"Hmm?"
The doors of the Library Pavilion opened. Even the dim yellow light spilling from within failed to pierce the pitch-black night. The crowd could only vaguely make out a silhouette standing in the doorway.
"Hero Li, a wise man knows better than to fight the inevitable. You'd better think this through!" a man in black said in a deep voice.
However, turning a deaf ear, the figure stepped straight out of the Library Pavilion. One step, two steps, three steps...
"Li Mu, why risk your life for the paltry gold, silver, and Martial Arts of the Hundred Battles Sect? Whatever they promised you, it'll all be yours after tonight!"
Ji Qing continued to ignore them.
"The Gang Leader said that as long as you stay out of the Hundred Battles Sect's business tonight, he will let bygones be bygones regarding the challenge letter!"
The man in black was growing anxious. He stopped hiding his background, directly revealing his affiliation with the Celestial Yang Gang. But it seemed useless. Ji Qing took step after step, his gait incredibly steady and resolute.
"Chu Shidao, is that you? Has Li Tianyang finally torn off his hypocritical mask to strike at the Hundred Battles Sect? Does an outcast who betrayed his master and abandoned his sect think everyone is as treacherous as he is?" Lie Yingniang seemed to recognize the leader of the men in black.
Knowing his cover was blown, Chu Shidao stopped hiding and pulled down his face mask. He didn't pay any mind to Lie Yingniang, instead staring at Ji Qing with a grave expression as the distance between them rapidly shrank.
Chu Shidao had never seen "Li Mu" before. But for some reason, with every step Li Mu took, he felt an ever-mounting pressure. This pressure even birthed a trace of fear in his heart.
"Li Mu, stop right there! If you dare take another step, we won't hold back!" As Chu Shidao's words fell, the eight men in black behind him immediately drew their long sabers. They clustered tightly around him, their eyes locked on Ji Qing.
Would Ji Qing stop? With Chu Shidao and the eight men joining forces, they could fight a Second-class Martial Artist. Lie Yingniang knew very well that Chu Shidao's group was the sharpest blade in Li Tianyang's arsenal!
CLANG.
Chu Shidao was answered by the crisp sound of a blade being drawn. Ji Qing unsheathed his saber. In the silent night, a dazzling flash of white light seemed to tear through the darkness.
Chu Shidao's mind trembled. He had never seen such a gorgeous, magnificent strike. His entire consciousness seemed wholly captivated by the blade. So much so that even though his hand was gripping his hilt, he couldn't manage to draw his own weapon.
It wasn't that he couldn't; it was that he was too late! The moment he saw the blade light, it was already too late. Chu Shidao only felt a fleeting, icy touch across his neck.
CLACK.
Ji Qing sheathed his saber and stood quietly in place, looking as if he had never moved at all.
"Such a fast saber... you are Ji..." Chu Shidao's eyes went wide as he stared fixedly at the silhouette in the night. He had guessed "Li Mu's" true identity.
In the Martial World, one could disguise their appearance and fake their voice, but Martial Arts could never be faked. When "Li Mu" drew his blade and unleashed such a stunningly beautiful yet incredibly fast and fatal Saber Technique, Chu Shidao immediately knew who he really was.
Unfortunately, it was too late. He opened his mouth, but could only let out a series of hoarse gasps.
THUD.
Chu Shidao collapsed. It wasn't just him; the eight men in black behind him all clutched their throats and fell to the ground one after another, thoroughly devoid of life.
They were dead.
Led by Chu Shidao, the nine Third-class experts could have joined forces to slay a Second-class Expert. But under Ji Qing's hand, they couldn't withstand even a single move.
At this moment, the people of the Hundred Battles Sect were dumbfounded, their hearts filled with absolute shock.
Especially Lie Yingniang. She knew Ji Qing's true identity. She knew that Ji Qing, the Great Demon ranked fifth on the Evil People List, would be strong. But she hadn't expected him to be this strong. To instantly kill nine Third-class experts like Chu Shidao... Even her father, the Sect Leader of the Hundred Battles Sect, could never pull that off!
"Thank you, Hero Li!" Lie Yingniang took a deep breath and cupped her fists in a salute to Ji Qing.
