Chapter 15 After all, he hadn't let them go back then either...
Even faster than a punch is the wind from it. And with a horizontal wave, she can chase the wind.
He took a step to the left, bent over, jumped back, leaped up, lightly touched the ground with his toes, turned sideways, charged straight ahead, and finally, swung his sword...
The Third Elder's expression of surprise and doubt grew increasingly serious. If his moves had been predicted once or twice, it wouldn't have been a problem, but now every punch he threw was exactly what his opponent had anticipated. He couldn't help but wonder if this little girl possessed the ability to foresee the future.
He forced himself to suppress his unease and stopped making bold moves. Instead, he began to use diversionary tactics to try and confuse Hengbo's judgment.
But people can lie, but the wind cannot.
No matter how he changes his moves—from a left hook to a jab, a right hook to a forward swing, or a combo—Hyōbo always manages to perfectly evade his true killing blow.
The Third Elder finally started to panic. Large beads of sweat appeared on his forehead and rolled down. He could only rely on his physical strength to hold out against Hengbo.
Unfortunately, Hengbo was already tired of playing this cat-and-mouse game with him. In that instant, she opened her eyes, stopped her swift steps, pointed to her chest, and used the second move of the Spring Startling Technique, Silent Rain, which she knew by heart.
A gentle spring rain falls silently, nourishing all things.
However, the gentle drizzle from Hengbo will never feel moist or tender; it will only lock onto its prey with a subtle killing intent.
She finally began to move. Her steps were still fast enough to chase the wind, but they were no longer the free and unpredictable wind; instead, they were the biting, piercing wind.
Each of her movements seemed to bring a touch of cool drizzle.
At first, the ant's bite didn't bother the person; it was just a minor, gnawing pain. The Third Elder, confident in his near-mastery of martial arts, wouldn't even notice such a tiny ant.
However, as the attacks of the horizontal waves became faster and denser, the fine rain, which was as fine as cow's hair, all turned into sharp needles that pierced through the Third Elder's body, leaving bloody wounds.
The Third Elder felt as if termites had swarmed over his entire body, leaving almost no intact skin. He could even smell the strong, pungent stench of blood in the air, a sensation no less severe than being slowly sliced to death.
But she clearly didn't draw her sword.
Could it be...?
"You actually possess the Innate Sword Body!" the Third Elder exclaimed in surprise.
Those with innate sword bodies are a once-in-a-century phenomenon. They will find it more difficult to enter the Earth Realm than ordinary people. However, if they manage to advance, they will be incomparable to ordinary Earth Masters.
He finally realized what a martial arts genius the little girl he thought she was was, but it was too late; he had no way out.
The moment he disregarded the light drizzle, he was already trapped in this absolute domain controlled by Hengbo and shrouded in killing intent. It was airtight, filled only with murderous intent. And his life or death was entirely in the hands of the person before him.
After realizing this, he felt as if his blood had frozen, and the last bit of strength that supported him to throw a punch was completely gone. He lost all will to live and could only offer his neck to be slaughtered.
So, will the transverse wave let him go?
Until a sword, drawn at some unknown time, pierced through her chest, the pain of her ruptured heart spreading to every part of her body, the Third Elder finally knew the answer to the question: she wouldn't.
"I, I am the Third Elder of Hidden Sword Manor, how dare you treat me like this..." He looked down at the gleaming sword blade dripping blood on his chest, his words filled with disbelief.
Hengbo calmly drew her sword without saying a word, not even glancing at him. She walked past his swaying body, sword in hand, and casually wiped the still-snaking blood from her blade onto the two fallen guards.
Hengbo didn't understand why he asked this question, after all, he hadn't let Ruan Wangshu off the hook back then either.
Moreover, she was at the age where she was young and fearless, and the reputation of Hidden Sword Manor was really nothing to her.
Finally, the swaying body collapsed. Seeing that the person had finally breathed his last, Hengbo sheathed his sword and rushed towards the place he had agreed to meet with the young master.
Meanwhile, seeing the Second Elder slowly waking up beside him, Ah Cai subconsciously wanted to strike him on the head again, but was stopped in time by the young master.
The young master helped the second elder sit up and asked with concern, "Second Uncle, are you alright?"
The second elder shook his head and looked at Ah Cai with a sigh, complaining, "Your second uncle is getting old. I almost gave up my life to play along with you in this play."
The young master first explained to Ah Cai, who was still staring at the Second Elder with a wary expression, "Second Uncle is actually one of our people. I just asked him to help bring out the seal earlier. You don't need to be so nervous."
Seeing that Ah Cai had relaxed, he apologized to the Second Elder, saying, "Ah Cai is a simpleton. To avoid him giving himself away, I did not tell him about this. He did not mean to offend you. I hope you will forgive him, Second Uncle."
The Second Elder waved his hand, indicating that he would not fuss over such a trivial matter.
