Chapter 202: The Sword of Mutual Affection (96k)

Autumn hung in the sky; before the Dragon Altar, spears rang and swords sang, a white robe like a flying dragon slicing across the wilds, a breathtaking presence that left countless martial artists awestruck, their gazes shifting from initial unfamiliarity to astonishment, then gradually to the despair of never being able to reach his height.

Among martial women and sect leaders' ladies, their eyes turned to the longing and helplessness of "once seeing Jinhuan, never truly seeing him."

After all, before today, encountering such a prodigy, they might still have had a chance; but after he becomes famous throughout the Great Qian martial world, should they meet him again—even if they offered themselves as pillow companions—he likely wouldn't even glance their way.

Only those as beautiful as flowers and as powerful as the Empress Dowager's princess, Lady Nangong Xianzi, could possibly match this young dragon.

Nangong Ye rubbed Meiqiu as she ran up to him, watching from his seat, feeling much the same—his eyes no longer held their usual petty disdain, only complexity.

He didn't know whether to feel proud that his junior had surpassed him, or delighted that his partner had shaken the four corners of the world…

To call him a junior now—this lad just dusted off his seat, and she already knew to elevate him a bit higher…

To call him a man, this lad also pats Linghu Qingmo—should she be lifted up too…?

…

Among all the martial women and ladies, only Bu Yuehua focused entirely on martial arts.

After all, Xie Jinhuan was Wan Yi's man—they'd already shared a bed; no matter what, she could never drag him back to become the estate mistress…

Bu Yuehua came here to seize Hu Gu Teng and push for Super Rank, and incidentally to glimpse the depth of internal martial arts; after watching three rounds, she found the local sects weren't particularly formidable—only Xie Jinhuan stood out brilliantly.

After the third round, Wudaobai Sect fell silent; Bu Yuehua wasn't surprised.

The blood-fight arena style had its own rules—first, "kings don't meet kings."

Once everyone's goal shifted to accumulating wins for the top three, no one would rashly challenge the hardest opponents.

Xie Jinhuan remained unscathed after three straight wins; his qi sea and stamina hadn't even halved; Huo Zhonghu and other favorites might defeat him, but couldn't do so without damage or exhaustion.

Any slight wound inflicted by Xie Jinhuan would make him a target in subsequent rounds, making it nearly impossible to survive; yet he already had three straight wins—even if he stopped now, he might still secure a top-three spot.

Under conditions of enormous risk and negligible reward, every martial artist here aiming for the championship would not step down until Xie Jinhuan showed signs of weakness.

Thus, the following challenges would be relatively easier—mere cannon fodder to drain his strength, until his momentum shifted from peak to decline, or until he suffered a wound exploitable by others.

The reason some still stepped up despite knowing the risk was that not every martial artist was skilled in strategy; among those present were always some—half-baked sect leaders who thought Xie Jinhuan was exhausted from three fights, hot-blooded youths eager to slay the great dragon, self-proclaimed geniuses who believed they'd deciphered his patterns and knew how to break his techniques…

Bu Yuehua watched from the crowd and saw the fourth challenger was the sect leader of Bagua Men, practicing internal arts, wielding the Flowing Dragon Bagua Palm—his internal qi was supple and enduring, emphasizing footwork and the technique of "four ounces deflecting a thousand pounds," clearly aiming to exploit Xie Jinhuan's fatigue and seize a grand reputation as an aging hero.

But Xie Jinhuan fought barehanded, launching straight into a barrage of Cannon Fist—making the old sect leader understand what "fists fear the young" truly meant; those fists struck hard—one hammer to the brow, two to the heart, three to the brow, four to the heart…

Xie Jinhuan took two slaps without flinching; the old sect leader took one—and lost three years of life on the spot, utterly terrified, he surrendered mid-fight, walking off while rubbing his arm and muttering:

"These fists… like weights…"

The fifth challenger was a northwest wandering swordsman wielding the exotic weapon "Qiankun Dao"—shaped like a broadsword but with blades on both ends, and crescent-shaped shovels attached to the hilt.

