Chapter 100: I, Hong, Don’t Have The Habit Of Handing Experience To Enemies
Thirty li north of Qingxu County, in a secluded mountain hollow within snow-covered forests.
Screech!
Accompanied by a shrill whistle piercing the air, a majestic black eagle circled overhead, flapping its wings and swooping down rapidly.
A gray shadow swiftly darted out from the mountain hollow, racing with swift steps along the snow-covered, wet and muddy mountain path, and in an instant reached a cliff edge, letting out a whistle.
The black eagle screeched again and flew over flapping its wings.
The gray shadow was a sturdy, square-faced, broad-mouthed middle-aged man with disheveled hair and slightly graying temples, as if he hadn’t groomed in a long time.
His expression was weary, his eyes bloodshot.
This man was named Guo Xiaochuan, the third most important figure in the Guo Family aside from Guo Zhen and Guo Wei.
He was originally a collateral branch disciple of the Guo Family, but due to his outstanding talent, he was promoted by Guo Zhen and the other, rising to a high position, and was thus extremely loyal to the two.
At this moment, his bloodshot eyes were filled with hatred. He stroked the feathers of the eagle that had landed on his shoulder, removed a bamboo tube from its eagle claw, snapped it open with a ‘crack’, and a paper note appeared in his palm.
Guo Xiaochuan then took a plump mountain rat squeaking from his bosom and fed it to the black eagle, before leaping toward the mountain hollow.
This mountain hollow was filled with a large area of black pine forest. After proceeding inward for a hundred zhang, interwoven vines covered the area, revealing a spacious cave.
Candlelight flickered in the cave, hiding dozens of people. Some silently gnawed on cold, hard strips of meat, others wiped their weapons. Each had a fierce aura and was full of killing intent.
This group was precisely the remnants of the Guo Family and Hua Family.
The Guo Family was led by Guo Xiaochuan, while the Hua Family was under Hua Shouzheng.
Hua Shouzheng was the younger clan brother of clan leader Hua Shouren.
Hua Shouzheng had a handsome face and, like his older clan brother Hua Shouren, favored elegance. Now his long hair was disheveled, his clothes bloodstained, and he tightly gripped a short blade in his hand as he looked toward Guo Xiaochuan entering the cave: “What was that thief’s reaction?”
His voice was hoarse, thick with inseparable resentment.
The ‘thief’ he referred to was naturally Hong Yuan, who had destroyed both families.
The others also stopped their actions, their red eyes turning toward Guo Xiaochuan, hoping to hear from him that the ‘thief’ had been enraged into a fury, thereby gaining the pleasure of revenge.
Guo Xiaochuan remained silent and shook his head. He had already read the paper note and now handed it to Hua Shouzheng.
Hua Shouzheng eagerly finished reading it, crumpled the paper in his fist, veins bulging on the back of his hand, and hissed: “Good! Good! That dog thief truly looks down on us, only sending Qing Lingzi to lead the team. Then let’s first sever this arm of his and make him feel the pain…”
Even a centipede does not topple when dead. For great clans like the Guo and Hua Families, with histories spanning one or two hundred years, their forces were deeply entrenched and extremely difficult to eradicate.
Even on the brink of destruction, they still maintained eyes and ears in the prefecture city, able to provide them with timely intelligence.
As soon as Qing Lingzi received orders and left the city, a flying eagle carried the message, and they quickly learned the news.
They had even probed the background of Qing Lingzi, who had only recently defected to Hong Yuan.
The Town Sea Alliance, formed from the original Golden Soup Camp and Grain Transport Gang forces, was led below Hong Yuan by Tao Gongwang, Qian Shan Zhi, and others.
In addition, there were two major civil and military staff officers.
The ‘civil’ referred to Xie Yansheng, who concurrently served as Supervision Hall Master and chief of the staff officers.
The ‘martial’ was Qing Lingzi of the Wuding Sword Sect.
“That traitorous dog Xie Yansheng sold out my Hua Family, and now he’s climbed higher and higher. Unfortunately, it’s not him this time, or I would peel his skin, draw out his tendons, and tear his corpse into ten thousand pieces!”
Hua Shouzheng sneered repeatedly.
The other Hua Family members in the cave were also seething with hatred.
The Hua Family had some marriage ties with the Jiangling Xie Family, and that Xie Yansheng was said to be a fallen collateral branch disciple of the Xie Family who had defected under the Hua Family and gradually earned Hua Shouren’s favor, only for…
For Xie Yansheng, the Hua Family people’s hatred ran as deep as for Hong Yuan.
