"Brother Lu, watch out!"
Shenn Hu roared. The ground beneath his feet instantly caved in as his figure shot out like an arrow loosed from a bowstring.
While in mid-air, he spread his five fingers and cupped his palm, forming a tiger's claw that he aimed for the Black-Clothed Man's throat.
Tiger Claw Skill!
At the same time,
The Black-Clothed Man's swift and graceful Leg Technique suddenly changed, becoming cunning and vicious, like a serpent striking.
Amidst the flurry of saber flashes, the Black-Clothed Man's legs struck out like lightning. With a series of CRACKS, he actually parried the saber's edge, leaving Lu Chu's guard wide open.
If he had just one or two more breaths, his vicious Leg Technique would have torn out Lu Chu's throat.
Fortunately,
Shenn Hu had already made his move.
"Tiger Claw Skill?"
The Black-Clothed Man's legs kicked out in rapid succession, colliding with the incoming tiger claw. He was forced back several steps, but he praised,
"Remarkable. To be able to bring the unremarkable Tiger Claw Skill to such a Realm, Master Shenn is truly a great talent."
"A pity…"
"But it's just not good enough!"
WHOOSH!
His figure leaped, hands stretching forward, as he unleashed a strange Claw Skill to clash head-on with Shenn Hu.
Shenn Hu had practiced Martial Arts since childhood. He completed his Body Tempering before the age of thirty and was known for his exceptional talent in Martial Arts.
Over several decades, he had cultivated an extremely common technique, the Tiger Claw Skill, to a divine level.
That is,
Qi and Will Integration!
Such Martial Arts Talent was a source of pride not just in Yue City, but across the entire world.
Fierce Tiger Leaping Over the Stream!
Hungry Tiger Pounces on the Mountain!
Crouching Tiger's Claw!
…
The twenty-seven stances of the Tiger Claw Skill held a miraculous power in Shenn Hu's hands, his moves changing in an endless stream.
And yet,
The longer he fought, the colder his heart grew.
His opponent's Cultivation shouldn't be high, and his level of Body Tempering was inferior, yet he was able to clash with him using a Claw Skill.
He was even gaining the upper hand!
Qi and Will Integration!
The Black-Clothed Man's Claw Skill had also reached the Realm of Qi and Will Integration, and his techniques were far more exquisite—far beyond what his Tiger Claw Skill could compare to.
That strange Claw Skill was at times incomparably fierce and at others ruthlessly decisive. It often changed in unexpected ways, making it impossible to guard against.
"Brother Shenn, I'll help you!"
Lu Chu roared upon seeing this and charged forward again, brandishing his saber.
With him joining the fray, the pressure on Shenn Hu lessened dramatically.
The two had known each other for years. Although they weren't used to fighting as a team, their coordination was decent enough to stabilize the situation. But that was all they could do—stabilize it.
The Black-Clothed Man's Mysterious Step Technique was profound, his Leg Technique was vicious, and his Claw Skill was unfathomably mysterious. He held his own against two opponents, showing no signs of being at a disadvantage.
Zhu Ju's expression was grim.
His strength was about the same as Lu Chu's, but quite a bit weaker than Shenn Hu's. He would be no match for the Black-Clothed Man.
'Although Qi Blood Martial Arts has limited potential, I can't underestimate the Martial Artists of this world. I've only just started to achieve something, and there are many who are stronger than me.'
'What is this Black-Clothed Man's background? Judging by his voice and eyes, he can't be that old, yet his strength is this terrifying?'
'Shenn Hu said that Yue City is just a small place and that someone like him is nothing in the Martial World of the Zheng Kingdom. I thought he was just being modest at the time, but it seems he was telling the truth.'
"Everyone."
Just then, one of the Martial Arts Hall masters in the courtyard shouted:
"He's a wicked villain! Everyone has the right to strike him down! We don't need to follow the code of the Martial World with him. Let's get him together!"
"That's right," another person yelled.
"Hiding his face and identity. I'd like to see what he looks like, being so afraid to show himself."
"Charge!"
"All together!"
The crowd roared in unison, and stirred by emotion, they rushed—some fast, some slow—towards the three combatants.
Zhu Ju glanced at Lord Fang beside him and did not join the crowd.
No matter how strong the Black-Clothed Man was, he was already struggling to defeat Shenn Hu and Lu Chu combined. He couldn't possibly be a match for everyone.
As expected.
Facing the siege of the crowd, the Black-Clothed Man initially held on thanks to his Mysterious Step Technique, but he was gradually surrounded.
Just as he was about to be defeated, the sky above suddenly darkened.
"Ganging up on one person—there is no honor in such a victory."
