Chapter 11

The man in the green robe, though speaking in a mild tone, exuded a chill like an ice block in the sun, emitting a cold, white vapor that made everyone feel the cold and stern killing intent.

Shen Lian was very calm, and beneath this calmness lay a confidence that the man in the green robe could not understand, even forcing him to believe that perhaps Shen Lian could really kill him.

This feeling was very subtle, as if when a lion was about to pounce on a rabbit, it suddenly found the rabbit had turned into a tiger.

He could see that Shen Lian was not in good health, had not practiced internal arts, and though his fingers were long, they had no calluses.

His body was slender, his appearance delicate, his face pale and weak, and even if he were not about to be blown over by the wind, he did not seem threatening.

But Shen Lian was different, and the difference lay in his eyes, the windows to his soul. The calm, water-like gaze made him feel inexplicably uncomfortable, even a bit humble.

Shen Lian's mind was now at peace, and the innate deity holding the ruyi slowly appeared in his spiritual sea.

This was a kind of indescribable spiritual inheritance, lonely yet eternal, powerful and fearless.

His hands hung naturally, and he sat calmly. Across the table, the man in the green robe did not notice that Shen Lian had a small flying knife, about two inches long, in his hand.

The small flying knife was Shen Lian's last line of defense. Under his powerful soul perception, he could manipulate his body to launch it from any angle within ten steps.

He did not know if it would be effective against the man in the green robe, and he had even tried to use this small flying knife to kill anyone.

This was a means to protect himself, not a lethal weapon.

The man in the green robe had cultivated inner energy, with sharp senses. He could not see Shen Lian's knife, but his gaze naturally fell on Shen Lian's shoulders, which were much lower than his own.

The hall fell into a strange silence, broken by a faint footstep.

In the sunlight, a small beggar entered, or rather, he was not a small beggar, but his clothes were so tattered they barely covered his body.

He looked to be around twelve or thirteen, but he might be older, possibly due to malnutrition, his body development was delayed.

Unlike Shen Lian's delicate appearance, the small beggar was more plain and resolute, with eyebrows and a nose that somewhat resembled the man in the green robe.

The man in the green robe's killing intent receded like a tide, and his expression softened.

The small beggar came to the man in the green robe's side, untied a cloth bundle from his body, and carefully unwrapped it layer by layer.

A small bag, no bigger than his small fist, was revealed. He carefully poured out a few pieces of silver, about the size of soybeans, and presented them to the man in the green robe, saying softly, "Sir, I used the money you gave me to arrange my father's funeral for the villagers, and this is what's left."

The man in the green robe took the silver, patted his head, and said, "I told you that the silver was to buy you. From now on, call me Master."

The small beggar's hair was yellow and dirty, but the man in the green robe did not mind.

The young beggar's eyes were filled with tears as he said, "Yes, Master."

The man in the green robe spoke gently, "You haven't eaten yet, have you? Eat here first, and then we'll go."

The small beggar curiously glanced at Shen Lian, thinking how refined and god-like this young gentleman looked.

He did not dare to speak much, looking at the table full of food, swallowing his saliva, unsure where to start.

The man in the green robe did not have time to care what the small beggar wanted to eat, as another person appeared at the door.

The sun, which had gradually reached its zenith, still cast a slightly long shadow, indicating the height of the newcomer. The shadow gradually entered, accompanied by heavy, slow footsteps.

It was as if a large drum was beating, heavily impacting the heart of everyone in the hall.

Thump! Thump! Thump!

The diners in the hall all regretted coming here to eat and stay.

The newcomer untied a long sword from the cloth bundle on his back, its golden blade gleaming, dragging on the bluestone floor, sparking.

Stopping five steps away from the man in the green robe, the newcomer said slowly, "I gave the Green Bamboo Gang three days, and they sent you, the Golden Saber King, to die. That's a bit too disrespectful."

In the martial world, some people were known for their distinctive features and were often called by their nicknames.

This tall man dragging the long sword was known as the 'Golden Saber King.'

It was said that he was born with great strength and had dexterous hands, once carving intricate landscapes on a block of tofu with this long sword.

He lived up to his name as the 'Golden Saber King.'

"‘God-Slaying Sword,’ I've heard of your reputation. You killed your master's entire family for a sword manual, and it's said that your senior brother, Daoist Ling Chongxiao, chased you for five years, forcing you to flee to the deserts of the north. How dare you return now?" The Golden Saber King raised an eyebrow and sneered.

"I returned to kill him as well." As he spoke, he raised his head and stared at a spot on the roof.

"You may not live to see that day." The skylight suddenly shattered, tiles scattering everywhere, and a short, thin old man appeared, holding a pair of silver hooks.

He landed very lightly, as if a feather had drifted down.

The small beggar was startled by the scene, and the man in the green robe patted his shoulder, saying, "Eat your meal."

Shen Lian faced this situation with composure. Whether it was the Golden Saber King, the short, thin old man, or the man in the green robe, none of them were ordinary people, all exuding a dangerous aura.

They all possessed extraordinary strength.

He was not afraid but rather delighted.

This was indeed not an ordinary world, with methods to cultivate the soul and techniques to enhance physical strength.

Judging from their tone and the mention of the 'sword manual,' their actions and behavior resembled the martial artists in the wuxia novels he had read.

The small beggar, encouraged by the man in the green robe, began to eat. Whether it was due to his thick nerves or extreme hunger, this boy could really eat.

Shen Lian thought that this boy not only had a good appetite but was also lucky. The man in the green robe, who was already a high-level figure, seemed to treat him very well.

In the wuxia novels he had read, this would be the protagonist template.

Although Shen Lian thought this, neither the Golden Saber King nor the short, thin old man paid him any attention.

They were all extremely confident, knowing that they had to fight to determine who was stronger, but it also depended on who they were facing.

Shen Lian, in terms of age and demeanor, did not pose a threat to them. Only the man in the green robe occasionally paid a bit of attention to Shen Lian.

However, most of his attention was still on the Golden Saber King and the short, thin old man.

Neither of them was a person to be underestimated.

The man in the green robe, though seemingly at a disadvantage, was actually using stillness to counter movement. Only someone with deep skills and great courage would dare to do so.

The Golden Saber King, for this reason, did not immediately launch a killing blow.

This person was ruthless and highly skilled, making him a formidable opponent. If it were not for the item he had taken from the Green Bamboo Gang, he would not have taken such a risk.

'The Green Bamboo Gang thought they could make him take this risk with money and connections. How ridiculous.' The Golden Saber King was already over forty, long past the age of pursuing worldly wealth. What truly attracted him was a higher realm and a longer life.

PS: Thanks to Cangwu Zhenren and Manhua Feixu for their support.

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