The Qiankun Dao's technique balanced offense and defense, flexible and unpredictable; every blade edge could kill; wielded well, it could face any opponent without fear—a formidable foe.

Xie Jinhuan did not use his single sword; instead, he drew out the Tian Gang Iron Club—a rare weapon, usable only by those with immense strength.

The outcome was obvious: in the martial world, "the stranger the weapon, the faster the death"—Xie Jinhuan swung once, and the swordsman staggered; then he retreated step by step, crushed by the club's brutal force, his palms split at Hukou, until his weapon was knocked clean from his hands and he lost.

The sixth challenger clearly drew more volunteers—after five straight fights without rest, Xie Jinhuan's stamina and qi sea were nearly depleted, nearing the limit of early-stage Rank 1 martial artists; facing a true hard battle, defeat was likely.

But due to the deterrent of his five straight wins with virtually no damage, the top seeds still hesitated to clash directly; the one who stepped up was a master of the flexible whip.

The whip was two zhang long, giving it unmatched range among weapons; its tip delivered devastating strikes and could entangle an opponent's weapon or arm to disarm him—its only flaw: its attack path was predictable, and it offered zero defense; get too close, and you died.

Thus, whip users typically relied on footwork to maintain distance, using their unmatched range to continuously graze and wound, waiting for an opening to deliver a fatal blow.

Xie Jinhuan, facing this cunning, evasive flea, clearly paid a heavy price; to avoid a grueling stalemate that might cost him damage, he opened with four consecutive Black Dragon Ramming Pillars—using the killing move as an advance, charging straight in—whereupon the whip user immediately surrendered.

Though he won quickly, the exhaustion was like the final straw breaking the camel's back.

Black Dragon Ramming Pillars compressed and concentrated qi, instantly pushing body and energy to their peak—a technique of enormous cost.

He'd already fought five rounds, then unleashed four killing moves in succession; Xie Jinhuan now appeared at his limit, standing still, gripping the iron club with both hands, planted on the ground, breathing like an ox, sweat beading his cold, stern face—his aura like a dying hero, yet his piercing, icy eyes still swept the Wudaobai Sect with unyielding sharpness:

"Who else wants to spar with me?"

The martial artists watching erupted in fiery cheers:

"Brother Xie, you're incredible!"

"Take another down…"

"Xie Lang~ Xie Lang…"

…

The top seeds of Wudaobai Sect clearly saw their chance—just from the power of his last moves, his qi sea must be empty; this fight was a free win.

But Xie Jinhuan hadn't fallen, and martial artists only needed one strike to kill; most still felt wary.

Bu Yuehua could tell Xie Jinhuan couldn't hold on; she didn't want to crush a child under a cart, to knock down her own son-in-law for a single win, so she merely watched.

But her reluctance didn't stop her peers.

Right after Xie Jinhuan spoke, from a nearby crowd, a black-clad martial artist leapt forward.

Bu Yuehua stood here precisely to watch Liang Yue of the Hei Yan Sect—he was the sect's second-in-command, an exceptionally skilled martial artist, here to seize Hu Gu Teng.

The Hei Yan Sect wasn't aligned with the Wu Alliance; letting him snatch a free win could mean another Super Rank in the future, increasing Wu Alliance's pressure—and besides, the man on the stage was her son-in-law.

Xie Jinhuan was utterly drained; he couldn't possibly endure a full match; if she fought him, she'd at least have restraint and avoid injury; but Hei Yan Sect members might also stop short of killing—but they certainly wouldn't spare him as she would.

Thus, the instant Liang Yue moved, Bu Yuehua launched herself into the air, soaring over the sea of people, landing squarely on the arena.

Unlike immortal or Wu Sect arts, women were rare in martial arts; before Bu Yuehua even touched ground, the crowd erupted in wolf-like howls:

"Whoa—! A female martial artist…"

"Amazing skill—who's this immortal lady?"

"Is it Lady Nangong Xianzi…?"

…

Xie Jinhuan, gripping his club and scanning the heroes, heard the commotion and turned his gaze—only to see a woman in a long skirt and a man land together on the field.