“Failing to lure out that dog thief surnamed Hong and kill him personally for revenge, I can hardly quell the great hatred in my heart.” Guo Xiaochuan grunted.
They were well aware of their own weight and knew they were no match for Hong Yuan, so they dared not cause trouble in the prefecture city, only daring to beat around the bushes in Qingxu and Yangquan.
But since they dared to act, they were not without trump cards.
“Where are they?”
Guo Xiaochuan said in a low voice.
“They only appeared once. One of them asked some questions and then vanished.” Hua Shouzheng’s voice was low, tinged with both wariness and anticipation.
As he spoke, his gaze quietly scanned the cave, as if the ‘they’ he mentioned were hidden in the dim candlelight, within the flickering shadows.
“Forget it, let that dog thief off easy! Leave his head for ‘them’ to take. This time, we’ll leave all these running dogs like Qing Lingzi here.” Guo Xiaochuan’s voice was ice-cold.
Hua Shouzheng silently nodded, then sighed: “It’s a pity that on the Profound Ice Sect side, my niece is still in secluded cultivation. The people we sent were all blocked, otherwise…”
Two days later.
Inside a mansion near the county office in Qingxu County Town.
Qing Lingzi sniffed the thick smell of blood, expressionless as he looked at the several corpses sprawled messily on the ground. Aside from one who was a Town Sea Alliance stationed subordinate official.
The other dead were mansion attendants and guards.
Qing Lingzi examined the wounds of that subordinate official. His tongue had been cut out, clearly to prevent him from shouting. His bones throughout his body were shattered, and finally, there was a fatal wound to the throat.
The opponent could easily kill this subordinate official but had tortured him for a long time before delivering the fatal blow.
“Li Shixiong!” Another subordinate official’s face was pale as he knelt on the ground, his expression grief-stricken.
“Zhang Dian Shi, restrain your grief and accept fate!” Qing Lingzi glanced at him and casually offered consolation.
This Zhang Dian Shi wiped his eyes, his eye sockets red, and said hatefully: “Please, my lord, you must capture that group of remnants and avenge my fallen brothers.”
This deceased Li-surnamed subordinate official and Zhang Dian Shi both came from the Yang Family Martial Arts School.
Qing Lingzi nodded slightly, then saw a Town Sea Alliance scout hurriedly enter and report: “My lord, our people have captured several live ones.”
Qing Lingzi’s spirits lifted, and he strode out.
By dusk, after more than an hour of interrogation, they finally pried open mouths and learned the hiding place of the Guo and Hua Families’ remnants.
Zhang Dian Shi was overjoyed: “My lord, this subordinate will go arrange manpower right away.”
Qing Lingzi waved his hand, frowning lightly with a faint unease. Zhang Dian Shi urged: “My lord, delay breeds change. If those remnants see their companions haven’t returned and move locations, finding them again will be like searching for a needle in a haystack.”
“Good, set out immediately! But Zhang Dian Shi, no need to gather manpower.” Qing Lingzi made up his mind.
The yamen runners and constables Zhang Dian Shi could summon were useless against agile martial artists and would only alert the enemy.
Though Qing Lingzi had only about twenty under him, they were all masters.
Following the directions spat out by the captives, the group slipped out of the city in the dark. When they entered a mountain peak, the trees grew dense and it became even darker.
Fortunately, there was accumulated snow in the forest, and all were martial practitioners, so they could barely make out directions. With two captives to identify, they soon reached that black pine forest.
The group became even more cautious, their steps light and swift. In moments, they vaguely saw a mountain cave ahead with faint firelight leaking out.
Zhang Dian Shi’s expression lit up with joy. He lowered his voice: “Excellent, that group of remnants is still there. My lord, give the order to attack.”
Qing Lingzi furrowed his brows tightly, silent, just staring intently at the dim firelight from the cave, and said lowly: “Something’s off…”
In the night, cold wind whistled through the forest, pine waves rustling.
Suddenly, Qing Lingzi felt a chill on his back. Without thinking, his long sword rapidly unsheathed, and he slashed backhanded.
Sudden change!
A blurry black shadow almost merged into the night slid down from a massive pine tree like a ghostly figure, silently aiming straight for Qing Lingzi’s back heart.
The next moment!
Accompanied by the clash of metal, intense sparks exploded as Qing Lingzi’s backhand long sword collided with the cold blade hidden in the attacker’s sleeve.
The leaping sparks also illuminated the attacker’s face—it was none other than Hua Shouzheng.
