Chapter 260: Carrying Only a Blade, Not an Umbrella (An extra chapter for Helmsman Wuchen Daoren☆)

Ping'an Restaurant.

The second floor.

After trading blows with Duan Tianya and Guihai Yidao, Yu Liancheng returned to the second floor, holding a pot of wine and slowly savoring it.

Liusheng Piaoxu did not wait for him and had already left first.

Although Yu Liancheng's gaze was fixed on the Tyrant Blade as always, he was actually ruminating on his exchange with Guihai Yidao and Duan Tianya.

Guihai Yidao's blade technique was exceptional, but he was still too young; he lacked the necessary seasoning in internal energy, temperament, and experience. However, given time, he would surely become a master of the blade.

Duan Tianya's Phantom Sword could also be called a unique skill, but it was a pity he had encountered him. His five senses were sharp, and he was proficient in spiritual cultivation; he could perceive Duan Tianya's strikes simply by relying on a vague intuition.

"For me, the most useful thing in this world, and the one I most need to get my hands on, is the 'Diamond Indestructible Divine Skill'. This martial art is in the hands of the Invincible Playful Child, and he has already reached the end of his rope."

Yu Liancheng took a sip of wine, a look of contemplation flashing in his eyes.

In the original sequence of events, Cheng Shifei accidentally entered the ninth level of the Tianlao and met Gu Santong, who had been imprisoned by Zhu Wushi for twenty years.

Gu Santong not only passed his entire internal energy to Cheng Shifei but also inscribed the martial arts of the Eight Great Sects upon his body, allowing him to soar to success overnight.

But wanting to replicate this fortuitous encounter was an almost impossible miracle to achieve.

There were three reasons why Gu Santong passed his energy to Cheng Shifei, all of which Yu Liancheng lacked.

Firstly, Cheng Shifei himself possessed no martial arts and could not possibly be a spy sent by Zhu Wushi.

Secondly, Gu Santong's injury from the Pure Yang Finger had relapsed, and he only had three days left to live; otherwise, how would he be willing to channel his own pure and profound internal energy into another person's body?

Thirdly, Gu Santong and Cheng Shifei were biological father and son with a blood connection. Of course, Gu Santong did not know this, but with his transcendent cultivation, he could vaguely sense a closeness in their bloodlines and felt a great fondness for Cheng Shifei.

If it had been anyone else, Gu Santong would have been considered benevolent just for not draining them dry.

Clatter, clatter, clatter!

Suddenly, the long street shook. A burst of urgent hoofbeats arrived, sounding like thunder. The bustling, noisy crowd scattered with a roar, filled with an indescribable panic. A group of over thirty riders galloped past, weaving through the crowd without restraint.

Whenever they encountered someone who couldn't dodge in time, this group of iron cavalry would lash out with a whip, showing no mercy.

The whips carried immense force, sending people flying directly, leaving them with torn skin and mangled flesh; their conduct could be described as arrogant, domineering, and unscrupulous.

Among the crowd, there were those with a sense of justice who were filled with indignation and wanted to step forward to teach these arrogant fools a lesson. But upon seeing the Xiuchun Dao at their waists and their flying-fish robes, and sensing the fierce aura and sharp glint in their eyes, they couldn't help but shrink back.

After the riders had gone far away, someone said indignantly: "That damned dog Cao Zhengchun, controlling the Eastern Depot and the Embroidered Uniform Guard, harming loyal officials—I don't know why he would come to our small place."

"No, it's for Magistrate Yang! It was precisely because Magistrate Yang failed to impeach the eunuch dog Cao a few months ago that he was too angry to bear it and resigned to return to his hometown. I fear this eunuch dog Cao still refuses to let Magistrate Yang go."

"Hurry and go report to Magistrate Yang; we cannot let such a good man suffer."

Yu Liancheng watched this scene, his heart remaining largely unmoved.

Suddenly, his gaze flickered, and he focused his attention on the Tyrant Blade.

In that brief instant just now, Yu Liancheng felt a terrifying killing intent from the Tyrant Blade; although it was fleeting, he could not be mistaken.

"Interesting, interesting. Will I finally be able to witness the style of the Tyrant Blade?"

Yu Liancheng finished his wine and drifted away.

