Chapter 31 Counterattack
Half a month passed, Ling Zheng stood on the rock, looming in the mist, his eyes closed, and every breath seemed to resonate with the waterfall.
The sword's tip rose, cutting off the endless torrent, sending a series of crystal-clear water droplets splattering. Ling Zheng's swordsmanship, tempered by the waterfall, had absorbed its characteristics, possessing both the power to forge ahead and the agility to follow the flow.
Finally, Ling Zheng stood firm with his sword on his back, his breathing a little heavy, and his porcelain-white face looked serious.
During this period, Ling Zheng trained outside every day, but his skin color did not change at all. Perhaps it was one of the talents of being the protagonist.
After witnessing Ling Zheng's final results over the past few days, Wen Rensu on the shore showed a satisfied smile, and a hint of internal strength was injected into his voice.
"Jiang Ling, it's okay, come out."
Ling Zheng woke up as if from a dream, stepped out of the waterfall, and when he got closer he saw that his fingers were wrapped in bandages.
Wen Rensu coughed lightly, attracting Ling Zheng's attention. He narrowed his eyes, drew his sword, danced a sword flower, and then drew his sword with lightning speed.
Ling Zheng: “!!!”
He subconsciously blocked the blow. The two swords collided, creating a metallic clang.
Wen Rensu chuckled: "Very good, I won't use any internal energy, let's see how many of my moves you can take."
As soon as he finished speaking, he leaped forward and attacked with a pointed sword. Ling Zheng blocked with a right slash, then turned around and attacked with a slashing sword, his reaction was extremely fast.
Immediately, Wen Rensu sank his Qi into his Dantian, smashed his sword down to break the opponent's rhythm, and leaned over to sweep across his waist and abdomen. Ling Zheng panicked and quickly retreated.
Wen Rensu pursued closely, his sword moves progressing layer by layer, with tricky angles that made it impossible to defend against him. Within two breaths of fighting, the sword swung, and Ling Zheng's eyes widened, and his sword was knocked to the ground.
"Pick up the sword and try again."
Without waiting for Ling Zheng to react, Wen Ren finished his words and continued to attack without mercy. Ling Zheng had to use his agility to the extreme before he could barely pick up the hilt, his chest heaving up and down.
Intellectually, Ling Zheng knew Wen Rensu was training him, but he couldn't help but feel a subtle annoyance. Wasn't he infected with the love poison? His sword was still so aggressive, as if he was dealing with an enemy.
Time and again, the sword in Ling Zheng's hand fell, and undercurrents surged in his eyes. However, his mind was tempered imperceptibly, and his thoughts became more and more calm. His defensive posture became instinctive, and he concentrated on meeting Wen Rensu's attack.
The waterfall rushed down, and the huge sound of the water could not cover up the buzzing sound of the two swords colliding several times in the blink of an eye.
At night, the moonlight is hazy and the stars hang low.
In the inn, the window was half open, and the breeze sneaked into the suite, causing a few candles to sway, creating a small area of warm and warm yellow.
Wen Rensu, who was wearing underwear, massaged Ling Zheng's hand muscles and acupuncture points, and whispered, "Does it hurt?"
This concerned tone was completely different from the one he used during the day, as if the pain in Ling Zheng's hand was not caused by Wen Rensu.
"...Not bad." Ling Zheng narrowed his eyes slightly, his gaze focused on Wen Rensu's slender knuckles, lost in thought.
When he was in the Cliff Valley, he had secretly glanced at this hand as it ruthlessly twisted someone's cervical vertebrae. The veins bulged, revealing its resolute murderous intent.
During this period of time, I have also witnessed this hand wielding a sword. It is dexterous, powerful, and at ease, which fully demonstrates the superb martial arts skills.
But now that I touched it in person, I felt the soft fingertips of this hand, the dry and calloused palm, and the jade-like veins on the back of the hand, which displayed incredible tenderness as it massaged me.
Ling Zheng was overwhelmed with emotions, and found temporary peace of mind from it.
At the same time, in the Central Plains, far away, in an unknown underground place with turbid and smelly air, there was a two-story behemoth.
It has a round shape, a bronze exterior, and is engraved with mysterious totems depicting mortals becoming immortals. Its interior is filled with boiling magma—it is actually a terrifyingly huge alchemy furnace.
A wave of sword-wielding men drove the hypnotized captives onto the platform, where they lined up and jumped into the furnace, like dumplings being dropped into a pot. After a while, these pitiful people turned into a pool of blood. This scene could be called hell on earth.