Hua Shouzheng’s arm trembled as a powerful force surged, shocking him back a step, astonishment appearing on his face.
He dared to strike because he had thoroughly probed Qing Lingzi’s background, knowing the opponent was at the ‘Freely Control’ level.
Yet facing his silent sneak attack, not only did the opponent react swiftly, but the backhand sword’s speed, tricky angle, and precise timing exceeded his expectations.
Especially as the long sword vibrated, a vague, ethereal, fluctuating force surged, making it hard for him to parry.
Qing Lingzi also felt some lingering fear. If not for Hong Yuan’s guidance these past few days, greatly advancing his force transformation, he could not have avoided this strike.
The resounding clash of blade and sword echoed through the forest. The martial artists around Qing Lingzi all changed expressions and drew their weapons.
Seeing the assassination fail, Hua Shouzheng roared madly, force bursting from his feet, his figure retreating violently!
Qing Lingzi was about to pursue when a sharp whistle sounded in his ears. A sharp arrow pierced the airflow, shooting straight at his face.
Qing Lingzi raised his sword and cleaved the incoming feathered arrow to pieces, his expression darkening.
For at that moment, snow churned all around, clusters of snowflakes flying up, figures bursting from the snow holding heavy crossbows, blade lights flashing.
Rustling sounds also came from the surrounding pine trees.
Immediately after, Guo Xiaochuan’s voice full of killing intent fell.
“Attack!”
As the words fell, in an instant, ‘whoosh whoosh’ wind-breaking sounds filled the forest, crossbow bolts and arrows whistling from all directions.
Even before the arrows were loosed, Qing Lingzi spun and swept his leg, large swathes of snow from the ground mixed with mud, branches, and leaves rolling up like a wall.
Swish!
His long sword danced into a curtain of light, swift as gale winds. ‘Crackle crackle’ explosion sounds rang incessantly as arrows were shredded by the sword and shattered instantly.
While protecting himself airtight, Qing Lingzi did not forget his two disciples and other subordinates. Sword light flashed and divided, blocking incoming arrows.
Even so, muffled grunts sounded successively—three subordinates were hit by arrows.
Though all wore leather armor and had decent martial arts, the remnants of the Guo and Hua Families daring to seek revenge on Hong Yuan were all elite and fierce. In their fury over family destruction, the crossbowmen and archers were accurate and ruthless.
Ten zhang away, Guo Xiaochuan held a longbow—the first arrow was his. Hua Shouzheng gripped a short blade, standing beside him.
The two exchanged a glance, both seeing surprise on each other’s faces.
“This man’s martial arts are much stronger than expected, probably not far from force microscopic level. Ignore the other running dogs— we absolutely cannot let him leave alive…”
Hua Shouzheng snorted coldly. Though one volley of arrows stopped, the archers and crossbowmen prepared the second volley in a blink.
Hua Shouzheng waved his hand. With ‘thump thump’ sounds, figures leaped down from the pine trees, rustling as they slowly closed in on Qing Lingzi and the others.
Qing Lingzi and the others, by the snow’s reflection, saw shadowy figures, indistinct and hard to discern. Even the surrounding trees seemed like ghostly shadows, unknown how many were ambushing.
Panic appeared on Zhang Dian Shi and the martial artists’ faces. Qing Lingzi maintained composure but felt his heart sink.
Knowing a fierce battle was inevitable.
Hua Shouzheng and the others did not close too near, stopping at four or five zhang, when Hua Shouzheng called out loudly: “Qing Lingzi, Hua mou admires your fine martial arts and does not wish to kill you like this. I’ll give you a chance to abandon the dark and seek the light!”
“Put down your sword and surrender!”
Though he said this, Hua Shouzheng was actually trying to shake Qing Lingzi’s will. Even if the opponent truly surrendered, he would still kill without mercy.
With the Hua Family reduced to these remnants, no longer the great clan of old, what qualification did they have to take in a master like Qing Lingzi?
Keeping him close, he would have to sleep with one eye open.
Qing Lingzi did not reply, instead looking at the people around him and shouting: “Come to my side, form up the formation, and break out!”
“Obstinate fools! Kill!”
Guo Xiaochuan and Hua Shouzheng shouted in unison, followed by arrows like locusts shooting from the darkness toward Qing Lingzi and the others again.
At the same time, with ‘whoosh’ sounds, several pottery jars trailing sparks flew through the air.
“Porcelain thunder!” Qing Lingzi’s eyelids twitched wildly, sensing great danger. He was about to leap up and bat away the pottery jars with his long sword.
Whoosh whoosh!
