Chapter 84: The Twin Demons of Sichuan: The Dike Breach

Guo Ming could attest that Zhao Mingqian was indeed a standout among the younger generation.

Based on these stats, he felt inferior.

【Disciple of the Canluo Sect】

【Attributes】

【Health: 100%】

【Qi: 150】

【Strength: 6】

【Agility: 6】

【Constitution: 5】

【Spirit: 5】

【Perception: 6】

【Skills】

【Canluo Divine Art LV.10】

【Canluo Sword Art LV.10】

【Green Reeds Sword Art LV.7】

【Flying Smoke Divine Bullet LV.7】

【Canluo Ascension Technique LV.6】

【Melee Basics LV.9】

【Sword Basics LV.8】

【Ranged Basics LV.8】

【Slingshot Basics LV.7】

Zhao Mingqian’s attributes were only slightly higher than those of an ordinary person, yet the level and number of his skills left Guo Ming stunned.

Not a single skill was below LV.5, and he had even mastered four basic skills.

The key point was that Zhao Mingqian was only sixteen years old.

During the night’s camp rest, Guo Ming finally couldn’t help asking: “Young Master Zhao, how did you train to achieve all this?”

Zhao Mingqian was intently watching an animated film with Da Bao, occasionally chuckling.

At Guo Ming’s question, he scratched his head: “Just train normally.”

His master taught him, then he studied the manuals himself and practiced daily.

“If you want to learn swordplay, I can teach you a bit?” Zhao Mingqian’s data sheet listed only two sword arts, but that didn’t mean he knew only two.

Some were merely for cross-referencing, so their mastery was low and didn’t make the list.

“No, I can’t keep up with someone like you.” Guo Ming declined.

What he considered ordinary was like a fairy tale to an ordinary person.

At first, Guo Ming thought Zhao Mingqian was arrogant, but after interacting with him, he confirmed it.

Yet his arrogance didn’t stem from his own strength, but from his sect’s honor.

As a young swordsman just starting out, and from the number one sect in the realm, he was constantly hearing of his Canluo Sect’s renown.

His arrogance arose from pride, yet he was still a good person, and his travels through the martial world had begun to temper it.

Guo Ming was studying intently, while Xiong Mou was writing something, occasionally crossing out and revising, clearly unsatisfied.

If no one disturbed them, the night could have passed peacefully.

Until Da Bao suddenly slammed the pause button on the animated film, shoved the tablet into his small pouch, and turned with a ferocious gaze toward the night.

“Little Guo, people, bad, coming.” Da Bao stood up, claws extended.

Faint hoofbeats emerged from afar; a group arrived swiftly, their hooves wrapped in cloth to muffle sound.

The leader, a bearded man, gripped his whip and bowed to Xiong Mou: “I am Peng Tong, the Black Demon of Sichuan. I hear you have three thousand taels of gold—I don’t need it all, just half.”

Peng Tong’s gaze swept dismissively over Zhao Mingqian, but grew wary when it landed on Da Bao.

“Good sir, how could I possibly have three thousand taels of gold?” Xiong Mou naturally wished to avoid putting the two in danger—best if they left peacefully.

His eyes scanned the group, finally settling on the shrine Guo Ming carried.

“This shrine holds my family’s protective spirit—I have no gold.” Guo Ming offered him an out.

If they let it go, they might still live; if they pressed further, he’d kill them.

“We’re all fellow martial travelers—I should believe you,” Peng Tong said politely, but his tone was not: “But this is three thousand taels of gold—I can’t trust it.”

As he spoke, several of Peng Tong’s bandits unslung their bows and drew them taut.

“You want gold to distract us—you’re here to kill Grand Coordinator Xiong, aren’t you!” Zhao Mingqian roared, pulling out his slingshot—this time using iron arrows, not stone.

"You want gold is a lie; you want to kill Master Xiong is the truth, hmph!" Zhao Mingqian flew into a rage, drew his slingshot, and this time used iron arrows instead of stone pellets.

“The Flying Smoke Divine Bullet of Master Qingshuai of the Canluo Sect is indeed formidable, but you can’t stand alone against multiple archers.” As Peng Tong spoke, arrows flew in unison.

Da Bao moved with agility, lunging forward.

Guo Ming arranged his Five Elements orbs into a spinning barrier, blocking the arrows.

Zhao Mingqian moved faster—his iron arrows whistled straight for Peng Tong’s face.

Peng Tong hastily raised his hand and caught the arrow with a metallic clang, gripping it tightly with his iron-gauntleted palm.

“I’ve refined my Iron Sand Palm for thirty-five years,” Peng Tong flung the arrow away.

Before Zhao Mingqian could react, a brilliant azure-green light erupted, engulfing Peng Tong entirely.

It also swept backward, striking several bandits.

“Aaaah!!!” Peng Tong screamed in agony, then fell silent.

“My Dujiaojiao hasn’t lived as long as you,” Guo Ming said casually: “But killing you is enough.”

Only then did Xiong Mou and Zhao Mingqian notice that beside Guo Ming hovered a multi-meter-long, Dujiaoqingjiao .

The azure-green light had been its breath—it flicked its forked, snake-like tongue, still hungry after the blast.

Before they could examine it further, the Dujiaojiao shot forward, joining Da Bao in slaughter.

If Da Bao was bloody, the Dujiaojiao was brutal.

“Mr. Guo… is that really a Jiao ?” Zhao Mingqian stammered.

“Yes, it’s a Jiao ,” Guo Ming declared firmly—the Dujiaojiao ’s stats couldn’t be faked.

“The common folk truly harbor extraordinary talents—I never imagined Mr. Guo possessed such a skill,” Xiong Mou marveled.

“I’ve a tiger too—I’ll bring it out next time for you to see,” Guo Ming boasted slightly.

He didn’t release them together because one was enough.

“By the way, doesn’t the Black Demon of Sichuan have a partner?” Guo Ming noticed all enemies were dead, yet no loot had dropped.

Earlier, that Longmen boss was weak but still dropped loot—this Black Demon was clearly stronger, yet nothing appeared.

“There is indeed another—the White Demon of Sichuan,” Xiong Mou said. “When I was dismissed and returned home last year, I heard of these bandits in the region—two brothers known as the Twin Demons of Sichuan.”

“Now we’ve only seen the Black Demon—the White Demon must be nearby.”

Guo Ming pondered how to lure out the White Demon.

Before he could think further, a thunderous explosion rang out.

Birds, beasts, and insects scattered in alarm.

“Gunpowder—they blew something up?” Zhao Mingqian frowned.

Xiong Mou thought for a moment, then his face darkened: “The river dike—retreat, now!”

As he spoke, water surged from afar under the moonlight, sweeping everything in its path.

Da Bao turned, seized Guo Ming, and bolted away at full speed.

The Dujiaojiao , under Guo Ming’s command, returned, each grabbing one person to follow Da Bao’s escape.

At Chu Danqing’s command, the One-Horned River Dragon returned, each clutching a person as they followed Dabao’s retreat.

(End of Chapter)