The woman carried a long sword, landed light and silent, her skirt fluttering to reveal a dignified, graceful figure—she looked like some sect leader's lady; her face hidden by a veil, but her figure was exquisite, ripe as if she could be squeezed to drip water…

Xie Jinhuan froze, studying her waist and hip curves, confirmed she was his sister-in-law, then turned his eyes to the viewing stand—Seeing Bing Tuozi.

Nangong Ye knew the witch would appear, but never expected her to seize the advantage while Xie Jinhuan was at his weakest.

The demoness herself possesses astonishing cultivation; Xie Jinhuan still dares not fight his sister-in-law. If he lets the demoness suffer no loss and snatch a victory for free, she will almost certainly rank first.

The top three fight each other for second and third place, and the final winner challenges the number one.

Ranking first means skipping one peak battle; both condition and trump cards are preserved, making the chance of winning the championship enormous!

Letting the demoness easily win the championship means she will definitely not be a match for him at month's end; not only will she get beaten, but she will also have to hand over the Phoenix Feather Grass, and she will have been drilled for so long for nothing, while her reputation in the Jianghu will be suppressed for a lifetime...

Won't that anger her to death?!

Nangong Ye's eyes showed slight urgency; she wanted to signal Xie Jinhuan, but with all the elders gathered in the venue, Xie Jinhuan feared she would be recognized even if she looked at him, let alone giving instructions on the spot.

But fortunately, this fellow seems quite considerate!

As the two landed simultaneously, the surrounding Jianghu crowd immediately started heckling:

"You big man, what are you fighting a woman for..."

"Go aside quickly, I want to watch the female knight fight in the arena..."

"Yes..."

As the host, Wei Wu Yi could see who landed first and intended to speak up to enforce the rule of first come, first served.

But Xie Jinhuan was quite generous, looking directly at the sister-in-law who was rushing to leave the arena:

"This female knight, you stand aside and rest for a while; I will fight you in the next match."

"..."

As the words fell, the noisy venue suddenly quieted down.

The martial heroes present all frowned with slight confusion; Liang Yue of the Black Yan Gang was preparing to argue a few points with this unknown veiled female knight, but upon hearing this, he immediately turned his gaze back to Xie Jinhuan.

Bu Yuehua was also quite surprised, slightly examining Xie Jinhuan, whose sweat poured like rain:

"Xie Shaoxia Da can still fight another match?"

Xie Jinhuan wiped the sweat from his face, pulled out the Tiangang Mace and slung it over his shoulder; perhaps carried away by the fight and his limbs excited, he even made a lewd joke to his sister-in-law:

"The most important thing for a man is endurance. If the female knight does not go all out, I might just have a match after the next one."

"..."

Bu Yuehua felt her son-in-law was a bit cheeky; she simply nodded gracefully and stepped aside; the martial heroes were half-skeptical.

Nangong Ye suddenly remembered that this fellow possessed the 'persistence of a donkey'; that was truly enduring.

Relying on his physical recovery and the depth of his Qi Sea, his stamina was two or three tenths higher than a normal early-stage Rank 1 cultivator; as long as his fighting style was somewhat restrained, enduring one or two more matches should be no problem...

After seeing his sister-in-law leave, Xie Jinhuan turned his gaze to the black-clad martial artist, his eyes unusually colder:

"Boss Liang, why leave the southern seas where you are a pirate to come to the Central Plains Jianghu?"

?!

Liang Yue was about to raise his hand to introduce himself, but upon hearing this, his face changed drastically, then he feigned confusion:

"I am Zhao Ba of the Qinghe Gang in Jiazhou; did Xie Shaoxia Da mistake me for someone else?"

As the two sentences left his lips, the area around the arena became bewildered, with people looking at each other and whispering.

Yang Qing of the Jingzhou Gang, who had remained silent after his brother made a fool of himself, now turned his head to look at the Jiangzhou Gang's position:

"Boss Xu, is there such a figure in Jiazhou?"

Jiazhou belongs to the eighteen-tier minor prefectures; it is close to Ruizhou but not as famous as Ruizhou, and the gangs there are rarely heard of in the Central Plains, but the Jiangzhou Gang's sphere of influence can extend that far.