"Make Li Tianyang accept the challenge letter as soon as possible. I don't have time to waste."
"Yes, Hero Li."
Ji Qing searched the nine corpses for a moment but found nothing of value. Thus, he returned to the Library Pavilion.
Only after Ji Qing's silhouette completely disappeared did the disciples of the Hundred Battles Sect heave a long sigh of relief.
"That was terrifying. Hero Li's momentum was so overwhelming; just looking at him made me afraid."
"Instantly killing nine Third-class experts with a single strike... it's unbelievable. Is there really such a fast saber in the Martial World?"
"Just who exactly is Hero Li? I couldn't even fathom a saber that fast."
"So a Saber Technique can actually be this fast..."
The disciples of the Hundred Battles Sect had their eyes opened today. They practiced the saber too, but they had never imagined that a Saber Technique could reach such speeds. Nor did they know that when a Saber Technique reached such speeds, its momentum could be so horrifying.
"Bury the bodies," Lie Yingniang ordered. "Tomorrow, spread the word in the city that Li Tianyang doesn't dare accept our Hundred Battles Sect's challenge letter. Doesn't he value his reputation in the Martial World? Then we'll use his reputation to force his hand!"
"Yes, Senior Sister!"
The disciples began burying the corpses in the back mountain of the Hundred Battles Sect.
As for using Chu Shidao's corpse to expose Li Tianyang? Lie Yingniang hadn't even considered it. Such a method was meaningless. Chu Shidao and his men were a secret weapon for Li Tianyang, so he could easily deny any association. Besides, what if they did expose him? The Martial World operated on strength. Without strength, one was like duckweed drifting without roots.
Lie Yingniang gazed at the distant Library Pavilion, which was still lit, and muttered softly, "Thank you..."
...
The sky was already bright, but Li Tianyang's heart was growing heavier and heavier. An entire night had passed, and there was still no news from Chu Shidao. No news usually meant the mission had failed. With the strength of Chu Shidao and his group, if they failed, there was only one possibility...
"Report! Gang Leader, the people from the Hundred Battles Sect have sent another challenge letter. They're also spreading word everywhere that you are... a spineless coward who doesn't even dare to accept a challenge. Furthermore, rumors are spreading outside that you betrayed your master and abandoned your sect..."
CRASH.
Li Tianyang shattered his chair with a single palm strike. He shot to his feet, his eyes completely bloodshot.
"This is going too far! I originally adhered to the morality of the Martial World and didn't go after the Hundred Battles Sect, but to think they would double down. Good, very good!
"Someone, accept Li Mu's challenge letter! The time will be noon tomorrow, at the Celestial Yang Gang's arena. Invite our peers in the Martial World to bear witness!"
"Yes, Gang Leader."
Li Tianyang had finally accepted the challenge. In truth, he knew perfectly well that the moment Chu Shidao failed, he was left with no choice but to accept it.
There were actually guests present in the Celestial Yang Gang's parlor. Several constables were currently visiting.
Li Tianyang turned his head and said with a somewhat apologetic tone, "Officer Du, I am truly sorry. The Hundred Battles Sect is relentlessly aggressive, so I have no choice but to deal with them. Once I take care of these mundane matters, I will certainly help you search for the Demon, Ji Qing."
The Chief Constable among these constables was impressively none other than the renowned Wind Chasing Saber, Du Chen.
Du Chen smiled in response. "Since Gang Leader Li has important matters to attend to, I won't intrude any longer. Farewell!"
Du Chen then led his men out of the Celestial Yang Gang. After leaving the premises, he paused in his tracks and spoke in a deep voice, "Go and investigate this 'Li Mu' from the Hundred Battles Sect. Anyone who dares to challenge Li Tianyang must be a Second-class Expert, yet I've never heard of such a figure in the Martial World..."
"Yes, sir."
The constables departed to investigate.
"Ji Qing, you are in Anyang City, and this time, you definitely won't escape..." Du Chen sneered. Relying on various sources of intelligence and his many years of experience, he was absolutely certain that Ji Qing was in Anyang City. As long as he could bring Ji Qing to justice, his career would skyrocket in both the Martial World and the Government Office!