Meanwhile, the fruit seller downstairs suddenly looked up and glanced at the spot where Yu Liancheng had previously stood, his eyes flashing with a sharpness that one could not bear to look at directly. But in the blink of an eye, it vanished, and he went back to greeting customers with a smile.

This was an exquisitely constructed residence, and also the temporary lodging for Yu Liancheng and Liusheng Piaoxu.

In the courtyard, Liusheng Piaoxu was practicing her blade technique; her hair fluttered with the wind, and her dress danced like a butterfly. One could see the blade light sweeping out, wave after wave, crashing toward the sky, leaving the entire courtyard filled with flying sand and rolling stones.

Although the blade momentum was sharp, Liusheng Piaoxu's posture was graceful and enchanting, light as a startled swan, resembling a beautiful sword dance.

"Not bad, your blade technique has actually reached a higher level; truly a cause for celebration." A black figure appeared out of nowhere, clapping and laughing softly—who else could it be but Yu Liancheng?

He had to admit that Liusheng Piaoxu's talent for martial arts was extremely high, not losing to any of the Three Great Secret Agents. After being defeated by Yu Liancheng, she was even more determined to overcome her shame and practiced diligently every day.

Even at the Ping'an Restaurant, Liusheng Piaoxu was still pondering how to use her blade and how to defeat Yu Liancheng.

Occasionally, when she encountered a bottleneck, Yu Liancheng would offer a few casual pointers, which would lead her to an epiphany, causing her cultivation in blade technique to rise rapidly.

Seeing Yu Liancheng, a layer of chill seemed to appear on her exquisite, peerless face, and her autumn-water-like eyes instantly turned sharp, flashing with a cold, blade-like glint.

"Watch the blade!"

With a delicate shout, Liusheng Piaoxu twisted her waist, her figure advancing like a ghost. The long blade in her jade palm thrust out suddenly, the blade light flickering, and in an instant, the cold light enveloped Yu Liancheng from head to toe.

She already understood that Yu Liancheng's hard-body cultivation was exceptionally strong, so she did not seek a domineering or fierce blade momentum, focusing instead on exquisite technique.

Yu Liancheng smiled slightly and stepped back lightly, avoiding this blade light in a way that was hard to fathom.

Liusheng Piaoxu pressed on step by step, the blade light growing increasingly intense.

Yu Liancheng did not strike back, his feet retreating continuously; with every retreat, he could easily dodge the blade light.

But soon he was forced into a corner, with a wall behind him, having nowhere left to retreat.

Just as this blade was about to strike Yu Liancheng, his index and middle fingers shot out, clamping onto the blade's momentum. With a slight exertion of force from his fingers, Liusheng Piaoxu stumbled, let out a soft cry, and fell into Yu Liancheng's arms.

"We haven't seen each other for only two hours, and you are already in such a rush to throw yourself into my arms. Could this be the legendary 'one day apart feels like three autumns'?" Yu Liancheng felt the soft jade and warm fragrance in his arms, a sweet and crisp scent of a young girl wafting to his nose.

"Let go of me, quickly."

Liusheng Piaoxu's cheeks flushed red; she struggled slightly, but her delicate body felt weak, and no matter what, she could not break free.

Yu Liancheng smiled slightly, used his hand to pinch her chin, tilted her pretty face up, and then pecked her cherry lips lightly before calmly letting her go, laughing: "Sometimes I don't understand whether you are trying to offer me a treat or if you really want to test your blade."

These past few days, Liusheng Piaoxu felt her blade technique had improved quite rapidly and would occasionally launch attacks at Yu Liancheng.

As for the result, it was nothing more than being defeated repeatedly, and fighting repeatedly after defeat.

And every time Yu Liancheng defeated her, he would tease her, leaving her red-faced and panting.

"You bastard." Liusheng Piaoxu showed a look of shy annoyance, raising the blade in her hand, but upon seeing Yu Liancheng's half-smiling face, she put the long blade away.

"I am going out to meet a master tonight; are you coming?" Yu Liancheng smiled.

"I'm not going." A trace of a blush still lingered on Liusheng Piaoxu's jade-like cheeks, making her look extremely moving.