Suddenly a gale blew, a hurricane-like wind rising beside him. His ears buzzed, and the next moment, the ground shook violently, snowflakes rolling up like dragons toward the sky.
The group of martial artists were directly flung away, only Qing Lingzi barely standing steady.
The pottery jars were knocked flying mid-air, followed by rumbling explosions all around, flames bursting up amid pained howls.
Qing Lingzi’s eyes widened as he saw a slender figure, who knew when it had arrived at the center, slowly extending one palm toward the sky amid arrows shooting from all sides.
Incoming arrows, whether from front or back, upon reaching within a chi of that person, seemed trapped in viscous airflow, instantly losing momentum—some falling to the ground, others drawn to the person’s palm.
The figure casually waved, and the arrows falling to the palm ‘whoosh whoosh’ shot back at even greater speed, accompanied by short, sharp screams.
“Alliance Leader!” Qing Lingzi called out, having recognized the newcomer.
It was precisely Hong Yuan.
The surrounding flames had not dispersed, illuminating the man’s face in shifting light and shadow. Hua Shouzheng and Guo Xiaochuan’s eyes nearly split: “How could it be? That surnamed Hong…”
Before ‘dog thief’ could be uttered, Hong Yuan’s figure flashed, abruptly crossing four or five zhang. Hua Shouzheng and the other only saw a blur before the opponent was before them, looking at them indifferently.
“Surprised I’m here?”
“Theoretically, I indeed shouldn’t come. Vermin like you don’t qualify for my personal action…” Hong Yuan sighed, seeming somewhat troubled.
“But if I don’t come, you’ll keep sending heads wave after wave for experience grinding… Though I don’t think you have any protagonist halo, you’re just too stupid.”
Hua Shouzheng and Guo Xiaochuan didn’t understand Hong Yuan’s words but caught the mockery. Hua Shouzheng roared: “Kill you!”
His long sleeve flicked, the short blade stabbing like a poisonous snake toward Hong Yuan’s heart.
Meanwhile, Guo Xiaochuan discarded his bow, swinging his long saber with a face twisted to the extreme, channeling all his hatred into power, slashing toward Hong Yuan’s head.
His momentum as if cleaving through a copper wall and iron bastion before him.
Hong Yuan stood unmoving, but as the short blade neared, he suddenly flicked a finger. With a ‘pop’ crisp sound, upon hitting the blade, it was like thunderous force piercing through, instantly exploding into fragments scattering everywhere.
Sizzle sizzle sizzle!
The metal fragments flew like they had eyes. One cold gleam flashed, piercing Guo Xiaochuan’s throat, flinging his body back, his long saber dropping into the snow. His eyes wide open, he gasped his last breaths with ‘gasp gasp’ sounds.
Immediately after, successive screams pierced the night from the surrounding darkness.
Hua Shouzheng stared dazedly at the short-hilted blade in his palm, ‘pfft’ poking into Hong Yuan’s chest. The latter tilted his head, looking at him quietly: “Feel like you’ve avenged a great grudge?”
The fragments had avoided Hua Shouzheng, none hitting him, but now he felt icy cold all over, his body shuddering uncontrollably. He laughed hysterically, tears rolling in his eyes.
“I’ve already spared your lives—why seek your own death? Isn’t living good?”
Hong Yuan said.
Hua Shouzheng laughed and cried: “Surnamed Hong, you think you’ve won? We’re just going ahead—you won’t live long either, won’t live long… Haha! In the underworld, our two families will settle accounts with you.”
“You noble clans…”
Hong Yuan sighed: “When doing evil in the past, you never believed in underworld or hell, yet at this moment, you prattle such nonsense?”
“And your confidence refers to them?”
Whoosh!
He stepped out, his figure blurring like teleporting across several zhang, suddenly appearing under a large pine tree, palm gently pressing.
The pine bark seemed cut by countless blades, peeling inch by inch, suddenly revealing a short figure curled inside the tree like a meatball.
Its face expressionless, eyes wide open, one hand gripping a black iron box, unable to move.
Strands of terrifying force entered its body, shattering its accumulated force while exploding through its limbs and bones.
At the same moment Hong Yuan acted, a strange ripple spread around him. Then the snow at his feet burst open, thorn vines rapidly climbing up, wrapping his legs and twisting like giant pythons.
“Five elements sorcery?”
Hong Yuan murmured, looking upward. In the darkness, cold wind assaulted, invisible fine dust diffusing.
Behind him, a cold gleam lit up, like a star flashing and vanishing in the dim night sky.
