Chapter 160: 150 Down

Zhang Rongfang rushed forward, without notice, launching a series of fierce attacks, each aimed relentlessly at Cyan Horn.

“You….!!?” Huang Yixi had no choice but to intercept.

The two engaged in a rapid exchange, trading tens of moves in the blink of an eye.

Smack.

The antidote pouch was hit and flew far away, scattering everywhere.

The martial arts inherited by the Huang family is a Ninth Grade saber technique known as the Cold Mountain Saber Method.

This saber technique, it is said, was created by the Huang family’s ancestor when he observed avalanches during winter, inspired by the traces left by snow deer.

It’s primarily famous for attacks as dense and swift as falling snow.

Silent, falling from the sky, overwhelmingly dense with nowhere to hide—that is the doctrine of the Cold Mountain Saber Method’s Heart Method.

In contrast, Zhang Rongfang’s martial arts focus on the talismanic techniques of the Great Dao Teaching, righteous and harmonious, with strict defenses and no vulnerabilities.

It simultaneously integrates various body and foot techniques, making his movements eerily silent, akin to a giant python slithering at night.

The final critical component is the Eagle Claw Skill.

It compensates for the insufficient offensive capability of the Great Dao Teaching’s talismanic techniques, forming a structure of eagle claws striking and serpentine evasions.

Unconsciously, his martial arts have evolved into his unique style.

Eagle and serpent united, merging through talismans, balancing yin and yang.

This structure allows for the explosive Limit-Breaking Skill, with astonishing power.

The only way to overcome Zhang Rongfang’s perfect martial arts setup is to crush him with hard strength.

Otherwise, there is no method.

One must be faster, with more forceful attacks and harder than the eagle claws.

At this moment, during the clash, Huang Yixi felt overwhelmed.

The Huang family’s body technique relies on rapid bursts, swiftly establishing an advantage in a single encounter before crushing the opponent.

But against Zhang Rongfang, there was a sense of impotence.

The issue was that he—a type of assassin with strong bursts but short duration—encountered Zhang Rongfang, whose body techniques were focused on evasion and had reached an exceptionally high level.

Three moves were made: one missed, one barely hit with power only halfway applied.

Only the remaining move could be considered a proper hit.

But the problem was, as he was attacking, Zhang Rongfang also struck simultaneously.

He delivered three moves, and Zhang Rongfang could deliver three as well.

In the martial world, among the orthodox, prestigious sects, there is a shared feature.

That is the integration of attack and defense; attacking within defense and defense containing attack.

The strength of prestigious martial arts lies in this aspect.

Whereas, other martial arts mostly focus purely on attack or defense with no further consideration, lacking continuous subsequent transformations.

After dozens of moves, Huang Yixi swung his saber widely, forcing Zhang Rongfang away.

He retreated to Cyan Horn’s side, sweat emerging on his forehead.

His martial arts proficiency was ultimately not as strong as Cyan Horn’s; now managing continuous responses left him somewhat flustered.

The opponent’s martial arts greatly countered the Huang family’s techniques.

The Huang family’s Cold Mountain Saber Method is suitable for combating opponents focused on defense or balanced in attack and defense; its biggest fear is those prioritizing speed-focused evasion.

Both being Ninth Grade, these small counterbalances often lead to advantages accumulating and amplifying.

“Enough, consider yourselves lucky.” Zhang Rongfang did not pursue, standing in place, flexing his fingers.

“Today was satisfying enough, it’s just a pity, not enough people…”

As he finished speaking, he suddenly retreated, sprinting into the distance, vanishing in the night in the blink of an eye.

Watching him leave completely, the surroundings fell silent.

Huang Yixi still dared not relax, remaining in place without moving, maintaining high vigilance.

Time slowly slipped away.

Until Cyan Horn beside him groaned in pain and collapsed.

Only then was he startled, quickly putting down his saber to examine Cyan Horn’s injury.

Hastily administering medicine he had, then stopping the bleeding, performing simple bandaging.

Cyan Horn gradually regained consciousness, struggling to grip his hand.

“Did you return alone? Where are the others?!”

“The others?!” Huang Yixi suddenly froze, recalling the words said earlier by the other party, a chill surged from his heart to his scalp.