Xu Guanfu and the Black Yan Gang had a covert cooperative relationship; he should have nodded to confirm Liang Yue's identity, but since Xie Jinhuan had named him directly, if he now 'pointed at Liang and called him Zhao', Xie Jinhuan's next stop might be to act as an imperial envoy to the southeast to investigate smuggling.

The person holds the Shangfang Sword; if you cannot defeat him in swordsmanship, can you not be defeated by the law?

For this reason, Xu Guanfu showed a hint of confusion without surprise and shook his head:

"I have not been active in Jiazhou in recent years, so I am not clear."

Since Xu Guanfu said he did not know him, the problem was quite serious, and everyone's gaze turned to the person who had entered the arena.

Seeing this, Liang Yue already sensed something was wrong and reacted quickly:

"Forgive the laughter of everyone. I, Liang, have been moving around the Central Plains recently; hearing that Elder Wei is holding a Hero's Assembly, I felt admiration and came to see. Seeing Xie Shaoxia Da slaughtering everyone on all sides, I was suddenly tempted by my hands, and my heart was clouded by lard, wanting to get on stage to try. I will go down now..."

For Wei Wu Yi, it was not strange that someone from outside the pass had come; the scene was so large that it would be strange if there were not a few foreigners, but participating was indeed against the rules, after all, the Hu Gu Teng was a welfare benefit for the descendants of the Great Qian.

At the Jianghu Assembly, whoever comes is a guest; among the tens of thousands of Jianghu people present, not everyone's background is clean; Shen Jinyu of the Blood Rain Tower present here, for instance, even started his career as an assassin.

Seeing Liang Yue sensibly withdraw on his own, Wei Wu Yi did not intend to force him to die there; he simply watched him leave.

But Xie Jinhuan had no intention of letting it go and called out:

"Boss Liang has come all this way; if he leaves without fighting a match, does it not make our Great Qian look petty?"

Liang Yue's steps paused slightly, and his eyes showed slight embarrassment.

After all, his identity was exposed; no matter how high his cultivation, he dared not act now.

Xie Jinhuan had fought six matches in a row, already consuming a huge amount; for him, a bandit gang leader from Southern Jiang, to jump out and pick up a cheap victory, was already viewed with hostility by the martial artists of the Great Qian.

If he caused even a slight injury to Xie Jinhuan, it would inevitably provoke the anger of the crowd; he would not be able to leave Sanjiangkou alive, and even if he died, it would be in vain; the Black Yan Gang is far in Southern Jiang, their reputation is not good, and no one would stand up for him.

Seeing Xie Jinhuan holding on, Liang Yue could only cup his hands:

"Xie Shaoxia Da and I, have we met before?"

Xie Jinhuan said no more, beckoned with a finger, called Meiqiu over, placed her on his shoulder, then rotated the iron mace to reveal the two characters 'Tiangang' on it:

"Does Boss Liang not feel it is familiar?"

Meiqiu examined it carefully, then immediately slapped her head and poked with her claws:

"Gooji!"

Killing intent surging!

Liang Yue was originally a bit confused, but upon seeing the black ball-like eagle on the shoulder and the thirty-six-section Tiangang Mace, his eyes suddenly trembled, revealing the impossible in his gaze.

And the reason for this must be traced back two years.

Two years ago, Liang Yue served as a Hall Master at 'Phoenix Port', the most prosperous harbor in the wasteland of Southern Jiang, responsible for the gang's various businesses at the port.

At that time, there was a lowly runner, tanned pitch-black and looking thirty years old, carrying a small eagle and an iron rod, who ran to a subordinate boat agency, said he wanted to buy a small boat, and pulled out over a hundred taels of silver.

A hundred taels of silver was a huge sum for the lower class; the subordinates thought the man had stolen it, so they confiscated the silver, arrested him, and sent him to 'see the magistrate'.

The government of Phoenix Port was the Chi Dragon Cave; those who committed crimes were taken there, where punishments ranged from hard labor for redemption to a choice of four: 'puppet, little ghost, refining medicine, or raising gu'.

