Chapter 100: Line 97 Online

On the riverbank, Huang Yuzhen stared solemnly at the person opposite him.

Minute beads of sweat slipped down the side of his pale cheek; he didn’t dare move. The poison coupled with the severely injured thigh left him unable to escape.

Currently in the Extreme State, he could still hold on. But once the time of the Extreme State elapsed, he would be at others’ mercy.

“You… haven’t acted immediately. What do you want from me?”

Zhang Rongfang smiled.

“If I wanted merit, wouldn’t killing you here be a loss for me? The forces behind Ouyang Jianrong, without thinking, can’t be resisted by me alone. So…”

He intended for Huang Yuzhen and Ouyang to wound each other severely, then he would come out to take advantage and claim the credit.

But upon reconsideration, the merit was so substantial that he might not withstand it.

If investigated, it wouldn’t necessarily be possible to conceal his identity and strength.

So…

He needed a safer method.

“Do you also want the saber?” Huang Yuzhen frowned.

“Naturally. In fact, I’m more interested in why you all value this saber so much.”

Zhang Rongfang was also curious about this matter.

Bear in mind, as a Bai Ying under Tan Yang of the Golden Wing Pavilion, even his authority wasn’t enough to apply for related information.

If he could obtain the intelligence from other channels, trading just the information would yield huge profits.

For an organization like the Golden Wing Pavilion, information is money, is interest.

“Since you don’t know, then don’t wade into these waters,” Huang Yuzhen said indifferently.

“Hehe… you’re already in such a state, wouldn’t it be better to give me the saber and I’ll let you leave? Wouldn’t that be a win-win situation?

I gain merit, and you can leave here alive.” Zhang Rongfang’s face showed a smile, but he was slightly impatient inside.

This place was not far from the Hundred Silver Valley, only a dozen miles away, if someone wanted to, they could still catch up.

“I….” Huang Yuzhen smiled, intending to speak, but suddenly paused.

His expression changed slightly, looking towards a direction on the left.

From there, a little girl was slowly walking over.

The girl seemed thirteen or fourteen years old, at an age where, in many places, she could already marry and bear children.

But here, she looked fragile and slender, holding a long saber wrapped in cloth, trembling as she approached.

“We’ll give you the saber! Don’t hurt Uncle Zhen anymore!” The girl shouted loudly at Zhang Rongfang. Her gaze fell on Huang Yuzhen’s thigh, pierced by the saber, and her eyes reddened as tears began uncontrollably streaming down.

“Jing Ying… why have you come back again!?” Huang Yuzhen’s face turned unpleasant. He had previously told Jing Ying to leave first. And now….

Zhang Rongfang glanced at the girl.

“Come, put the saber down, place it on the ground. Then you can leave.”

He weighed it in his heart, if he truly took down Huang Yuzhen, it would attract too much attention.

Originally, his best strategy was to claim the credit with Ouyang. Alas, Ouyang was not good at seizing the opportunity.

So he could only eliminate him.

But without Ouyang bearing the brunt, the merit was too grand; he, a mere captain, couldn’t bear it.

The only solution was to decrease the merit, making it bearable for him.

There’s no need to kill Huang Yuzhen, who knows what hidden cards he might have. This way, reduced merit also lowers risk.

Just get the saber, then submit it up, it’s most suitable.

At that time, just say that Lord Ouyang desperately snatched the saber, repelled the fugitives and was then surpassed by him to save it.

It was a pity that Lord Ouyang was gravely injured and died untreated.

Zhang Rongfang could only take the saber and quickly return to hand it over.

This way, once the upper levels distribute the merit tier by tier, it wouldn’t overly highlight him.

At this moment, Huang Yuzhen evidently was unaware of these intricacies within it, but he saw Zhang Rongfang’s menacing gaze fall on Jing Ying without disguise.

Finally, he sighed.

“Miss, do as he says.”

More than the saber, ultimately Jing Ying’s life was more important.

He didn’t dare gamble on whether Zhang Rongfang would strike ruthlessly. After all, just moments ago he, without hesitation and merely for claiming credit, hacked down his peers and superiors.

This person’s viciousness was no less than those previous major enemies.

So, he didn’t dare gamble.

Jing Ying bit her lip, slowly moved forward, and gently placed the saber on the ground.

Then retreated.

“Can you tell, what exactly is the secret hidden in this saber?” Zhang Rongfang suddenly asked.

Jing Ying paused in her steps, raising her head.

“If you knew, it might trigger Spirit Court’s pursuit, just like us. So, do you still want to know?”

Silence.

For a moment, the three of them were silent.

After a good half minute, faint calls began approaching from behind.

“You two may go.” Zhang Rongfang finally extended his hand, gesturing for them to leave.

Huang Yuzhen moved to Jing Ying’s side, looked deeply at Zhang Rongfang, grabbed the girl and retreated more than ten steps, then suddenly sped away.

From start to finish, Zhang Rongfang never asked him again about the Chasing Moon Saber.

The two left quickly, and only when they were several miles away did Huang Yuzhen’s face flush.

Puff.

A mouthful of blood surged from his mouth, staining his chest clothing.

The contours of his muscles also shrank back, reverting to how they were before the Extreme State.

“Uncle Zhen!!” Jing Ying, with tears in her eyes, hugged him, “Are you alright?”

“It’s nothing… it’s just that the leg will need to recuperate for quite a while…” Huang Yuzhen sighed.

