Chapter 78: Chapter 78: The Blue-Haired Girl on Horseback

The seemingly quiet night quickly passed.

CLIPPITY-CLOP…

In the early morning, the mist still lingered. On a highway tens of miles outside Panlong City, the rapid sound of horses’ hooves echoed.

On horseback, a delicate figure wearing a bamboo hat could vaguely be seen.

“WHOA!”

Arriving at the Coming Dragon Inn, a sound as melodious as silver bells came from the rider. Immediately, a petite figure leaped down from the horse.

She removed her bamboo hat, revealing a head of short, neat, navy-blue hair that contrasted beautifully against her flawless, delicate features. Her light-blue, snug-fitting martial attire perfectly outlined her ample bosom. Especially striking were her long and slender legs, so perfect they could make other girls green with envy.

Coming Dragon Inn? I should already be within the territory of Panlong City. I wonder how Luo Feng will react when he sees me…

With sapphire-like eyes, the young woman glanced at the inn’s sign, a mischievous smile flickering in her captivating gaze.

The once noisy inn suddenly fell silent. Every Martial Artist’s gaze was fixed on the young woman at the entrance.

A moment later, the serving boy standing nearby regained his senses. He walked up to her, stuttering, “Gue… guest… would you like to stay, or would you like something to eat?”

Bing Ruolan took out a silver ingot from her bosom and tossed it into the boy’s hands.

“Tell me how to get to Panlong City.”

“Tha… Thank you, Miss!”

The waiter accepted the silver, a hint of joy appearing on his face. Just as he was about to point out the direction, a burst of coarse laughter sounded beside him.

“HAHAHA… Miss, you’re going to Panlong City? Perfect, we’re also heading there. Why don’t we travel together? We can look out for each other on the road. It hasn’t been very peaceful around here recently, with many bandits about. It’s safer for a delicate girl like you.”

A few robust men walked out from the side. The leader had a rugged face with thick eyebrows and large eyes; a scar above his left eye made him look particularly ferocious.

Seeing these men, the waiter’s eyes filled with fear. He opened his mouth to say something to Bing Ruolan, but the leader’s glare made him turn pale, and he immediately shrank back.

Bing Ruolan saw everything. A tender smile touched her lips. She remounted her horse, nodded her delicate, snow-white chin, and said, “That’s fine. I’m in a hurry. Let’s get going.”

The scarred man’s eyes lit up, a flicker of greed in the depths of his eyes. He turned, waved his hand, and ordered, “What are you louts still gawking at? Hurry up and get the horses!”

“Yes!”

The burly men quickly fetched the horses, and the group rode off, disappearing in a cloud of dust.

Only after their figures had completely vanished into the morning mist did the inn gradually fill with conversation again.

“That girl… who was she? Truly beautiful! Even Feng Lingyue, Panlong City’s foremost beauty, pales in comparison. And those long legs—simply perfect! If I could touch them just once, I’d die a happy man.”

A young Martial Artist licked his lips, his face full of infatuation.

The others around him also nodded in agreement. A narrow-eyed Martial Artist squinted, looked at the young man, and sneered, “Fourth Qin, you can stop dreaming. Since you’re so enchanted by her, why didn’t you step up when ’Blood Hand’ Chen Shi was talking to her and tell her that Chen Shi and his men are notorious bandits in this area?”

“I… I wasn’t scared! I was just captivated by her and didn’t react in time! If there’s a next time, I’ll definitely step forward and warn her!” that young Martial Artist, known as Fourth Qin, defended himself, his face pale.

Watching Fourth Qin flounder, the entire inn erupted in laughter. The narrow-eyed Martial Artist shook his head and said, “Forget it. Now that she’s caught the eye of ’Blood Hand’ Chen Shi, how could she possibly meet a good end? I’m afraid she’ll soon become another nameless corpse in the wilderness…”

At these words, murmurs of pity spread through the hall.

’Blood Hand’ Chen Shi was a well-known bandit in the vicinity of the Coming Dragon Inn, specializing in ambush and plunder. Because Chen Shi would brutally tear his enemies limb from limb, a truly vicious method, he gradually earned the moniker ’Blood Hand.’

Although there were many hot-blooded Martial Artists in the inn, Chen Shi’s Cultivation had reached the late stage of the Fifth Layer Iron Bone Realm. They were no match for him. Seeing Bing Ruolan depart with Chen Shi, they could only sigh in silent regret.

…

“How much further to Panlong City?”

After their seven horses had galloped for several miles, Bing Ruolan glanced at Chen Shi beside her and asked coolly.

“We’re almost there.”

Chen Shi smiled, the expression pulling at the scar on his face, making him look quite ferocious.

Sweeping his gaze around, Chen Shi gave his companions a meaningful look.

Receiving the signal to act, the men immediately spurred their horses faster, flanking Bing Ruolan and trapping her horse in the middle.

Bing Ruolan halted her horse. She gave the men around her a cool glance and said emotionlessly, “It seems you have no intention of going to Panlong City.”

“HAHAHA… We do intend to go to Panlong City. However, I, ’Blood Hand’ Chen Shi, never engage in a losing trade. Since you’ve asked us to lead the way, Miss, naturally you must pay a price.” Blood Hand Chen Shi licked his lips, a lewd grin spreading across his face. The five men beside him also burst into jeering laughter.

One of the burly men appraised Bing Ruolan with a lewd gaze, remarking crudely, “Boss, this little filly is top quality! After we’ve had our fun with her, we can sell her to a brothel. She should fetch a hefty price…”

SWISH!

A cold glint flashed. The air instantly turned bone-chilling. The brawny man who had spoken only felt a coldness on his neck. He reached up to touch it, and his hand came back wet with blood. Looking at Bing Ruolan, he gurgled, “You…” then, with a thud, he tumbled from his horse.