He felt numb all over, suddenly standing and rushing toward the direction the others had come from.

*

*

*

Under the night sky.

On the official road from Wushan Prefecture to Shu Family Castle.

Squads of Golden Wing Pavilion death warriors charged out halfway, led by Duan Valley and Tongxin, unleashing a frenzied attack.

Now was their chance to redeem themselves, for if they failed to perform, with the current spirit envoy’s methods, their fate would be worse than death.

The Huang family’s household servants, led by Huang Lanxin, followed a group of graded experts, originally on a journey.

Suddenly ambushed midway by long-prepared Golden Wing Pavilion assassins and death warriors, who joined together in the attack.

Eighth Grade experts led by Duan Valley advanced first.

The numbers were similar, but the overall strength was quite different.

The high-grade experts like Duan Valley could match Huang Lanxin and other high grades. But the other members were in chaos.

Within the ordinary servants, few were graded experts; facing Golden Wing Pavilion killers, dealing with poisons, hidden weapons, and various tactics.

With one encounter, a quarter of the people lost combat capability, falling to the ground.

Clang!

Huang Lanxin struggled to push Duan Valley away, retreated a step, and backhanded a flying knife from God-knows-where.

But even with that delay, Duan Valley surged forward again, his iron-gloved hands carrying immense power, striking on the blade of his curved saber like a hammer.

Clang clang!!

Huang Lanxin’s body trembled violently; both being Eighth Grade, he was already old and weakening, incapable of matching the youthful strength of Duan Valley, an Eighth Grade expert.

He was already over sixty, enduring till now due to his continuous use of Limit-Breaking Skill.

At this moment, facing Duan Valley, who focused on external Hard Skill, he ultimately could not withstand.

The immense power pressed down on the blade, smashing onto his chest.

Puff.

Huang Lanxin’s chest tightened, and he couldn’t catch his breath, feeling weak all over.

Bang!

His throat was gripped by Duan Valley’s hands and twisted heavily.

In the blink of an eye, a perfectly fine head was forcibly twisted off.

“Ah!!!!” Duan Valley raised the head high and roared fiercely.

“Huang Lanxin is dead!!”

The remaining experts of the Huang family looked over, and upon seeing Huang Lanxin’s head, each of their expressions changed dramatically; some turned to flee, while others went mad, wanting to rush up for revenge.

But more hesitated and got distracted by the moves, only to be cut down or stabbed by the Golden Wing Pavilion experts in front of them.

The situation changed rapidly; the Huang family servants abandoned their resistance, either escaping or dropping to their knees to beg for mercy.

Not far away, Zhang Rongfang stood quietly on the empty official road, watching the battlefield.

“Matters of life rise and fall, just like the green leaves on a tree, sprouting in spring and falling in autumn, which is the natural truth.”

He turned around, looking at Huang Yixi approaching rapidly, his eyes brimming with a dazzling joy.

“When I kill, it’s like a gardener trimming leaves, removing the old and keeping the new. Only by getting rid of the rotten can new growth emerge.

Green leaves are like this, so are human hearts, and so is good and evil.”

He looked into Huang Yixi’s eyes, almost losing reason due to anger.

“Therefore, I am doing this to eliminate evil and preserve good for the entire Wushan Prefecture.

Your Huang family and Sea Dragon are the greatest evils.

Like the dead leaves destined to fall.”

“What do you say?”

“I will kill you ahhhh!!! Extreme State: Spinning Chime!!!”

Huang Yixi’s blood vessels surged and expanded, turning a green-black color, his figure quickly swelling.

He held a knife in both hands, rushing at Zhang Rongfang with all his might.

Zhang Rongfang’s body also swelled, the muscles on his upper body rising rapidly, solid like rocks, the violent Qi and Blood building layer upon layer inside him.

The immense power brought by Double Heavy Mountain rapidly concentrated in his eagle claw-like hands.

Under the moonlit night, on the official road.

The two approached each other quickly, one fast, one slow.

One moving, one still.

The blade and claw met and clashed in an instant.

Like a raging blizzard rushing toward a soaring eagle.

*

*

*

“It’s so late, why isn’t Rongfang home yet? He hasn’t been coming home for dinner much lately; I wonder if he’s lost weight… but the food boxes I sent were all finished…”

Inside the Commerce Bureau.