Back in Guxing City, after a week of fighting, Wen Rensu's sword moves with unstoppable force, attacking Ling Zheng. Ling Zheng calmly and steadily counters his attacks.
Wen Rensu dodged Ling Zheng's downward attack by leaning sideways, his eyes flickering, revealing an imperceptible flaw in his movement. However, Ling Zheng was extremely perceptive and immediately switched his sword from defense to offense.
One move, two moves, three moves... After thirty moves, Wen Ren Su gently placed the sword on the back of Ling Zheng's hand and said with a smile: "Okay, you can start your fight."
These words were like the sound of nature. Ling Zheng's brows suddenly relaxed, and he turned around and found a big rock to sit on.
Seeing Ling Zheng pay so much attention to his image, Wen Rensu's eyes flashed with a hint of amusement, and he sat down beside him. "Jiang Ling, what are your plans for the future?"
His spirits lifted, a fierce glint flashed in Ling Zheng's eyes, and he said in a deep voice, "I want to become stronger."
It was because he was too weak that his family was captured by the people of Cliff Valley and lost their lives. He must work hard to become strong and make Cliff Valley pay a price hundreds or thousands of times!
Facing Ling Zheng's oath, Wen Rensu smiled and said, "Okay, take a day off first, and I'll take you to experience it tomorrow."
Ling Zheng glanced sideways, his heart burning with anger.
Early the next morning, Ling Zheng opened his eyes at the punctual crowing of the rooster, his expression completely clear.
Wen Rensu also woke up and asked Ling Zheng to put on the Wanjun Sect's uniform.
Ling Zheng was a little skeptical. Is it okay to put it on now? I don't feel like I've changed much.
After putting it on with trepidation, Wen Rensu gave serious instructions: "Hold your head high, chest out, look straight ahead, and silently repeat to yourself, 'I am the best in the martial arts world.'"
Huh? Ling Zheng's cold expression instantly broke, and he suddenly looked at Wen Rensu. He really didn't expect Wen Rensu's method to be so simple and crude. It was completely inconsistent with his usual style.
Ke Wenren Su raised his eyebrows slightly, his tone full of threats, "This is a secret in the martial arts world. I have given it to you, why don't you do it?"
Oh, okay. Ling Zheng held his forehead, took a deep breath, and followed Wen Rensu's method, opening his eyes wide and straightening his back.
Unexpectedly, Wen Rensu said quietly, "You didn't silently recite 'I am the best in the martial arts world'."
Hearing this, Ling Zheng's eyes looked strange, as if silently questioning, "How do you know?"
Wen Rensu crossed his arms and said, "I can see that. Do as I say. Don't skimp."
Seeing Ling Zheng was extremely embarrassed and his face flushed red after muttering to himself, Wen Rensu chuckled and gently pinched his soft and elastic cheek, "Okay, I was just teasing you."
He pretended to be mysterious, but in fact he was just trying to trick Ling Zheng, because everyone knew that Ling Zheng was introverted and it was impossible for him to say such nonsense openly.
What?! Ling Zheng was filled with shame and indignation, completely surprised by Wen Rensu's wicked taste. He glared at Wen Rensu with what he thought was a vicious look, and Wen Rensu looked like an angry wild cat.
They walked to the busy street and went all the way to the end. Wen Rensu took Ling Zheng and turned left and right, passing through several dark alleys as if walking in a maze, before they arrived at their destination.
Before him stood a plain little building, yet the passersby exuded the aura of a skilled practitioner. This was Gu Xingcheng's employment agency.
Wen Rensu walked in first, followed closely by Ling Zheng. What caught his eye was a wall covered in bamboo slips of notepaper, each neatly scribbled with information about various tasks.
They walked around calmly, and the bystanders from both the good and evil sides saw their attire without any suspicion. They all held their breath and remained alert, not daring to easily provoke the Wanjun Sect, which was famous for its powerful strength.
After gaining a clear understanding of the reactions of passersby, Ling Zheng breathed a sigh of relief and began to focus on a variety of tasks.
There were those searching for people, treasures, escorts, and even assassinations, some targeting high-ranking officials and sect elders. It was truly eye-opening for him. Could such a thing be so brazen?
Wen Rensu saw what Ling Zheng was thinking and explained, "Generally speaking, in places like this, both the employer and the employee will maintain absolute confidentiality and won't jeopardize their reputation." He then took out a bamboo slip and handed it to Ling Zheng, "Are you confident in this?"