"Not going is fine too." Yu Liancheng nodded: "He is a supreme master of blade technique; the killing intent in his blade is too heavy, and seeing it will hurt one's spirit. If you see him, you will inevitably strike at him, and you will inevitably be defeated by him."

"A supreme master of blade technique? Fine, I will go with you." Liusheng Piaoxu turned her head abruptly, her beautiful eyes flashing with light.

"You want to go now, but I don't want to take you anymore," Yu Liancheng laughed. "However, if you beg me and call me 'Brother Yu' once, perhaps I'll be in a good mood and take you along."

"You, you bastard!" Liusheng Piaoxu's willow-leaf eyebrows stood erect, her full chest heaving, and the long blade in her jade palm slashed out abruptly; the blade light soared to the sky, and a chill emanated from the blade, making one's whole body feel cold.

Yu Liancheng did not move at all, merely clamping down on the blade's momentum as nonchalantly as before, and smiled: "I have always been very generous to beautiful girls; although you use blades and swords against me, I only use my hands and feet on you."

"You... mmph... bastard... mmph..."

Dusk.

The weather suddenly turned overcast, cold winds howled, and thick layers of clouds pressed down extremely low.

Only after a "Boom—" of thunder did raindrops begin to fall.

Before long, the rain fell harder and faster, and the entire world seemed to be shrouded within this curtain of rain.

This was a dilapidated temple, swaying in the wind and rain, as if it could collapse at any moment.

After a sudden rush of hoofbeats, twenty or thirty Embroidered Uniform Guards dressed in flying-fish robes and carrying Xiuchun Dao at their waists burst in; they were soaked through, in a wretched state, cursing and swearing, while also herding seven or eight prisoners.

Among them was one person, aged and white-haired, his face stained with blood, appearing to have suffered torture and punishment, his breath as faint as a candle flame, yet he still held his back straight, as if some invisible force were supporting him.

This was the Censor Yang, Lord Yang, who was retiring to his hometown; he had been incorruptible his whole life and lived in poverty, yet he still could not escape the demonic claws of Cao Zhengchun.

"Go find wood to start a fire and dry the clothes. We will rest here tonight and set off again tomorrow morning."

The leader of the Embroidered Uniform Guards was a burly man, his body like an iron tower, with a long blade hanging at his waist. His face was covered in bulging flesh, and there was a scar running from his temple to the corner of his mouth, making him look even more ferocious and terrifying.

This person was none other than the Embroidered Uniform Guard Thousand-Man Commander Zhang Kaishan, famous for his "Tiger-Slaying Gate-Breaking Blade."

He also had a nickname, called "Lash Hand Cruel Blade."

Although Zhang Kaishan appeared rough and crude, he was proficient in cruel tortures; after a round of his branding, any Iron-willed man would turn into a weakling, confessing whatever was demanded.

Soon, a fire rose in the ruined temple.

Zhang Kaishan looked at the white-haired Censor Yang and chuckled, revealing grim white teeth: "Old thing, you dared to impeach the Grand Overseer; this time, falling into my hands, I will surely make you wish you were dead."

It would have been one thing if he didn't laugh, but once he did, the scar on his face seemed to come alive, like a centipede constantly wriggling. It made one feel both disgusted and terrified.

"My Lord, since this old thing is going to die anyway, and his granddaughter is to be sent to the Jiaofangsi, why not let the brothers have some fun first."

"Not bad, this girl is indeed fresh and lovely, making one's heart stir just looking at her."

Several Embroidered Uniform Guards let out lewd laughs, their gazes sizing up a young girl; the girl's clothes were tattered, she was soaked through and shivering incessantly, but one could still vaguely make out a beautiful face.

Zhang Kaishan waved his hand and said: "Fine, I'll reward her to you, but don't kill her; it won't be easy to report back if she's dead."

"Hehe, thank you, my Lord."

"Beauty, today is your bridal night, and we brothers are all your grooms."

The young girl screamed and kept backing away, while several Embroidered Uniform Guards approached step by step with lewd smiles.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Suddenly, a series of dull sounds rang out, like rolls of muffled thunder, coming from afar to near, yet the speed was extremely fast, and in an instant, it seemed to have reached the vicinity of the ruined temple.