The commotion here was so large, and yet those meant to rendezvous hadn’t communicated anything; it seemed the prospects were grim…

The path ahead, how to proceed, his heart was filled with uncertainty.

“Looks like we’ll need to find a place to heal before continuing.”

*

*

*

On the other side of the riverbank.

Zhang Rongfang quickly stepped forward and picked up the long saber.

Gently unwrapping the cloth, he revealed a jade-green blade.

The blade seemed to be coated with some colorful material, the edge reflecting prismatic light. Below, there was no guard, and the handle was as long as a forearm, clearly designed to be gripped with both hands.

The end was adorned with a fine black tassel. The material of the tassel was unknown, resembling human hair….

Zhang Rongfang grasped the hilt, ready to turn back to Ouyang Jianrong’s side.

Suddenly, he halted.

The attribute panel, which had never reacted to external objects, suddenly activated at this moment.

And the target of its activation was none other than the Chasing Moon Saber!

Zhang Rongfang’s pupils contracted, and he stood still.

In his field of vision.

The Chasing Moon Saber now revealed line after line of information.

’Chasing Moon Saber, length 171cm, width 18cm, thickness 3-7cm. Weight 12.7kg, material unknown.’

’Intuitive Warning: The handle seems to conceal a mechanism…. Perhaps turning it clockwise three and a half times, then counterclockwise once will activate it.’

“Huh??! What’s this?!” Zhang Rongfang felt a chill in his heart.

He had always believed that his attribute ability only worked on people, showing their attributes. But now, it could react to this saber…

This surprise was accompanied by intense curiosity in his heart.

Taking advantage of the sounds behind him not yet approaching, he quickly tried following the hint, gripping the handle and twisting it.

Soon, there was a light clicking sound. The handle unexpectedly detached.

Inside was hollow, and a small bronze-colored metal component fell out.

Zhang Rongfang quickly picked up the component and took a closer look.

It was an arm from a bronze-colored statue made of an unknown metal, covered in numerous fine cracks.

Apparently, this arm was assembled from many small parts.

At that moment, the attribute panel reacted again.

As Zhang Rongfang looked at this item, a new hint appeared.

’A strange and mysterious component. From the interlocking gaps, it seems that five similar parts are needed to assemble it completely.

After collecting all five parts, there may be new hints…..’

Zhang Rongfang did not hesitate. He quickly placed the component back and reattached the handle.

This object was of great significance, even causing the Ninth-Grade Expert Huang Yuzhen to be relentlessly pursued to such a miserable state.

He felt it was wise to submit the saber honestly.

As for the changes in the attribute panel concerning this, he would naturally learn more once he reached a higher level.

Zhang Rongfang clearly understood one principle.

The more you know about many things when you’re not capable enough, the more dangerous it becomes.

At this moment, the footsteps behind him grew closer. Zhang Rongfang sighed softly and punched himself hard in the chest.

Puh.

He bit his tongue, drawing some blood, and adjusted his expression to one of fittingly difficult fatigue and pain before turning to face those approaching.

*

*

*

On the 13th.

Ouyang Jianrong’s death surprisingly did not stir much unrest.

After Zhang Rongfang returned to the city and handed over the Chasing Moon Saber to Warden Li Ran, he heard no further news about it.

Though Ouyang Jianrong was dead, he had still desperately seized back the saber.

Only through Zhang Rongfang and the others’ relentless efforts was the Chasing Moon Saber kept without being taken back.

This record was quickly submitted upward.

The credit was diluted layer by layer.

The matter of the Chasing Moon Saber gradually fell into silence.

Hiss…

“Take it easy!” Chen Hansheng sat straight in the small building of Squad Nine, letting Liu Han help him apply medicine to his back.

While receiving treatment, he grimaced in pain.

Zhang Rongfang read a piece of the latest official document intently nearby.

Upon hearing the cries, he shook his head slightly and glanced at the two of them.

“How can just a minor injury cause you such pain? Don’t mention that you’re from Squad Nine when you go out.”

“Oh, Captain Zhang, that’s not fair. I, Old Chen, was the first to charge forward out of concern for your safety!” Chen Hansheng protested unjustly.

Since that day when the two of them rushed forward to support Zhang Rongfang at great risk, they had become implicitly considered his trusted subordinates.

Most of Squad Nine’s other members were also grateful due to Zhang Rongfang’s counsel, which saved lives at the time.

Now, Squad Nine’s support for Zhang Rongfang was much stronger than before.

It was no longer as perfunctory and distant as it had been.

“By the way, Captain, how many merits were credited to you this time?” Chen Hansheng squeezed out a curious smile and asked.

“They counted one major merit.” Zhang Rongfang replied with a smile.

One major merit is equivalent to five minor ones, and for ordinary team members, three minor merits would allow them to be promoted by one level and achieve the lowest official rank.

“That’s awesome!!” Chen Hansheng and Liu Han both showed envy in their eyes.

“It’s actually not much.” Zhang Rongfang shook his head. “One major merit, converted to five minor ones, just stabilizes my position with a little leftover. If I want to progress further, even if I had enough merit, my qualifications would still fall short.”

He sighed, “So, after I’ve recovered, I plan to apply for a position back at the Dao Palace.”

“Are you planning a long-term promotion strategy?” Liu Han pondered slightly and instantly understood.

“You’re quite sharp.” Zhang Rongfang laughed.

“Actually, many people do this.” Liu Han smiled subtly. “Many adults from Merak Palace and Dayang Temple have done this.”

She was about to say more but was interrupted by heart-wrenching cries from outside the building.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep