Chapter 68: Ye Guhong

This group of Ghosts clearly possessed no low-level light-body techniques; they darted like lightning, and very soon, they had arrived before the small wooden hut.

"I have only just made a home today, and so many friends have rushed over to congratulate me on my housewarming; this is truly unexpected. It is just that with so many people coming, my tiny hut really cannot seat everyone. What is to be done about this?"

Yu Liancheng muttered to himself, a look of distress appearing on his face as if he were truly worried about being unable to host his guests, yet his gaze had already swept across this group of Ghosts.

This party consisted of about twenty-some people, and while this was clearly not the full foundation of Ghost Villa, it was still shocking enough.

Most of these people appeared strange and grotesque, with unsightly appearances, yet each had once been a master who caused a sensation in their time.

If they were to join forces and attack, I fear most sects in the Edo would be unable to withstand it and would only face total annihilation.

Yu Liancheng's discernment had always been quite good; he actually recognized quite a few of the Ghosts.

The first one he noticed was a pale person.

—Pale hands, a pale face, a pale sword, and a set of white robes like snow.

In that instant, Yu Liancheng even thought he had seen Ximen Chuixue.

This youth was indeed extremely similar to that peerless swordsman; his cold and arrogant expression, his snow-white clothes, and even his stance were exactly the same as Ximen Chuixue's.

He was practically a shadow of Ximen Chuixue.

But he was not Ximen Chuixue; he was "Wudang Xiaobai Dragon" Ye Guhong, who was said to have some connection to Ye Gucheng and was already quite famous among the younger generation.

That old man with one severed arm and a hook attached to it—was he not the "One-Armed Divine Dragon" Hai Qikuo, who once shook the seven seas with his might?

Back then, this man slaughtered the innocent and was hunted by Ximen Chuixue; everyone thought he had died when his boat capsized at sea, yet he was living perfectly well in Ghost Villa.

Another burly man with a face full of ringworm spots was tall and large; the whole person looked somewhat dull and comical, but when he truly made a move, no one would ever think him dull or comical again.

This person was precisely the one known as "Leopard of Golden Coin" Hua Kui, a direct descendant of the Hua Family of Jiangnan, and he was even considered an uncle-generation to Hua Manlou.

The Hua Family of Jiangnan was a highly prestigious family of hidden weapons in the Edo, no weaker than the Tang Sect of Shu, and he was a standout among the Hua family's hidden weapon experts.

Back then, some even said his hidden weapon skills could rank in the top three in the world.

That person who looked as stern as a legal official—was he not the former Punishment Hall Master of the Seventy-Two Strongholds of the Black Path, "Ruthless Soul Chaser" Du Tiexin?

That old woman, in the twilight of her years and with a face full of wrinkles, should be Lou Laotaipo, one of the most terrifying evil-path experts of the past. It is said that back then, for the sake of a legendary peach of immortality, she slit the throat of her husband, "Divine-Hand Immortal Ape" Lou Dasheng.

Besides these people, there was also Yu Hai, whose reputation among the Southern Sea Sword Group was second only to those of White Cloud City, and Sikong Dou, the most black-hearted and ruthless among the Western Ghosts, known as "Big-Headed Ghost"...

These fierce and malevolent masters each possessed unique skills and a spectacular past, and then each was forced by circumstances to disappear and hide themselves within Ghost Villa.

"Wudang Xiaobai Dragon" Ye Guhong was also looking at Yu Liancheng, his gaze nailed to Yu Liancheng like a sword: "I have heard of your name, 'Jade-Faced Divine Sword' Yu Liancheng. One of the three most brilliant swordsmen of the current age; not only have you surpassed Ximen Chuixue, but some even say that not even Ye Gucheng is your match."

Yu Liancheng nodded and smiled slightly: "That is indeed true; if we speak purely of sword technique, I truly have never met an opponent. In this regard, I may already be considered invincible in the world."

His tone was truly not small.

But absolutely no one thought him arrogant, because the sword technique of the "Jade-Faced Divine Sword" was indeed highly brilliant, and there were not a few who already considered him the number one divine sword of the current age.

Ye Guhong sneered: "That is because you have not met me."

Yu Liancheng said: "And what if I meet you?"

Ye Guhong said: "Once you meet me, you will know the taste of defeat."

Yu Liancheng clapped his hands in praise: "Good, truly very good. Then come and defeat me quickly."

"No, none of you are allowed to make a move!" Ye Ling blocked the two of them: "I am an elder; I have the right to bring people in. He is now my person, and whether he lives or dies is for me to decide."

"In Ghost Villa, only what Old Knife Handle says counts. And Old Knife Handle has said that those who have not signed a contract and trespass have only one end—death!" the Ghost-Soul Messenger said coldly.

"True, it is indeed Old Knife Handle who calls the shots here. However, don't you think you could change to a different Old Knife Handle?" Yu Liancheng reached out and squeezed Ye Ling's shoulder, instantly causing her whole body to go limp, then tossed her aside to where Ye Xue was.

"I know there must be many conditions to becoming Old Knife Handle, but the most important one is that one must have high martial arts, otherwise how could one suppress you group of demons and ghosts? So, everyone, attack together; please do not be polite."

"Arrogant!"

"Courting death!"

"A mere junior, daring to be so presumptuous!"

This group of ghosts was incomparably furious, and Ye Guhong was the first to step forward: "No need for more words, draw your sword. After I kill you, I will go duel the victor of the Forbidden City."

Yu Liancheng said indifferently: "No need to draw my sword."

Ye Guhong said coldly: "If you don't draw your sword, you will die."

Yu Liancheng shook his head and sighed: "You may not have learned Ximen Chuixue's virtues, but you have learned all of his bad habits."

"Accept your death!"

Ye Guhong seemed to be provoked as well; a flash of sword light, straight as a startled swan or a bolt of lightning, stabbed toward the center of Yu Liancheng's brow.

His skill naturally could not compare to peerless swordsmen like Ximen Chuixue or Ye Gucheng, and he could not even compare to Gouhun Shou, but he had already surpassed ninety-nine percent of the swordsmen in the world. Many martial arts masters famous for their sword techniques were not his equal, far from it.

No wonder he was so proud.

No wonder he was so confident.

Yet his opponent was Yu Liancheng.

Yu Liancheng did not even move his body; he simply reached out casually and flicked his fingers.

Clang!

A crisp sound.

The startled-swan-like sword light suddenly collapsed and vanished without a trace.

Ye Guhong only felt a massive force transmitted from his sword; his expression changed wildly, and his body spun rapidly in the air like a spinning top. He spun nine times in succession before finally neutralizing this massive force.

"That spin was not bad; if one day you go to a theater troupe, I will certainly cheer for you," Yu Liancheng clapped his hands in praise.

Ye Guhong gritted his teeth, his sword light transformed, once again turning into a startled swan and a bolt of lightning, twisting toward Yu Liancheng.

Yu Liancheng still did not dodge; as the chilling sword light stabbed toward him, he pinched his two fingers forward, and thus this seemingly astonishing sword strike was caught between his two fingers.

This catch was traceless and naturally perfect, as if Ye Gucheng had deliberately delivered the sword between these two fingers.