“Sixth Ma! Kill her!”

Cries of alarm rose from the side.

SWISH! SWISH! SWISH!

With the sound of scraping metal as swords were drawn, the remaining four men roared and charged at Bing Ruolan simultaneously.

A flicker in her sapphire-like eyes, Bing Ruolan flicked her sword, scattering a cold light. The surrounding mist seemed to tremble with her blade.

“Flowing Cloud Crosses the Peak!”

The sword light flashed out. A series of sharp CLANGS and BANGS erupted as weapons met. When silence fell, each of the four menacing strongmen of the martial world had a foot-long sword gash across his chest. They tumbled from their horses, disbelief etched on their faces.

Blood Hand Chen Shi had been about to make a move, but seeing his subordinates killed in an instant, his face turned ashen. He stared at Bing Ruolan in dread. “Who are you?”

“Bing Ruolan, Inner Court disciple of the Purple Sun School.”

Her short, light blue hair gleamed captivatingly in the morning sun. Her calm voice seemed to ripple the surrounding mist.

“Purple Sun School! Inner Court disciple!”

Blood Hand Chen Shi gulped, his face growing increasingly pale with terror. He tumbled from his horse with a thud and kowtowed repeatedly before Bing Ruolan, pleading, “Heroine! I had eyes but failed to recognize Mount Tai! I didn’t know you were from one of the Four Great Academies! Please, spare my life! Don’t kill me!”

The Purple Sun School was one of the Four Great Academies in the Flowing Cloud Region. To become an Inner Court disciple, one’s Cultivation had to be at least at the mid-stage of the Fifth Layer Iron Bone Realm! Furthermore, the Martial Arts practiced by disciples of the Four Great Academies were all of high grade, and their strength placed them among the elite of Martial Artists at the same level.

Chen Shi knew he had really kicked an iron plate this time.

Bing Ruolan wiped her blade clean, sheathed it, and asked, “Which way is Panlong City?”

Chen Shi looked up and pointed south. “Head south for thirty or forty miles, and you’ll reach Panlong City!”

Thirty to forty miles? Then I should be able to arrive before noon. Bing Ruolan glanced back.

Just then, Chen Shi, still kneeling on the ground, shot up. His eyes turned cold as he thrust a clawed hand towards Bing Ruolan’s left ankle!

“Die! Dismembering Hand!”

The martial art Chen Shi cultivated, the Dismembering Hand, was a Yellow Grade, High-Rank Martial Art specializing in close-quarters combat! Seeing Bing Ruolan sheathe her sword, malicious intent surged within him, and he instantly attacked!

“Stubborn fool.”

Bing Ruolan snorted coldly, her legs tensing slightly!

BOOM!

With a long neigh, its nostrils flaring hot air, the Fire Cloud Horse suddenly dropped to its knees.

Bing Ruolan’s fine hair flew as she whirled and threw a punch.

“Angry Tiger Coming Out of the Cave!”

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

Her seemingly delicate fist, at the moment it shot out, was like a ferocious beast awakened, striking the air with a series of explosive booms!

SPURT!

The instant her fist connected with his claw, the sound of bones cracking echoed from Chen Shi’s body. He spat out a mouthful of blood and was sent flying backward, crashing heavily to the ground more than ten meters away. His right chest had caved in; he was clearly not going to survive.

Late-stage Fifth Layer Iron Bone Realm Cultivation. His head is probably worth a good sum of silver… But forget it, getting to Panlong City is more important. Luo Feng left in such a hurry, I wonder what happened…

Bing Ruolan had her horse stand up again. She glanced at Chen Shi’s corpse and shook her head slightly.

Donning her bamboo hat to cover her alluring features, Bing Ruolan glanced at the southern sky. With a clear cry, her Fire Cloud Horse neighed sharply and shot off like an arrow loosed from a bowstring.

…

In the small courtyard, Luo Feng remained seated cross-legged on the ground.

As the first ray of dawn appeared on the horizon, the fallen leaves in the small courtyard suddenly swirled into the air as if swept up by a fierce wind! An invisible current of air, with Luo Feng at its center, spiraled continuously, faintly taking the form of a dragon. Its head was held high in disdain, its body coiled, exuding an imposing aura that completely enveloped Luo Feng.

HUM!

A peculiar hum emanated from within Luo Feng’s body. In that instant, all the leaves that had been endlessly swirling and fluttering came to a standstill. The dragon-shaped airflow also receded into his body and vanished.

“I’ve finally broken through.”

Slowly exhaling a breath of turbid air, Luo Feng opened his eyes. A brilliant light flashed within his dark, profound pupils, where one could faintly discern a flickering black flame.

Birds flying over the courtyard seemed to sense something. They let out piercing shrieks and frantically beat their wings, darting away into the distance.

Luo Feng watched the birds fleeing for their lives, a slight smile touching his lips as he retracted his aura.

In one night, he had finally broken through the bottleneck and officially stepped into the late stage of the Sixth Layer God Bravery Realm!

Luo Feng was very pleased with his cultivation progress.

Keep in mind, even a genius like Duanmu Yu took more than a month to advance from the mid-stage to the late stage of the God Bravery Realm. Such individuals were already exceedingly rare—truly one in ten thousand. And Luo Feng had only been at the mid-stage of the God Bravery Realm for, at most, half a month.

Let’s see if there are any changes to the Sky Slayer Saber Technique.

Luo Feng murmured to himself, drew his Tiger Soul Saber, and slashed downwards.

WHOOSH!

The blade sliced through the air with a sharp, piercing whistle.

The Tiger Soul Saber stopped the instant its tip touched the ground, yet a smooth saber mark, about five inches deep, appeared on the earth.

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