But that boy was shrewd; sensing trouble, he injured the manager, abandoned the silver, and fled.

Liang Yue knew well that feuds in the Jianghu must be uprooted; upon hearing the news, he sent men to search for several days, but found no one.

Then, on a moonless, windy night, a cargo ship fully loaded with supplies belonging to his men was quietly hijacked!

The supplies on the cargo ship plus the sea vessel were worth over ten thousand taels of silver!

The bandits were even so arrogant that they left a message beside the stunned underling:

"This is interest. If I manage to return alive, I will surely destroy your Black Yan Gang!"

Liang Yue, suffering such a huge loss, initially thought a rival had struck from the shadows; after thorough investigation, he finally discovered the suspect was a new laborer recently hired at the dock, honest and solid, smiling foolishly at everyone, hardworking and particularly diligent, called Black Ox by the boatmen; he had seen him twice while inspecting the ships.

Liang Yue found it hard to imagine how such a huge ship could have been quietly sailed away by such a simpleton.

But after cross-verification between the boat agency manager and the dock hands, the ship hijacker was indeed that Jianghu runner who had come to buy a boat.

Liang Yue was punished heavily by the gang for failing to recover the ship and cargo; moreover, the Black Yan Gang became a laughingstock among the heroes of Southern Jiang, and for two years they had been searching, believing this audacious bandit had died in the deep sea.

But...

Liang Yue looked at the young man opposite, his white robe fluttering in the wind, his appearance and demeanor like an exiled immortal; no matter how he tried, he could not connect the person before him with the wretched laborer who had squatted at the Southern Jiang dock two years ago, holding a steamed bun and smiling foolishly at him.

Yet the large iron rod in hand and the black eagle on the shoulder, along with the eyes of the man and the bird, clearly confirmed their identities to each other.

Liang Yue stood stunned for a long time; his lips moved, seemingly wanting to ask something, but the words remained unspoken.

Xie Jinhuan raised the Tiangang Mace, pointed it at Liang Yue, and spoke with a clear voice:

"Back then, arranged by my sect, I traveled the world to gain experience. Sect Leader Liang stole my hundred and twenty taels of hard-earned money back then, and afterwards sent men to dig up the earth three feet deep, intending to uproot the problem. Now that I have returned with my skills perfected, how does Sect Leader Liang think this account should be settled?"

The heroes present were initially somewhat confused, but upon hearing these words, they immediately understood the situation—the Black Yan Gang had been blind enough to step on the World Walker of the Hidden Immortal Sect, failed to crush him, and was now remembered.

But the actual situation was far more dangerous than that.

At that time, Xie Jinhuan had neither a sect nor a protector; he was purely a lowly runner surviving in the cracks. The hundred-plus taels of silver were accumulated over several days after confiscating illegal gains, involving unknown risks; yet the money was stolen and he was hunted down. One wrong step and he would not have survived to today. Liang Yue knew their past well; previously, he had wished to tear Xie Jinhuan apart, but after seeing Xie Jinhuan's performance, he felt in his heart that the Black Yan Gang was about to face a major disaster.

However, no matter how great the grudge, it is a matter for the future; the primary task at present is to survive and leave Sanjiangkou.

Liang Yue held his sword, bowed with clasped hands: "Past Jianghu feuds will naturally be repaid in the future. I, Liang, have also searched for Xie Shaoxia for several years; since fate has brought us together here, naturally I must spar with Xie Shaoxia. However, the duel on the platform concerns only martial skill, not personal grudges; I will still observe the rules of the martial way."

The words seemed arrogant, but were actually a reminder to Xie Jinhuan.

Xie Jinhuan raised his hand to have Meiqiu return to her position, tilted the Tiangang Mace diagonally toward the ground, and slightly lifted his chin.

The area around the venue fell silent; everyone focused their full attention, feeling that this match was likely to be the real thing.

Liang Yue had already incurred a feud anyway; the Seven Martial Heroes were watching from above and would not stand by and let the duel on the platform result in a death, so he now threw caution to the wind, held the broad-backed great sword with both hands, crouched like a tiger, and exhaled a浊 breath:

"Hoo... Hah—"

Without warning, a roar erupted, the sound like a lion's bellow, making the fully focused people shudder.

