C18 The Killing of the Heavy Sword

"True Martial City?"

At the mention of the city, Xiao Ling's frame stiffened, a glint of murderous intent flashing in the depths of his dark eyes—the Wild Sword Martial Club was in True Martial City!

"Agreed."

Xiao Ling bowed slightly and said, "My thanks, miss."

"I'm Lau Miaoyi."

With a smile, Lau Miaoyi introduced herself, "I'm with the Dragon Sect Escort Agency, and the man ahead is my brother, Lau Qing. We welcome you to our ranks."

Upon hearing Lau Miaoyi's invitation, Soong Rui's face twisted with resentment, though he found himself at a loss for words.

The rest of the Dragon Sect Escort Agency, having witnessed Xiao Ling's skills, remained silent, turning their attention to Lau Qing.

"Let's proceed together."

With Lau Miaoyi's offer extended, Lau Qing saw no reason to dissent.

Throughout the remainder of the journey, Xiao Ling cradled Xiaojin, remaining silent. The Dragon Sect Escort Agency members also refrained from engaging Xiao Ling in conversation, eager to reach True Martial City and fulfill their escort mission.

"Halt!"

Lau Qing raised his hand, his expression grave, "Prepare for battle!"

At Lau Qing's command, the escort agency members were jolted into alertness, drawing their swords and scanning the dense forest with wary eyes.

"An ambush?"

Soong Rui gripped his broadsword, surveying the eerily still woods, sensing that something was amiss—the silence was unsettling.

"Truly the head of the Dragon Sect Escort Agency."

Dozens of figures in black, exuding powerful auras, materialized in the trees. The leader leaped forward, declaring, "Hand over your cargo, and your lives will be spared!"

"Our duty is to the cargo!"

Lau Qing's gaze sharpened as he stood his ground with spear in hand, challenging, "Who are you, and why do you seek to rob us?"

"There's no need for you to know who we are."

The man in black sneered, "What matters is that you can save your skins by surrendering the cargo. But if you refuse, don't blame me for my mercilessness!"

After his declaration, the man in black unleashed a formidable aura, revealing the strength of a Martial Master!

His comrades, also clad in black, followed suit, each exuding the power of a Nine-star martial artist.

This sent a wave of panic through the ranks of the Dragon Sect Escort Agency.

Lau Qing himself was a Martial Master, and with Lau Miaoyi and Soong Rui, both Nine-star martial artists, and the others being around Eight-star, they were a formidable team.

"Leave no one alive!"

The man in black drew his sword and lunged at Lau Qing.

The other assailants encircled the remaining members of the Dragon Sect Escort Agency.

The battle was imminent!

"Attack!"

With a roar, Lau Qing brandished his spear, clashing with the men in black. A surge of powerful Yuan Qi energy burst forth, kicking up clouds of dust.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

Lau Qing was evenly matched with the man in black, a realization that weighed heavily on him as he glanced back at his allies.

The enemy's strength was overwhelming, putting the Dragon Sect Escort Agency at a severe disadvantage.

"Distraction will be your downfall!"

The man in black slashed Lau Qing, taunting him, "Even though I can't defeat you immediately with your skills, my men can easily slaughter your people. Then, you too will meet your end."

"Curse you!"

Lau Qing parried the relentless attacks, his gaze filled with concern for Lau Miaoyi. Seeing her struggle fiercely, his anxiety intensified.

"So, the young lady must be your sister, Lau Miaoyi," the man in black surmised, recognizing her amidst the fray. "Capture her, but keep her alive—I have plans for her!"

"You vile, contemptible scoundrel!"

Lau Qing's fury escalated upon hearing the man's command. His grip tightened, his strength surged, but he couldn't shake off his opponent.

"Hehe, if you refuse to surrender, once I have your sister, I'll ensure her life is a living hell."

The man in black sneered with a vulgar grin, "Your sister hasn't been touched, has she? Soon, my men and I will enlighten her to certain... pleasures."

Lau Qing was shaking with rage, unable to focus and fight back against the man in black, quickly losing ground.

"Seize that girl!"

The other assailants converged on Lau Miaoyi, her complexion turning ashen as she stumbled backward, her eyes brimming with despair.

"You're nothing but animals!"

The members of the Dragon Sect Escort Agency, embroiled in fierce combat, bellowed furiously.

Swish!

As the men in black closed in on Lau Miaoyi, a slender figure stepped in front of her—Xiao Ling.

He stood there, Edgeless Sword in hand, his eyes dark and stormy, recalling how Jiang Ya from the Holy Martial Institute had once saved him, and now he was Lau Miaoyi, besieged by enemies.

"Die!"

A crimson glint flashed in Xiao Ling's obsidian eyes as he lunged at the attackers with his Edgeless Sword.

Swish! Swish! Swish!

Blood spurted in the wake of the sword's path, staining the ground.

Several men in black crumpled into the bloody aftermath, lifeless.

The scene was nothing short of astonishing!

The Dragon Sect Escort Agency's members gaped as Xiao Ling burst into action, dispatching several Nine-star level adversaries in one fell swoop, their minds struggling to process the turn of events.

The remaining men in black grimaced, taken aback by the hidden master within the agency's ranks.

"Xiao Ling..."

