Chapter 39: The Sword Immortal of Jiangdong

“The Huaqing Sect’s prestige is truly immense—not only did the Heaven’s Alliance act, but even the government sent officials to assist.”

Liang He said he wasn’t jealous—that was a lie.

In Qinghe’s territory, few could muster such a massive show of force.

Huaqing Sect is truly worthy of its status as an Anning Grand Sect.

Wu Tu listened to the commotion outside.

He couldn’t help but marvel at Huaqing Sect’s influence.

“Now this is what I call power.”

Thinking back to his days in the Dark Eight Gates, when he’d tremble at the sight of government officers like they were Yama himself, he couldn’t help but feel the vast disparity between people.

Indeed, it’s better to shelter beneath a great tree.

Wu Tu confirmed the situation: “No need to panic—it’s probably just a routine patrol.”

Upon hearing this.

The few tense individuals finally exhaled, for no one enjoys the feeling of fighting for their life.

Liang He: “Wu Zhishi, do you think tonight’s man will show up?”

Wu Tu rolled his eyes: “How would I know?”

Intelligence is intelligence—anyone who believes it all is a fool.

Wu Tu kindly imparted a lesson to Liang He: “Kid, when you’re on a mission, the only constant is surprise. So you should understand.”

“Adapt as you go?”

Liang He replied.

Wu Tu spat: “Bullshit—it’s run the moment things look bad.”

“.”

Liang He was speechless.

Is this Wu the Senior Manager’s secret to the underworld?

Wu Tu didn’t elaborate further—people can’t be taught by words, but by experience, one lesson is enough.

Some things can only be understood after you’ve lived them, and the growth that follows is immense.

Of course, Qiantishi you’re still alive.

Even if he owed Li Rui a favor, he couldn’t possibly handle every piss and shit for him.

The waiting was excruciatingly dull—all they had to do was observe their surroundings and stay ready to assist; finding the target was left to the more professional government officers.

With nothing else to do.

Wu Tu casually passed on his experience to the Qiba ordinary disciples of the Heaven’s Alliance around him.

Shh!

Suddenly, a piercing shriek rang out, followed by a white smoke streaking straight into the sky.

“Is that it?”

Wu Tu and the others tensed instantly, drawing their weapons and sprinting toward the signal’s location.

An hour earlier.

In the main hall of the Heaven’s Alliance branch.

The branch master, Dao Xiong, sat sprawled on a tiger-skin chair, Liu Zhen to his left, Kong Xianian to his right.

Kong Xianian glanced at Dao Xiong.

This Heaven’s Alliance branch master was said to have been a famed blade-wielder in Anning Prefecture years ago, once chasing down a hundred bandits with a seven-foot broadsword, terrifyingly fierce.

“Branch Master Dao, do you think my plan to lure the snake out of its hole will work?”

Kong Xianian looked utterly confident.

Dao Xiong smiled faintly: “It’s hard to say.”

He didn’t mind Kong Xianian using his own men as bait—after all, the man had warned him in advance, sparing the Heaven’s Alliance from being caught off guard and losing face.

It had helped him.

Dao Xiong spoke: “Senior Kong, what secret technique did your sect lose that warranted such a massive mobilization?”

Kong Xianian didn’t hide it: “The White Ape’s Cloak Blade.”

Upon hearing those four words, Dao Xiong instantly grew solemn.

“The blade art created by the elder known as the First Blade of the Seven Continents from Huaqing Sect?”

Hearing Dao Xiong say that, Kong Xianian couldn’t help but feel a flicker of pride: “Precisely. Our Ma Shibo is the eighth-generation disciple of that elder—but he was careless in taking on students, and Xu Hua stole the technique.”

Dao Xiong let out a low whistle.

The White Ape’s Cloak Blade.

That was a top-tier technique—he’d never even laid eyes on it in his life.

Who the hell had gotten lucky enough to acquire it?

“So it truly was Master Li who took it?”

He’d only learned a few days ago that the head of Tianyi Hall had once participated in the earlier temple battle—and he’d been nothing but a stable boy.

Kong Xianian shook his head:

“Forgive me for acting first and reporting later, but Master Li is innocent—he didn’t take it.”

Dao Xiong felt a pang of disappointment.

“Then it’s troublesome—who could possibly have such great fortune?”

The temple often hosted beggars who slept there overnight.

If some beggar had used it as firewood, the joke would be on us.

Dao Xiong turned to Liu Zhen, seated on the other side: “Senior Liu, who exactly from your sect has come to Qinghe this time?”

This was what he truly cared about tonight.

Kong Xianian also turned, his interest piqued.

Though both were Huaqing Sect envoys, their statuses before becoming envoys had been worlds apart—Liu Zhen’s background was far superior.

Thus, he knew far less about sect affairs than Liu Zhen did.

Like this elder who had come personally to Qinghe.

Liu Zhen smiled faintly: “I’m not withholding it intentionally—Elder Jiang gave explicit orders before departure. I imagine neither of you wishes to experience Elder Jiang’s sword?”

Elder Jiang?

Dao Xiong’s heart skipped.

Huaqing Sect had only one Jiang elder.

“The Sword Immortal of Jiangdong, Jiang Lin?”

His eyes widened.

Kong Xianian wore nearly the same expression.

Neither had expected this to draw such a towering figure!

Dao Xiong ventured: “Senior Liu, why can you tell us now?”

Liu Zhen spoke coolly: “Because Elder Jiang has already arrived in Qinghe. You may speak freely—as long as you survive his blade.”

“.”

Dao Xiong and Kong Xianian exchanged glances, both chilled to the bone.

As they speculated where Elder Jiang might be—

Shh!

The signal arrow cut a white line through the air.

Almost simultaneously, Dao Xiong and the two Huaqing Sect members vanished from the hall.

In the night.

A shadow slipped quietly out of the room beside Tianyi Hall.

Dressed in black.

Face and age indistinguishable.

Li Rui stepped lightly to the ground, making almost no sound.

“The Peigu Pill truly works.”

He was now just a hair’s breadth from the Eighth Rank.

Others took at least five years to reach it—he’d done it in one. Soon, he’d likely enter the Bronze Bone Realm.

In Qinghe, he’d finally have the strength to hold his head high.

Perhaps in just a few months, he looked up at the signal arrow in the sky.

“Is it finally beginning?”

He slung his newly forged blade and leapt over the courtyard wall, heading toward the signal’s location.

That Huaqing Sect disciple was certain he’d taken the White Ape’s Cloak Blade.

He’d surely plot against him in secret.

Li Rui hated sleeping with the fear of being assassinated.

That feeling was unbearable.

So the best solution was to render that Huaqing Sect disciple permanently unable to act. He’d heard from another Zhou disciple who’d come with Zhu Yue, the Zhu family’s eldest son, that the disciple had been severely injured by Jiang Yan using some kind of divine talisman—he’d at least have the means to defend himself.

Though many experts had prepared thoroughly tonight.

But when people grow old, they easily have nightmares.

He cannot sleep until he sees that Huaqing Sect disciple dead with his own eyes!

"I truly cannot rest easy!"

(End of Chapter)