And in that instant, Liang Yue charged out, his body spinning once in mid-air, driving the heavy sword in his hand to its extreme by inertia, striking down with the force of splitting a mountain.

This strike differed from Bao Xiaolin's initial moves, but the style was largely similar; both relied on a brutal sword momentum to strike heavily, seeking to seize the upper hand from the very start.

But Xie Jinhuan could initially withstand it with the Panlong Henggang, whereas now his limbs and Qi sea were over-consumed; it was impossible to connect ten-plus strikes again, dragging it out until Liang Yue's Qi was exhausted.

Facing this terrifying strike, Xie Jinhuan did not retreat but advanced; his feet slid forward like an iron bridge, he held the Tiangang Mace with both hands, his shoulder and back muscles rose high as he swung forward, even blood vessels instantly flooding his eyes, raising a roar of thunder:

"Open—!"

Because he recalled the grievances and helplessness of the past, this strike carried the anger of his thousand-mile bitter journey through the Jianghu, almost instantly draining everything; the iron mace swung out even producing a violent boom:

Swish—

And the power was truly terrifying!

Wielding a weapon with both hands to sweep like a mad dragon's tail, the range and flexibility were limited, unfavorable for following up with subsequent moves.

But if the explosive power reaches a certain degree, no second move is needed.

Liang Yue held the broad-backed great sword with all his might; seeing Xie Jinhuan meet him head-on with no avoidance whatsoever, he merely drove all the Qi and strength within his body, pouring it into the blade.

Clang—

The instant the two heavy weapons met, the ground beneath them was directly shaken into an outwardly spreading ripple of earth waves.

The three-and-a-half-foot broad-backed great sword, the instant it contacted the mace body, had its edge directly shattered; flying iron shavings like fierce arrows instantly struck several blood spots on Liang Yue's chest.

Then the Qi force rebounded; Xie Jinhuan's hand skin split open on the spot, and even the sleeves that had remained intact were torn into four pieces and five fragments by the tearing Qi force; on his knotted forearms, dark red marks appeared along the meridians, spreading toward the upper arms.

The Overbearing Body supreme art can only be used for defense; it cannot be employed during an attack. This strike was purely relying on physical constitution to withstand the blow; although both arms were shaken and injured at the very start, the person remained as unmoving as a rock.

And Liang Yue, as the second-in-command of the bandit gang, had cultivation, but his foundation obviously could not compare to a monster; under the Qi force rebound that ordinary people could hardly handle, his Hukou directly cracked, and then the sword handle slipped from his grip.

The heavy broad-backed great sword, under the violent invasion of the Tiangang Mace, swung backward, smashing into his chest and shoulder, instantly shattering his black robe and carving out a bloody groove!

The whole person then fell backward, like a polo ball struck by a long pole, flying backward, smashing into the yellow earth, creating a pit, sliding out more than seven zhang; halfway through flipping over and not yet fully standing, he heard from ahead:

"Die for me!"

Boom—

Liang Yue, his mind terrified, looked up, only to see a heavy mace like a flying wheel, carrying boundless Qi force, tearing through the yellow earth between the two; in the blink of an eye it was before his eyes, and then:

Bang—

With the momentum of a meteor falling to the world, the yellow earth beneath the spinning heavy mace was like a soft mud pit; instantly, it struck up a sky-high earth wave, tearing a fan-shaped crack more than a zhang deep forward; flying sand and soil splashed directly onto the seats where the outer sects were seated, as if a rainstorm had fallen:

Patter-patter-patter—

The sky-high dust obscured the view; most people did not clearly see the situation, but just looking at the terrifying momentum of this fatal finishing move, they knew that wherever it touched, it would shatter; not to mention losing the sword, even if the sword remained in hand, it would be a severe injury!

The many sect leaders present truly did not expect Xie Jinhuan, having fought to this extent, to still unleash the strongest momentum yet.

