“I don’t know how he is still alive.”

Zheng Yanshen replied. He was the one who had bitten a poppy and acted like a madman. It was hard to imagine him fitting in with the young master.

“He seemed free-spirited but was a naive friend. He wanted to leave the family, but it only remained a wish. We had a lot in common. He seems to have achieved his dream in a different way, but... the path of the martial world is unpredictable.”

The young master murmured with a bitter smile. At that moment, the group, including Zheng Yanshen, turned their bodies.

“The Ruyi Hall’s Siming is there!”

A voice, imbued with inner strength, echoed loudly. It was more of a declaration than a question.

A group of people was rushing towards them from the rear at an incredible speed. Each of them wielded a weapon.

There seemed to be about twenty of them. The collective aura they emitted was not ordinary.

The calm forest air began to be disturbed by a strong wind.

“Young man in blue from the Ruyi Hall! Endure the punishment of the Heartless Sect’s Grand Disciple!”

One of them stood out. The leader of the group leaped out with astonishing speed. He had already drawn his sword.

Swish!

Without asking right or wrong, he launched a sword strike.

‘Xin Wulian.’

Zheng Yanshen immediately recalled the martial journey that led to the creation of the Horse-Killing Blue Sword Technique.

He had been among the thirteen thousand young heroes, along with the original monk Yuanzong of Shaolin. The woman Jian Yehua had beheaded an innocent woman.

Later, Ma Jin had advised him to be cautious of her betrothed, who had a grudge.

The thirteen thousand sects of the martial world, including the Defeated Sword Sect, Blood Flame Sect, and Xin Wulian, had a grudge against Zheng Yanshen.

The Ruyi Hall had sent a duel invitation to the Nangong family. The entire martial world was shaken.

The list of participants was also well-known. The route to Nan Zhili was obvious, yet they had delayed for five days in Huangzhou.

‘It’s not surprising that they caught up.’

It was something he had prepared for. Zheng Yanshen caught the sword wave of the Ruyi Hall’s sword and responded.

Clang!

He clashed swords immediately. The aftereffects of the opponent’s strike spread to his palms.

It was an extraordinary sword force, far beyond the ordinary.

Zheng Yanshen muttered.

“Grand Disciple?”

“I am the captain of a hundred men in our sect! The Grand Disciple sent me to punish you!”

The middle-aged man shouted like a lion’s roar.

You are not the one, Zheng Yanshen thought to himself.

The fact that only twenty men had come, despite being the captain of a hundred, was a secondary issue.

Time was running out, and the enemies were increasing. He was worried that he might die before eating the fruit.

At that moment,

An overwhelming presence stirred. It was from the direction where the subordinates of the middle-aged man were rushing.

It was not a narrow space. A formidable aura emanated from the young master of the Nangong family, spreading widely.

Whoosh!

The air around seemed to be pushed away. At the same time, the movements of the Xin Wulian warriors rapidly slowed down.

‘No, they are not moving at all.’

They were not just slow; the twenty men were almost motionless.

It was a truly surreal scene. Even if they were warriors who had mastered the inner strength of the thirteen thousand sects.

This was extraordinary.

The martial arts had transcended the ordinary.

“Imperial... Sword Technique...”

Nangong Huashen, who had drawn his sword simultaneously with Zheng Yanshen, let out a sigh.

While the boy was engaged with the Xin Wulian captain, the young master had stepped in front of his subordinates.

A divine technique was revealed before Zheng Yanshen’s eyes. It was a unique martial art of the Nangong family, unparalleled in the world.

“Why are you blocking us, Blue Kirin! The Ruyi Hall is a public matter of the martial world! Shouldn’t we kill these scoundrels first and then confront you?”

The captain, who was locked in a sword clash with Zheng Yanshen, shouted.

The young master did not answer. With the Imperial Sword Technique in hand, he looked at the boy and spoke.

“I recently heard that you severed the head of the Defeated Sword Sect’s Eighth Fiendish Nalcha. Even in Nan Zhili, the news has spread. Did you know that beggars from the Beggar Sect were watching at the time? They call themselves food insects, but their insight is no less than that of any expert. I was able to buy high-quality information.”

Then he turned his body again. The Xin Wulian warriors, who had drawn their weapons, surrounded him.

“I heard that you are skilled in breaking and destroying techniques. You can dismantle and destroy them well. Therefore, I will not show you my sword techniques beforehand.”

“Haaaaa!”

The warriors trapped in the domain of the Imperial Sword Technique shouted. Now, no one could even move.

One by one, they died with each breath. Their lifelines were severed with desperate gasps.

There is a saying, “kill the horse and exterminate the rider.” The idea that a righteous sect would show mercy is absurd.

The young master’s hand, which had drawn the sword, was resolute. All the righteous sect’s warriors who faced the heterodox sects were like this.

When the captain’s subordinates were all dead,

“What do you think of this?”

The young master asked quietly.

“Siming, can you destroy this?”

Zheng Yanshen did not answer. He instantly reversed the grip on the Ruyi Sword and threw it. With an explosion of inner strength, he pushed it away.

He immediately plunged into the captain’s embrace. He grabbed the sword of the stunned man and placed his left hand on the man’s abdomen.

He had already activated the Mara Blood Suction Technique and the Horse-Killing Blue Sword Technique. The function of the spell formation on his palm combined the two opposing martial arts.

Swish!

Zheng Yanshen did not hide it. He fully revealed the incomplete palm technique.

The Xin Wulian captain was clearly inferior. He did not care about the casting time or precision and unleashed it.

Boom!

It was an immense shock. The trees in all directions trembled instantly. A flock of birds fluttered up.

“...”

The corpse of the captain, unrecognizable in form, flew far away.

Zheng Yanshen, wiping the blood from his hands, turned his head.

He caught a glimpse of Nangong Huashen, who had only slightly furrowed his brows, and Nangong Mei, whose face was filled with shock.

Zheng Yanshen met the eyes of the young master, who had raised his eyebrows.

“I have shown you.”

The boy said.

He had engaged in psychological warfare. The duel had already begun.