They were currently hiding in one of the Second Elder's estates. The Second Elder looked out the window, his brows furrowed with worry: "Third Brother has been at the Earth Realm for several years now, and his realm is quite stable. I wonder if your friend will be able to escape unscathed."
The young master had a lot of confidence in Hengbo. He calmly drank the tea that Ah Cai had poured for him and said, "Second Uncle, there's no need to worry. Just wait for good news."
The Second Elder smiled wryly: "It's not that I don't trust my nephew, it's just that I'm too eager to avenge Ning'an."
Upon hearing this, the young master also fell silent.
Chu Ning'an was the youngest son of the Second Elder, even younger than the young master. Coupled with his exceptional talent in martial arts from a young age, he was showered with affection. However, this promising young star was ambushed and crippled during a trip. Although he received treatment from the elders of Shenmu Valley, he could only maintain basic daily life; he couldn't even lift slightly heavy objects, let alone practice martial arts.
From then on, the once cheerful and lively young genius became increasingly depressed and rarely left his home. Even the Second Elder could hardly see him more than a few times a year.
The Second Elder had always favored and doted on this child, and now that he had suffered such a calamity, he naturally wanted to avenge him. But it was really strange that the group of thieves who plotted against Chu Ning'an seemed to have vanished into thin air without leaving a trace, and there had been no news of them since that day.
It was clear that they had gone there specifically to see Chu Ning'an.
However, despite his noble status and favored status, Chu Ning'an never developed an arrogant or domineering nature, and he never mistreated the servants in the manor. As for making enemies outside, that was impossible; he spent almost the entire year practicing martial arts in the manor, rarely venturing out, and there was no record of him having any conflicts with anyone outside. Therefore, although the Second Elder was eager for revenge, he was truly helpless because he couldn't find the enemy.
The turning point came three years ago when the villa was being renovated and needed to purchase a batch of high-quality timber. The manager in charge of purchasing had just been dismissed for embezzling public funds, and no one could be found to replace him. So he personally went to Lingnan.
As fate would have it, the headquarters of the famous assassination organization Bu Ming Ge was located in Lingnan. The name "Bu Ming" is derived from "dying with eyes wide open," meaning that the assassins of Bu Ming Ge are extremely skilled in assassination. The victims are often killed without anyone knowing and do not even have time to close their eyes.
His intelligence-gathering ability is just as renowned as his assassination skills.
The Second Elder had only intended to give it a try, but to his surprise, he received a reply on silk the day after he submitted his plaque and paid the deposit.
"Hidden Sword Manor, Chu Feiran."
His first reaction upon receiving this message was disbelief. After all, the first rule of Hidden Sword Manor was that disciples of the manor must not harm fellow disciples, and if discovered, they would have to pay with their lives. Moreover, judging from the actions of Bu Ming Pavilion, it could hardly be considered righteous. This time, it was just an opportunity to sow discord, and there was no doubt that they harbored malicious intentions.
But didn't he have such suspicions before?
Chu Feiran is the son of the third elder of Hidden Sword Manor. At the young age of twenty-five, he is already striving to reach the Earth Rank. If all goes well, he is expected to reach the Earth Rank before the age of thirty.
If it weren't for Chu Ning'an, who displayed exceptional talent from a young age, he would undoubtedly be the most dazzling star of Hidden Sword Manor.
Moreover, as the Third Elder's wolfish ambitions were exposed over the years and his actions became increasingly arrogant, Chu Feiran, as his eldest son, became increasingly intolerant of others. On one occasion, when a servant praised Chu Ning'an as the person with the highest martial arts talent in Cangjian Manor during a casual conversation, he immediately ordered someone to cut out the servant's tongue when the words reached his ears.
After learning about this, Chu Ning'an went to see him, but Chu Feiran ridiculed him: "He's just a servant, why are you making such a fuss? No wonder people say that birds of a feather flock together."
In the end, Chu Ning'an had no choice but to give the servant some silver to ensure he would have enough to eat and wear for the rest of his life.
So, could it really be him?
If this trip to Lingnan merely planted a seed of doubt in his heart, his conversation with Chu Ning'an after returning home allowed that seed to sprout and grow into a towering tree.
Recalling Chu Ning'an's words, "Even if the father really found out who the murderer was who harmed his son, what could he do? It would only add to his sorrow," he understood everything.
Indeed, if the murderer is indeed Chu Feiran, the son of the Third Elder, what can he do?
Although Chu Feiran was responsible for this, if the Third Elder hadn't covered for him, would he really have been so incompetent as to not be able to find the culprit for years?
His position in the manor was nominally that of the second elder, but in reality, he was at most just a manager with a higher position. Could he really go head-to-head with the third elder?
Even if he were truly willing to go to such lengths for this one son, it would only be another laughable example of throwing an egg against a rock.
However, he would not give up even the slightest chance.
So when the young master handed him such a knife, he thought it over and over again, and finally agreed.
While the two remained silent, the voice of the maid who had led the way finally came from outside the door.
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