A black shadow had appeared on the courtyard wall at some point. As its cold voice crashed down into the courtyard, it followed:
"Get lost!"
BOOM!
A violent Qi Force, accompanying the falling shadow, swept out in all directions, knocking back all the Martial Arts Hall masters at once.
Even the likes of Shenn Hu and Lu Chu were no exception.
'How is this possible?'
Zhu Ju was horrified. He took an unconscious step back and then noticed the change in Lord Fang's expression.
'Huh?'
'He's not afraid?'
"Just as I thought!"
A white figure shot out from behind a screen, heading straight for the black shadow.
"Lord Fang's foresight is brilliant! I knew the Seven Workshops of Flower Street must have a backer other than the great families of Yue City. A Grandmaster Gui Cang was indeed hidden deep within. But since you've come, you can stay here permanently!"
'Gui Cang?'
'The Realm above Body Tempering!'
The white figure's speed was astonishing. It crossed dozens of feet in a single breath, balling its fist to strike the black shadow who had rescued the Black-Clothed Man.
BOOM!
The fist struck empty air, yet it produced a deafening roar.
The fierce and violent Fist Force carried a visible shockwave. A single punch made the courtyard wall teeter on the verge of collapse.
"Five Elements Fist Gang!"
The black shadow screamed,
"Flower Fist Fu Huanlian, why are you still in Yue City?"
"Lord Fang knew someone was causing trouble behind the scenes, so he pretended to transfer me away while I was actually waiting nearby." Fu Huanlian's voice was ice-cold.
"Soul-Slaying Ghost Claw. So you're a fiend from the Red Blood Sect. Just as Lord Fang expected, you Red Blood traitors haven't given up your villainous ambitions. You cause chaos the moment you get a chance."
As they spoke, the two had already exchanged more than ten moves, leaving afterimages and rampant Powerful Qi in their wake.
The black shadow's Claw Skill was profound and clearly from the same lineage as the Black-Clothed Man's, but its power was on a completely different level.
With a flicker of its body and a lash of its claws, the sharp Powerful Qi could leave deep claw marks on a wall more than two meters away.
Zhu Ju, merely watching from the side, felt his skin and flesh unconsciously tighten, and a heart-pounding terror surfaced within him.
If he had to face it…
His Thirteen Body Refinement at the Tendon and Bone Realm would be almost powerless before the black shadow. He feared even the Vital Organ Realm wouldn't be enough.
But as strong as the black shadow was, it was still no match for Flower Fist Fu Huanlian.
Judging by her appearance, Fu Huanlian was a woman of about thirty, with a slender build that was anything but brawny.
But her every move carried immense Giant Power and terrifying Powerful Qi. Every punch forced the black shadow into a desperate retreat.
The Fist Force erupted, sweeping out for several meters.
'This is…'
'Inner Qi Release!'
'No, that's not right!'
Zhu Ju gently shook his head.
Experts capable of Inner Qi Release were extremely rare even in Hejian Prefecture. The old master had only barely reached that level when he was alive.
The aura Fu Huanlian projected when she attacked was very similar to an expert capable of Inner Qi Release, but its power was far inferior.
If the old master were to make a move, the courtyard walls here would have long since collapsed. Even boulders would be shattered, and not a single patch of ground would remain intact.
'So…'
'What she's releasing isn't Inner Qi, but Qi Blood!'
A thought struck Zhu Ju, and he fell into contemplation.
He didn't know what was so special about the Gui Cang Realm Martial Artists of this world, but they could somehow release their Qi Blood, forming a technique similar to Inner Qi, albeit relatively weaker.
'A weakened version of Inner Qi?'
'Weak is a relative term. A Gui Cang Realm Martial Artist might not be as good as an Inner Qi Expert, but they're still far, far stronger than me.'
"Hah!"
After a few moments of entanglement, Fu Huanlian seemed to grow impatient. With a low cry, her figure flickered past a torch.
The next instant.
BOOM!
Her Qi Blood made contact with the torch's flame and instantly ignited. A Flame Fist Force erupted with a roar, sweeping several meters and turning the entire backyard into what felt like a furnace.
Zhu Ju's skin and flesh tensed. The various Martial Arts Hall masters hastily retreated. If it was like this for them on the periphery, the black shadow directly facing the Flame Fist Force had it even worse, letting out a miserable shriek as its body blurred into several afterimages and flew backward.
"Five Elements Fist!"
"A Fire Control Method!"
"As expected of the legacy of a Martial Arts Grandmaster! How powerful!"
The black shadow shrieked. With a sudden shake of its arms, countless cold glints shot towards Lord Fang.
