Chapter 236: A Peculiar Sword (Third update, seeking subscriptions)

Zhuangyuan Lou.

This was the largest restaurant in this small border town; the gold-lettered sign glittered in the sunlight, and as soon as one stepped through the door, one could see the amiable, fat manager bowing and smiling at the guests.

Yu Liancheng had already entered Zhuangyuan Lou; he chose a seat by the window, ordered a few small dishes and a pot of the most famous "Zhuangyuan Wine," then raised his gaze to look into the distance, where he could see a magnificently constructed mansion.

"The Big Boss..."

Yu Liancheng murmured to himself.

That mansion was naturally the residence of the Big Boss.

The Big Boss also knew that he was hated by others, so he not only hired dozens of experts but also equipped every guard with powerful bows and strong crossbows. If not for this, how could he have sat securely in the position of Big Boss until now?

"If the Big Boss can run a business this large, he shouldn't be too stupid in any case; why would he do such a foolish thing..." Yu Liancheng frowned, a look of contemplation appearing on his face. After his duel with Xie Xiaofeng, he had returned to this small border town, encountering multiple ambushes along the way.

Given his reputation, the Big Boss must have heard of him. Even if he wanted to deal with him, he should have gone all out and sent his entire force. But as for these petty provocations, besides making Yu Liancheng notice him, what benefit could they possibly have?

"Or perhaps, this matter was not instigated by the Big Boss, but someone in the shadows is playing tricks, wanting me to make a move against the Big Boss?" Yu Liancheng's thoughts stirred, but he soon shook his head indifferently.

"Regardless, I am going to take the Big Boss's head anyway. And as for the one behind the scenes... hehe..."

Lao Miao Zi and his family had already been sent away by Yu Liancheng; without this constraint, everything he did was much more convenient.

The food and wine were already on the table, and Yu Liancheng picked up his chopsticks to taste them.

Just at this moment, a carriage had stopped under the gold-lettered sign of "Zhuangyuan Lou," and a man stepped down from the carriage, a long sword hanging at his waist, looking handsome and dashing.

The man had already walked toward the second floor, followed by an ordinary-looking old coachman.

Soon, the man had walked up to Yu Liancheng and asked very politely: "May I ask, are you Yu Liancheng?"

Although he was asking Yu Liancheng, his words naturally carried a sense of arrogance.

This was an arrogance that flowed in his blood and marrow, an arrogance born with him from the moment he was born. One could imagine that his family must be illustrious and his birth must be noble.

Yu Liancheng nodded.

The smile on the man's face grew wider, and he said: "My name is Xiahou Xing; I assume you know me."

When he said this, his attitude became even more arrogant.

He certainly had reason to be arrogant.

Because he was Xiahou Xing, the Young Master of Xia Hou Villa.

Flame Mountain, Red Cloud Valley, Xia Hou Villa.

This was also one of the Four Great Families of the Edo, and its reputation in the Edo was no less than that of Shenjian Shanzhuang.

As the Young Master of Xia Hou Villa, Xiahou Xing was already an outstanding figure among the younger generation of the martial arts world; his future inheritance of Xia Hou Villa would be even more significant, and his status would be no lower than the sect leaders of famous schools like Shaolin and Wudang.

Yu Liancheng glanced at him without speaking.

Xiahou Xing added: "I originally came to this small border town to kill someone, but that person is not easy to deal with, so before I meet him, I want to kill someone to hone my sword and my killing intent."

Yu Liancheng finally spoke: "The one you are looking for is Xie Xiaofeng."

Xiahou Xing's expression turned solemn: "Oh, you know?"

Yu Liancheng nodded and said: "I also know why you are looking for him."

Killing intent had already appeared in Xiahou Xing's eyes: "Why?"

Yu Liancheng laughed: "Because your wife likes Xie Xiaofeng; although she married you, she still ran away, all just to see Xie Xiaofeng again. For any man, this is a humiliation."

A layer of chill had already covered Xiahou Xing's face, his body seemed to be trembling, and he spat out a few words through gritted teeth: "Please... please draw your sword."

He was a scion of a great family and the heir to Xia Hou Villa. Even though he was arrogant to the extreme in his bones, he always maintained a refined demeanor and rarely used foul language.

Yu Liancheng glanced at him and advised him tactfully: "You are not worthy yet, get lost!"

Xiahou Xing's face had turned purple with rage: "Please... please..."

Yu Liancheng asked amusedly: "What are you asking for again?"

"I ask you to die!"

This sentence was almost roared out by the Young Master of Xia Hou Villa.

Xiahou Xing's sword had already been unsheathed.

His sword had a strange name, and it was also quite famous, called—Broken but Still Connected, Thousand Snake Sword of Full Sky Stars.

His hand flicked, and the sword suddenly shattered, turning into countless fragments, as if it had transformed into thousands of silver snakes, turning into a rain of stars, enveloping Yu Liancheng from head to toe, with every piece striking at a vital point.

Based on this sword strike alone, it was evident that Xiahou Xing's swordsmanship was not ordinary; he was a top-tier swordsman in the world. Coupled with this extremely peculiar sword of his, there were not many who could defeat him.

Yu Liancheng's expression remained unchanged; he tapped the table, and a chopstick flew out, colliding with one of the fragments.

The struck fragment then collided with other fragments; one only heard a continuous "ding-ding" sound, like dense rain hitting a window or pearls falling onto a jade plate. As the thousands of fragments collided with each other, the sword, like thousands of venomous snakes, seemed to have been struck in their vital spots, suddenly hanging down limply.

Xiahou Xing's expression changed, and he flicked his wrist again; with a "click" sound, the thousands of sword fragments suddenly joined back together.

This sword was actually equipped with a peculiar and ingenious mechanism, capable of separating and joining.

When joined, it was a sword; when separated, it became thousands of hidden weapons connected by a silver thread. When the silver thread was tightened and the spring mechanism activated, it became a sword once again.

Swish!

A sword thrust out.

A fast and fierce sword strike.

Xiahou Xing had great confidence in this strike.

Yu Liancheng still wore a smile on his face; with a light tap of his chopstick, the sword light instantly collapsed, and Xiahou Xing was sent stumbling back as if struck by lightning, nearly unable to hold the sword in his palm.

Yu Liancheng shook his head and sighed: "I don't like Xie Xiaofeng, but Xie Xiaofeng's swordsmanship is indeed very brilliant. With your current swordsmanship, if he were to go all out, you would last at most five moves."

Xiahou Xing's anger surged: "Oh, then how many moves can I last under your hand?"

Yu Liancheng held up one finger: "One move, perhaps not even one."

Xiahou Xing did not speak.

He had already felt an unprecedented humiliation.

For a swordsman, it was no less than his wife running away for the sake of Xie Xiaofeng.

Thus, the sword in his hand thrust out once more.

The sword light traced streaks of silver, densely filling the void.

In an instant, Xia Hou Feixing had already thrust thirty-three times.

This was the peak of his swordsmanship, unprecedented.

Both in speed and in variation, it had reached a height never before attained.

That bright silver sword light soared, as if the entire second floor had been coated in a layer of silver radiance.

Yu Liancheng sighed softly.

Amidst the soft sigh, his palm had already reached into the sword light.