"Everyone be careful, there are enemies." Zhang Kaishan's expression changed, becoming sharp instantly, his broad palm already pressed against the hilt of his Xiuchun Dao, ready to draw his blade and kill at any moment.

Whoosh!

A gust of wild wind swept in from the doorway.

The high-piled firewood was blown by this wild wind, twisting crazily, making the shadows of the crowd seem to come alive, baring fangs and brandishing claws, swaying incessantly.

"I don't know which friend has graced us with their presence; Embroidered Uniform Guard Thousand-Man Commander Zhang Kaishan offers his greetings." Zhang Kaishan stared intently at the figure that had suddenly appeared at the door; although that figure was quite burly compared to ordinary people, he was still a head shorter than himself.

Yet this figure gave one a feeling of standing between heaven and earth, as straight as a heavenly pillar. Rolling Qi surged out, actually making the group of cold-blooded, murderous Embroidered Uniform Guards tremble, each of them pressing their hands to their long blades, on full alert.

"You may consider me here to shelter from the rain, or you may consider me here to kill."

The man's voice was low, yet it shook the entire ruined temple.

He walked slowly, having stepped into the ruined temple.

One could see this person wore a bamboo hat, head slightly lowered, obscuring his face; one could only vaguely see slight stubble on his chin.

He wore a black martial outfit and carried an unremarkable long blade in his hand.

This was the attire of an ordinary wanderer of the Edo, yet not a single Embroidered Uniform Guard dared to underestimate this person.

Zhang Kaishan's expression became even more grave.

A blade in the rainy night, but no umbrella.

It must be for the sake of killing.

Their Embroidered Uniform Guards were already unpopular, and after defecting to Cao Zhengchun of the Eastern Depot, they were even more notorious and reviled by all; the target of this person was naturally self-evident.

"Friend, I don't know how we have offended you, but everything can be discussed." Zhang Kaishan gave a wink to two Embroidered Uniform Guards; those two understood, and while Zhang Kaishan was speaking, they had already quietly moved behind the man in the bamboo hat.

Suddenly, Xiuchun Dao were unsheathed, and the two Embroidered Uniform Guards had already killed toward the man in black and the bamboo hat.

The blade light was swift and fast, tearing through the sky; if these two Embroidered Uniform Guards were placed in the Edo, they would be considered experts. Coupled with this joint sneak attack, it was not impossible for them to succeed.

Boom!!

Just at this moment, a bolt of lightning fell from the sky, and the entire dim world turned white.

Zhang Kaishan was also dazed for a moment. When his vision cleared again, he could not help but be stunned.

Those two Embroidered Uniform Guards who should have been ambushing the man in the bamboo hat had stopped, the Xiuchun Dao in their hands hanging down. The remaining Embroidered Uniform Guards who were waiting for an opportunity also stood motionless.

It was as if in a split second, they had all been struck at their acupoints and could not move.

But people struck at their acupoints should not have such dull eyes.

They were as dull as dead people.

The firelight shone on the faces of those Embroidered Uniform Guards, and Zhang Kaishan was shocked to discover a very thin red line on their foreheads.

This red line extended from the forehead, between the eyebrows, the bridge of the nose, the lips... all the way down, disappearing into their clothes.

The red line suddenly splattered with beads of blood.

Beads of blood, each as crystalline as a red agate.

And the red line grew thicker and thicker, stretching wider and wider.

Suddenly, except for Zhang Kaishan, all the Brocade Guards split apart from the red line; the half on the left fell to the left, and the half on the right fell to the right, fresh blood spraying down from the middle like rain.

One by one, the living Brocade Guards were suddenly cleaved into two halves.

Zhang Kaishan's breathing had stopped, and cold sweat had soaked his back.

The young girl who had been screaming also suddenly seemed as if someone had grabbed her by the throat, unable to make the slightest sound; the Censor, who feared neither life nor death, had his pupils dilated, also struck with terror.

This dilapidated temple seemed to fall into a kind of wordless silence in an instant.

"Piaoxu, did you see this blade? Even if this blade is not peerless under heaven, it is not far off." A clear, bright voice had come from outside the door.

……

PS: My computer broke this morning, so I am late. 8400-word update, requesting monthly votes.