Zhang Rongyu, dressed in a sapphire blue long dress, was walking and resting in the back garden with Lu Meisha.

“Sister-in-law, why do you worry about him? He’s always shutting himself away, who knows what he’s up to… Well, look at him, becoming a ranked martial artist at eighteen; his future won’t be bad.” Lu Meisha wanted to say a few bad things about Zhang Rongfang, but stopped herself.

She used to look down on Zhang Rongfang and his sister, thinking they dragged her brother down.

But after some careful thought, Zhang Rongfang’s talent left her unable to voice her criticisms.

Even for a martial artist entering ninth grade at eighteen, he wouldn’t be too weak.

If things go smoothly, by thirty he might reach sixth grade, stepping into the upper echelon.

Criticizing Zhang Rongfang now would mean criticizing the high-grade experts under her brother.

No matter what, she wasn’t that foolish.

And recently, after several incidents, she realized from Zhang Rongyu’s responses that her sister-in-law managed things well and orderly aside from her humble beginnings.

“Speaking of which, Meisha, your attitude towards Rongfang seems to have changed?” Zhang Rongyu smiled, looking at her sister-in-law.

“Who changed their attitude towards him?” Lu Meisha turned her face away, “Sister-in-law, don’t speak nonsense!”

“Remember what your brother said back then? Actually, Rongfang’s nature isn’t bad, just a bit impulsive. Now that he’s practicing martial arts, he’s also much healthier. With your brother’s support in the future…”

“Sister-in-law, don’t say anymore; I wouldn’t fancy him! I’m in no rush about us.” Lu Meisha huffed, “Oh, I have something nice here, look.”

She turned her charming face to a smile, taking out a small bottle with black and silver white patterns from her bag.

“What’s this?” Zhang Rongyu asked curiously.

“This is called Cuixiang Pill, something I snuck out from home. It’s something my mother used to use. Taking one keeps you fragrant for a long time, at least a month!”

“It’s said to have beauty-enhancing effects that make your body better, with fewer ailments.”

Speaking, Lu Meisha handed the bottle to Zhang Rongyu.

“This is for you.”

These days, after being shaken by Zhang Rongfang’s affairs, she thoroughly reconsidered and realized she actually held a prejudice against Zhang Rongyu.

Thinking back, when her brother’s madness acted up, he’d often hit and scold those around him, and even servants were sometimes beaten to death.

Plus, with his birthmark disfiguring his face, no woman around was willing to care.

After many exchanges, he finally managed to marry a formal wife, but she turned out to be someone with a strong desire for control.

From the beginning, she harbored ill intentions.

Now… now that woman was gone, leaving Zhang Rongyu.

Only a pure, beautiful, and gentle person like her could embrace her brother, making his madness gradually improve.

Looking back, she indeed saw her brother getting better each day after sister-in-law Zhang Rongyu joined the family.

So now she slowly began to change her perception of Zhang Rongyu.

“Is it really for me?” Zhang Rongyu was so surprised, she couldn’t believe it.

“Of course! I went home specifically to get it for you, don’t worry, only nobles among the Spirit People can obtain this, it’s not something ordinary people can get.” Lu Meisha said earnestly.

“Meisha… You didn’t disdain me and Rongfang, and treat me so well….” Zhang Rongyu gently held her hand, her beautiful eyes showing gratitude.

Her delicate hand brushed over Lu Meisha unknowingly, causing the latter to shiver slightly, a soft and itchy feeling spreading inside her.

“It’s.. it’s nothing, I just thought things over and realized I was wrong in many ways. A person can’t choose their birth, and sister-in-law you are better than most Spirit People in many ways….”

“Meisha!” Zhang Rongyu hugged Lu Meisha, gently pressing her hands on her back and hips.

Somehow, Lu Meisha felt the spots her sister-in-law touched becoming numb and itchy, a strange sensation filling her.

“Thank you!” Her sister-in-law’s voice came to her ear. It tingled her earlobes, providing an indescribable comfort.

Inadvertently, Zhang Rongyu in front of her increasingly overlapped with the figure from her memory, who was long gone…

She suddenly understood why her brother liked Zhang Rongyu so much…

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep