Chapter 110: Wind-Cleaving Eight Blades Display Divine Might

Blade light like lightning tore the darkness of the basement. The short sword in Li Ping'an's hand seemed to come alive, turning into eight silver serpents that struck the Special Envoy from every sharp angle.

Wind-Cleaving Eight Blades? The Special Envoy's face changed dramatically, retreating repeatedly—Cangzhou Li family's ultimate technique?

Li Ping'an gave no reply, his blade strokes grew ever more fierce. Each slash carried a sound of cutting through air, and wherever the blade passed, the ninjas hurried to dodge.

Li San watched from the side, eyes widening: Good fellow! This sword technique is even stronger than my lightness skill!

The Special Envoy suddenly shouted in Japanese: Form the formation!

The ninjas quickly changed formation, encircling the two in the middle. Li Ping'an sneered, his blade swirling with his body, unleashing a technique called Eight Directions Wind and Rain, blade light pouring down like a torrential downpour.

Clang clang clang of metal collisions rang incessantly. In an instant, the katanas in the hands of three ninjas snapped in response.

Brother, get me a blade too! Li San shouted.

Li Ping'an tipped his blade tip, and a katana on the ground flew toward Li San: Take it!

Li San caught the blade; although he was not skilled in swordplay, his agility allowed him to fight convincingly. The two stood back‑to‑back, battling the numerous ninjas in a tangled melee.

Seeing this, the Special Envoy slipped quietly to a corner, pulling a small remote controller from his coat. Li Ping'an, eyes sharp, shouted: Trying to run?

A flash of blade light sliced the remote in the Special Envoy's hand cleanly in two. But it was too late; a wall in the basement rose slowly, revealing the Secret Passage behind it.

Until we meet again! the Special Envoy sneered as he leapt into the Secret Passage.

Li Ping'an tried to give chase, but the ninjas clung to him tightly. Anxiety surged within him, and his swordplay grew even more ruthless. He unleashed Wind-Cleaving Eight Blades at full force, blade qi criss‑crossing, and the ninjas fell one after another.

Li Ping'an shouted to Li San.

The two rushed into the Secret Passage, only to see the Special Envoy already leapt onto a car that had been prepared in advance. As the car started, the Special Envoy smugly waved at them.

Damn it! Li San stamped his foot in fury.

Back in the basement, the soldiers and ninjas either died or fled.

Li Ping'an carefully inspected the artifacts in the basement, his expression growing increasingly solemn: These… are national treasures. It seems this Japanese man has grand ambitions.

Li San leaned in to look: Good fellow! If these were to flow overseas, the loss would be enormous!

Suddenly, police sirens sounded outside. Li San's face changed: The police are back! We have to withdraw quickly!

Li Ping'an shook his head: We can't leave. These artifacts must be moved.

So many items, how can we move them? Li San said with difficulty.

Li Ping'an smiled faintly: I have my way. Go outside and keep watch; give me ten minutes.

Li San left, half‑believing, half‑doubting. Li Ping'an acted swiftly; wherever his hand touched, each artifact vanished miraculously. In a short moment, the entire basement was emptied.

When Li San reentered, he was stunned, eyes wide: Bro… brother… how did you do that?

Li Ping'an patted his shoulder: An ancestral trick, nothing to mention. Let's go, the police are arriving soon.

The two hurried out of the manor, sprinting across the roof. Li San finally couldn't hold back: Brother, who exactly are you? This skill isn't something an ordinary jianghu person would have.

Li Ping'an gazed at the distant dawn: I'm just an ordinary person who wants to protect what needs protecting.

At parting, Li San said solemnly: No matter who you are, I've decided you're a friend. If anything comes up, just go to the overpass and ask Lao Sun Tou, the candy‑selling man, to pass a message.

Back home, Ping Le had already gotten up, practicing martial arts in the courtyard. Seeing her brother return, she hurried forward: Brother, you didn't come back last night; I was terrified!

Li Ping'an rubbed her head: It's fine, brother—I'm fine.

During breakfast, Ping Le suddenly said: Brother, yesterday Su Shifu mentioned that in a few days there will be an embroidery competition and wants me to enter.

Li Ping'an's eyes lit up: That's great! Our Le'er will definitely win a prize!

Ping Le lowered her head: But… there's a registration fee, and I have to prepare the materials myself…

Li Ping'an smiled: No need to worry about money. Brother recently… took on a big order.

He quietly pulled a silver coin from his pocket dimension: See, now we have money.

Ping Le's eyes widened in surprise: Brother! Where did you get so much money?

From legitimate business earnings. Li Ping'an slipped the silver to her, saying he'll buy the finest silk thread so my sister can embroider the most beautiful piece.

A few days later, the embroidery competition took place as scheduled. Li Ping'an accompanied Ping Le to the venue, where a sea of people created a bustling scene.

Ping Le's hands trembled with nerves. Li Ping'an encouraged her: Don't be afraid, just treat it like practicing at home.

When the competition began, Ping Le focused intently, threading needles with swift strokes. Li Ping'an stood offstage, nervouser than when he fights himself.

Suddenly, he spotted a suspicious figure in the crowd. Though the person wore ordinary clothes, his gait clearly marked him as a martial family member, and he kept glancing toward them.

Li Ping'an quietly followed, stopping the person in a secluded spot: Friend, just watching the fun?

The person's face changed, and he turned to flee. Li Ping'an grabbed his shoulder: What's the hurry? Want to chat?

I… I just came to watch the competition… the person stammered.

Li Ping'an sneered: Need this to watch the competition? He said, pulling a dagger from the person's waist.

The person panicked instantly. After repeated questioning, he finally revealed the truth. It turned out that Shanben, although unaware of his true identity, had investigated recent suspicious figures in Beiping City and found Li Ping'an, a Rickshaw driver who had just returned from Dongbei, to be suspicious. Moreover, Li Ping'an often took jobs near the residences of officials who had been robbed, making him even more suspect.

Shanben said… better to kill the wrong person than let him go… the person trembled as he spoke.

Li Ping'an felt a shock inside, but kept his composure: Go back and tell Shanben, if anyone comes after me, don't touch my sister. Otherwise… he twisted the dagger in his hand, letting the person taste the power of Wind-Cleaving Eight Blades.

After sending away the tail‑watcher, Li Ping'an returned to the competition venue. By then the contest had ended, and Ping Le held up an embroidered piece, her face beaming with a radiant smile.

Su Shifu announced excitedly: This year's embroidery competition gold prize winner—Li Pingle!

On the embroidery rack, a painting titled 'Twin Yanzi Reporting Spring' was vivid. Two Yanzi frolicked among willow branches, lifelike.

Li Ping'an looked at his sister's smiling face, a warm current rising in his heart. The world holds much darkness, but to protect smiles like this makes everything worthwhile.

At night, he went alone to the roof, gazing at the star‑filled sky. Shanben would certainly not give up easily; those artifacts he would never relinquish lightly.

Ping Le, at some point, also climbed onto the roof: Look, a meteor!

A streak of light tore the night sky. Ping Le clasped her hands and made a wish: May brother stay safe, and may those villains be caught.

Li Ping'an wrapped his sister's shoulder: Don't worry, evil cannot overcome righteousness.

In the night, his gaze hardened. Having chosen this path, he must walk it onward—for his sister, for all the good people on this land.

From afar, bells rang, echoing in Beiping's night sky. A new contest is quietly brewing.