While Fu Huanlian turned to intercept the projectiles, it took something from its waist, smashed it on the ground, and billowing black smoke instantly filled the courtyard.
"Let's go!"
"Trying to escape?"
Fu Huanlian's beautiful eyes narrowed. Confirming that Lord Fang was unharmed, her figure flickered and she leaped into the smoke.
PUFF!
CLANG…
After a series of chaotic sounds, a grim-faced Fu Huanlian dispersed the thick smoke and reappeared before the crowd.
"Miss Fu."
Lord Fang hurried forward.
"How did it go?"
"That person took one of my punches. It will be at least half a year before he can recover. But I wasn't able to keep him here." Shaking her head, Fu Huanlian cupped her fists.
"I have disappointed you, my lord."
"No matter," Lord Fang said with a faint smile.
"I am already endlessly grateful that you were willing to act, Miss Fu. Half a year… that should be enough time."
"By the way, do you know who that was?"
"To be able to cultivate the Soul-Slaying Ghost Claw to such a Realm, and to be a Gui Cang Martial Artist, he must be one of the Elders of the Red Blood Sect," Fu Huanlian said.
"As for that Black-Clothed Man, I don't know who he is. To have such Cultivation at a young age… what a pity he's gone astray."
"I see…" Lord Fang mused, then turned and cupped his fists toward the Martial Arts Hall masters.
"Thank you all for taking the trouble to gather today. Fortunately, the villain has been suppressed. It seems we cannot be rash about the matter of Flower Street, or certain people will surely fight to the death. We must proceed slowly."
"You are right, my lord," Shenn Hu said, clutching his stuffy chest.
"Since we can't be of any help, we will take our leave."
...
"Grandmaster Gui Cang!"
"Red Blood Sect!"
"Flower Fist Fu Huanlian!"
After bidding farewell to Shenn Hu and the others, Zhu Ju returned to his own small courtyard and, with the help of his maid Ke'er, soaked in a medicinal barrel.
"I thought Shenn Hu was already an expert, but compared to that Grandmaster Gui Cang, he's just engaging in child's play."
"Yue City…"
Zhu Ju sighed with emotion.
"It really is just a small place. Today, I finally got to see a true expert of the Martial World."
The so-called number one expert of Yue City wasn't even worth a second glance in front of a true master.
"Heh…"
"Right now, I'm not even as good as Shenn Hu. I haven't even completed my Body Tempering, and the Gui Cang Realm is a distant dream."
Shaking his head, he reached out and picked up a book from the side.
This was part of the payment Shenn Hu had given him for his cooperation with the Fierce Tiger Martial Arts Hall—some tips on Body Tempering.
"But it's not a complete Body Tempering Method."
Five Elements Fist Sect!
Flower Fist Fu Huanlian!
Before he had witnessed a true expert, getting his hands on Body Tempering tips had been very important to Zhu Ju.
But watching the two Grandmaster Gui Cangs clash tonight made him understand that without a true lineage, it was ultimately impossible to become a top-tier expert. For a moment, even the joy of obtaining the Body Tempering tips faded significantly.
'So the Red Blood Sect is hidden behind Flower Street. With that mysterious Grandmaster Gui Cang there, any move against Flower Street could provoke the retaliation of a Grandmaster Gui Cang. Even knowing the people inside are wicked to the core, who would dare to act rashly?'
Zhu Ju gently shook his head.
*
*
*
Zhu Mansion.
"Young Master!"
Tears in his eyes, Elder Qin trembled as he welcomed him.
"Where have you been all these days? This old servant has been worried sick, afraid that… Thank goodness you're alright."
"Elder Qin." Zhu Ju's eyes showed his shame.
"The day the bandits broke into the city, it all happened too suddenly. I saw I couldn't make it back to the mansion in time, so I went to hide outside the city for a few days."
"I've made you worry."
He had actually been messing around in the Otherworld for the past few days and had only just returned. He had indeed been gone for quite a while.
"As long as you're safe, as long as you're safe."
Elder Qin's body swayed.
"It's good that you're back, Young Master."
"Hm?" Zhu Ju frowned, reached out to take Elder Qin's pulse, and his expression immediately darkened.
"Your body…"
"Young Master," Ma Xun cried from the side.
"That night, Master went out to look for you and ran into bandits from the Inner Qi Realm. He was injured in the ensuing fight."
What?
Zhu Ju's wrist trembled.
"I'm fine."
Elder Qin shook his head.
"This old body is failing anyway. A small injury is no big deal. Young Master, you should go see the young miss first."
"The young miss?" Zhu Ju looked surprised.
"My sister is here?"
"Yes." Elder Qin sighed.
"She arrived this morning. It seems she had some sort of conflict with Luu Pu."