Bao Xiaolin brushed the yellow mud and broken leaves from his body; the gloom of his first defeat vanished completely, and he sighed softly:

"The young are formidable. Now it seems that for me to have lasted over thirty moves, it does not mean I must stop here in the Jianghu..."

「Pah…」

Bao Fei snapped out of his stunned stare, spat out sand from his mouth, and regarded him with respect:

「I once took two strikes from Brother Xie too—Black Yama Gang wasn't any better…」

……

The many sect leaders present all stared in shock and doubt; the seed contestants secretly shuddered, grateful they hadn't rashly rushed forward to snatch a cheap win.

After all, Xie Jinhuan's Palm-Release Mallet was a life-or-death move—no regard for cost, a desperate gamble that left him unarmed and powerless afterward, so its power had to be as great as possible; if caught even slightly, one wouldn't just be seriously wounded—they'd lose a weapon for good.

Huhuh~

As the autumn wind scattered the dust, the crowd unexpectedly spotted someone still standing amid the debris.

Liang Yue crossed his arms before his chest, his Hukou raw and bloody, a gash running across the tattooed 'Bald-Tailed Python' on his chest and shoulder; his entire body was rigid, face ashen, his peripheral vision fixed on a groove beside his foot.

The groove was fan-shaped, slicing diagonally into the yellow earth, ending in a pit over a zhang deep, where the Tian Gang Mallet was embedded; the groove's starting point was only two chi from his foot.

Xie Jinhuan stood opposite, sleeves shredded to tatters, blood dripping from his fingertips, yet his chin lifted slightly, his Cold Spring eyes calm and unrippled, yet brimming with defiance:

「Drawing your blade proves strength; missing your target shows martial virtue. Go tell your boss to prepare his funeral in advance—I hold the entire Black Yama Gang accountable, not just you, some lowly thug. 」

「Zzzzz……」

Perhaps due to his overwhelming aura, faint murmurs of awe rippled through the crowd—but they were quiet.

Liang Yue, drenched in cold sweat, nodded silently, turned, and walked away—when a voice called out behind him:

「Hey. 」

Liang Yue froze mid-step, cautiously glancing back.

Xie Jinhuan tilted his head toward the broken sword stuck in the ground nearby.

Liang Yue said nothing, ran over, picked up the sword, and hurried into the crowd, vanishing from sight.

「Huh…」

「Seems like Xie Shaoxia Da's a bit fierce…」

「You don't talk nonsense—politeness depends on who you're dealing with. Black Yama Gang started as sea pirates; if this weren't a tournament, he'd be dead already…」

「I love this kind of energy~」

「Don't flirt…」

……

Wei Wu Yi watched the entire scene, thinking Xie Jinhuan was flawless in every way—too perfect to be human.

Even True Person Qixia and Ye Sheng had odd flaws; Xie Jinhuan had none whatsoever. As for rumors of him being amorous or reckless—that was nonsense. Such a cold, peerless righteous hero would never be swayed by beauty.

Seeing Xie Jinhuan had nearly drained himself completely, Wei Wu Yi spoke:

「Seven wins guarantee top three. Xie Shaoxia Da, you're injured—rest for the next round. 」

Nangong Ye also exhaled in relief, thinking her golden-haired disciple was truly formidable—even with just one breath left, he could still knock down another, denying the opponent any chance to snatch victory.

But before she could even feel proud, she saw Xie Jinhuan, hands drenched in blood, turn his gaze toward the sorceress at the arena's edge:

「I still feel I can fight. This lady has already stepped forward—I naturally owe her a chance…」

「? 」

What else could you possibly fight with?!

Nangong Ye was stunned by this sight—she'd just been thinking, 「Lost my body and now my troops, 」 and was relieved the sorceress had been driven off.

But you didn't fight earlier, now you're clearly drained, your dantian exhausted—and you're calling her up?

What's your point?

Favoring outsiders, fawning over your senior sister, is that it?

Do you want her—or me?

……

Bu Yuehua saw Xie Jinhuan swaying on his feet and had already decided not to enter the arena—until she realized her future son-in-law was so filial, handing her a free win; she was utterly taken aback:

「This doesn't seem appropriate…」

From a god's-eye view, it truly wasn't appropriate.