Ling Zheng picked it up and saw that it was a gathering task - to gather thirty wolf gallbladders. The reward was one ounce of silver.
Most of these strange and bizarre items were used by alchemists. Given the current difficult times, only they would offer such a good price as a few ounces of silver.
Wolves are social animals, and collecting wolf gallbladders means facing off against the entire pack. Ling Zheng is thin, and it seems that facing off against one wolf is already a difficult task.
Wen Rensu trusted Ling Zheng, and Ling Zheng was also a lunatic, so he nodded in agreement without much thought.
Only the experience of seeing blood makes people grow. He guessed that Wenren Suduan would not stand by and watch someone die. Since he had solid backing, it would not be a bad idea to give it his all.
Wen Rensu asked Ling Zheng to go to the front desk to register. The person in charge of registration was a small old man with a goatee.
Seeing the newcomer, the old man's eyes flashed with shrewdness, and he respectfully took Ling Zheng's bamboo slips with both hands. Registering them meant they had accepted the task.
At Shilin Peak outside Guxing City, Wen Rensu, carrying his bag, followed Ling Zheng leisurely, not too far away.
"Coyotes usually move around at night. If we can find their home during the day, we can catch them off guard. Jiang Ling, do you know where they usually choose to congregate?"
Ling Zheng pondered for a moment and answered according to his own thoughts: "All living things need water. There is only one main river here. If we follow the water, we will probably find the coyote's tracks."
Hearing this, Wenren Su smiled slightly and did not comment.
The river was sparkling and clear, but after walking for a while, I couldn't see many fish, and some were just fry.
From morning to afternoon, not to mention coyotes, Ling Zheng didn't even see any traces of other animals. His expression gradually changed from calm at the beginning to unconfident.
The fiery red sunset was reflected on the river, swaying and swaying, as if the water itself was also burning, a beauty beyond words. However, Ling Zheng's mood was not affected by this beautiful scenery, but was extremely bad.
Unconsciously stopping, waiting for Wen Rensu to come up, Ling Zheng hesitated and asked, "Did I guess wrong?"
Wen Rensu didn't answer directly. "Your guess is correct, actually. But, look at the way we've walked, besides a few small fish here and there, have we seen any animals?"
As if he understood something, Ling Zheng's eyes moved and he shook his head.
"The world is in chaos right now. Not only are the people suffering, but all living things are suffering... People are hungry, and they risk their lives to hunt wild animals. Gradually, the wild animals are afraid to roam in such conspicuous places."
Wen Rensu's tone was full of emotion, and there seemed to be a hint of compassion in his eyes. Ling Zheng blinked, as if he had discovered a side of Wen Rensu that was unknown to others.
But soon, Wen Rensu restrained his outward emotions and diverted Ling Zheng's attention, "Let's go deeper."
This time, Wen Rensu no longer deliberately fell behind, but walked side by side with Ling Zheng. After all, the light was gradually dimming, and for Ling Zheng's safety, Wen Rensu still had to pay more attention.
Ling Zheng noticed this and his lips curled up into an imperceptible arc that disappeared in an instant.
Night came extremely quickly. Ling Zheng felt that he had not been patrolling for long when he began to lose sight of the road ahead.
Wen Rensu pulled out a torch wrapped in beeswax from his bag, and with a deft movement of his fingertips, he made a semicircle of it. He held the torch upside down, secretly exerting his internal energy, and quickly swept it across the ground. Flames splashed everywhere, and it suddenly caught fire.
The objects around them flickered in and out, and the only sounds they could hear were the chirping of cicadas in the trees and the deliberately restrained footsteps of the two people.
After an unknown amount of time, a rustling sound, louder than the wind, came from the distance. Seeing this, Wen Rensu decisively extinguished the torch.
Ling Zheng exchanged glances with Wen Rensu, and leaned forward cautiously to explore the direction where the sound came from.
After pushing aside a few bushes, a pair of faint blue lights appeared in front.
Ling Zheng suppressed his joy, held his breath, and swung his sword downwards, slowly moving forward. Then he heard a menacing growl. But he only paused for a moment, then approached more cautiously.
Within seconds, the rustling of branches and leaves echoed everywhere, a strange sound in the pitch-black darkness. Ling Zheng quickly stepped back, his back close to Wen Rensu's, and suddenly looked around.
At this moment, countless pairs of ferocious light spots surrounded them, and Ling Zheng's scalp suddenly felt numb.
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