Lau Miaoyi was speechless, her eyes shining with awe as she witnessed Xiao Ling claim the lives of their foes. She hadn't imagined that her act of kindness, saving the near-death young man, would reveal such formidable power.

"Xiao Ling has kept his cards close to his chest..."

Soong Rui, locked in his own grueling fight, clicked his tongue in amazement, relief flooding him that he hadn't pursued his quarrel with Xiao Ling further.

After all, it took a true Martial Master to dispatch several Nine-star warriors with a single blow, and Xiao Ling had done just that.

"Die."

Xiao Ling left a trail of blood in his wake. None of the men in black could withstand a single strike from his sword—they all perished beneath it.

He was drenched in blood, a relentless killer, a reaper from hell itself, sending shivers down the spines of the remaining assailants.

It wasn't just the men in black who were shaken; the Dragon Sect Escort Agency watched Xiao Ling's slaughter with hearts pounding. They were relieved not to be his enemies, for their end would surely have been ghastly.

"Retreat!"

The leader of the men in black commanded. The mission was a failure; the only option left was to return and report to their master.

"Trying to flee?"

Xiao Ling watched the men in black retreat, then leapt into the air. With the Edgeless Sword in hand, he delivered a mighty swing at them.

"Crushing Sword Technique!"

His strike, imbued with the force of gravity sword intent, made the men in black feel as though their feet were weighed down by mercury, their movements sluggish.

Boom!

The sword qi, a manifestation of the gravity sword intent, roared towards the men in black, sweeping them up in its path.

Puchi!

Blood sprayed, as if a crimson rain had descended.

Xiao Ling stood beneath this blood rain, leaving a fearsome silhouette for the Dragon Sect Escort Agency to behold.

"He's incredibly fierce!"

A burly man from the Dragon Sect Escort Agency couldn't contain his awe. "To take down all the men in black single-handedly!"

"Xiao Ling's power... it's likely far greater than my own..."

Lau Qing's gaze was heavy with respect. "Thank goodness little sister saved Xiao Ling. Otherwise, we would have all faced certain death."

Without Xiao Ling's intervention, the Dragon Sect Escort Agency would have met their doom.

What troubled Lau Qing even more was the fact that these men in black knew too much about their agency, casting a shadow of concern across his expression.

"Xiao Ling, my thanks to you."

Lau Miaoyi approached Xiao Ling, her cheeks flushed with a shy gratitude. "If not for you, I might have been captured by the men in black."

She was acutely aware of the dire consequences had she fallen into their hands.

The men in black would likely take her hostage to coerce Lau Qing, making him hesitant to retaliate.

"You're unharmed, that's a relief."

With a swift motion, Xiao Ling darted forward, leaving Lau Miaoyi blushing to the tips of her ears.

"He... he seems really concerned about me..."

Clutching the hem of her garment, Lau Miaoyi's heart fluttered chaotically, a sensation completely foreign to her.

Swish!

In no time, Xiao Ling returned, tossing a captive man in black before Lau Qing and the others.

"I refrained from killing this ringleader when I struck. If you have any questions, now's the time to ask him," Xiao Ling stated.

Their actions were calculated; clearly, they weren't mere thieves or robbers.

"Mr. Xiao, your assistance is deeply appreciated. My thanks to you!"

Lau Qing advanced with a respectful bow, "I've been remiss in my conduct towards you. Please, Mr. Xiao, accept my apologies."

"Young Hero Xiao truly exemplifies the valiance of youth. We were blind to your stature before, and for that, we ask for your understanding."

The burly men of the Dragon Sect Escort Agency immediately made their admiration clear, regarding Xiao Ling with awe. His prowess could effortlessly vanquish them.

"Uh, Mr. Xiao..."

Soong Rui approached, scratching his head, "I owe you an apology for earlier. Seeing Miaoyi care for you sparked jealousy, and I acted rashly in the heat of the moment..."

"Soong Rui!"

Lau Miaoyi's cheeks flushed as she turned her gaze to Xiao Ling, her eyes shimmering.

"Some things aren't worth holding onto," Xiao Ling said with a dismissive wave and a smile. "Had Lau Miaoyi not come to my rescue, I would've perished in the wilds by now."

"Lau Miaoyi is my savior. When I saw you in distress, it was my duty to help. Perhaps this is the cycle of karma at work—good deeds beget good fortune."

At his words, Lau Miaoyi bashfully covered her face.

Turning to Lau Qing, Xiao Ling remarked, "Brother Liu, it's clear these men in black have a specific agenda. It seems someone is plotting against you..."

"Mr. Xiao is absolutely right. I'll inquire immediately."

Lau Qing's eyes fixed on the man in black lying on the ground. He removed the man's mask and, upon recognizing the face, his pupils constricted. "Fang Ju, how could it be you?"

The man was none other than his former close friend, which left him in utter shock, rendering him speechless.

"Hehe, Lau Qing, you didn't see this coming, did you?" Fang Ju's voice was tinged with bitterness as blood dripped from the corner of his mouth. "Had it not been for this unexpected turn of events, your Dragon Sect Escort Agency would have been doomed!"

His eyes seethed with resentment, particularly towards Xiao Ling. If not for the young man's intervention, Fang Ju's plan would have been flawlessly executed.