But from Xie Jinhuan's perspective, Hua Ruyue was Bing Tuozi's senior sister—he didn't know about their secret rivalries or monthly duels.

If Bing Tuozi had stepped onto the arena, he'd never dare favor an outsider.

But since Bing Tuozi hadn't entered, and he himself was truly at his limit, unable to defeat anyone else, stepping down offered no advantage—so why not gently help Sister Hua, just a small gesture, a free favor?

Even if Sister Hua won the championship, at least the prize stays within Qingming Sword Manor—through this bond of kinship, he might still have a chance to claim it later…

Moreover, if both of them advanced, their odds of success were higher than his alone. Bing Tuozi was a fellow disciple—「Brothers quarrel within the walls, but unite against outsiders. 」 Even fierce internal competition was only for the position of Manor Lord; when something valuable appeared outside, it had to be brought back home first.

If Bing Tuozi would rather abandon opportunity and give it to outsiders than let her senior sister gain even a slight edge in securing treasure, would such a character ever earn the Manor Lord's favor?

So Bing Tuozi would surely side with her own kind—Xie Jinhuan saw no reason not to lend a hand. He'd kept Sister Hua waiting earlier precisely to deliver this favor—now he replied:

「As a martial cultivator, even if I had only two eyes left, I'd use them to terrify my opponent. I still have hands and feet, still stand firm—I still have fighting strength! How could I withdraw on my own? 」

Countless sect leaders, seeing Xie Jinhuan's arm muscles trembling faintly, thought the Young Master was clearly trying to flirt.

With his earlier astonishing display and this act of kindness, the lady would almost certainly be won over…

Surrounded by fierce rivals, Bu Yuehua saw Xie Jinhuan insisted—so she accepted. She stepped forward slowly, bowed respectfully:

「Qingming Sword Manor, Hua Ruyue. Pleased to meet you. 」

Since Qingming Sword Manor was a minor, obscure southern sect, the gathered martial world showed little reaction—only quiet whispers and inquiries.

Xie Jinhuan wiped the blood on his shredded sleeves, picked up his senior sister's sword, drew a deep breath, and resumed his stance:

「The arena is no game. I may not win—but I will give everything. If you don't take this seriously, I might just have another round left. 」

As he spoke, his body froze instantly—muscles, breath, even his gaze—all stilled, transforming once more into an unmoving boulder.

?

The onlookers, who had been preparing to watch the young hero woo a beauty, were genuinely stunned by the sight:

"Hey?! Can Xie Shaoxia fight?"

"Old Master, what kind of monster is this..."

"This female knight is about to suffer..."

The Seven Martial Heroes above, and even the various seed contenders, had initially treated it as a post-meal dessert, but upon discovering that Xie Jinhuan could stabilize his physical aura despite his physique being nearly exhausted, their eyes held genuine shock.

After all, only a soldier who has fought a hundred battles could possibly suppress physiological instincts in a desperate situation, directing all strength toward breaking the enemy.

Xie Jinhuan was not yet twenty; what kind of tribulation fire had he undergone before to temper himself into this state?

Bu Yuehua saw Xie Jinhuan stabilize once more, displaying an unshakable momentum; her heart was filled with admiration, and she no longer treated this as a game.

Clang~

A three-foot azure blade emerged from her back, pointing forward at her side, while her left hand produced a one-and-a-half-foot short sword, gripping it inverted to block the center line, striking a posture that was elegant yet steady.

The Mother and Son Twin Swords: the Mother Sword is light and fast for offense, the Son Sword is heavy and solid for defense; their lengths complement each other, allowing free switching between attack and defense, making their practical combat capability far superior to a single sword.

Seeing this posture, the heroes present felt this would surely be another fierce battle!

But soon they realized they had overthought it...

Xie Jinhuan brushed two fingers of his left hand across the blade, drawing a line of blood, and struck a remarkably handsome posture:

"Miss, please go first."

Whoosh—

As the words fell, Bu Yuehua moved her feet slightly; her form turned into a water-blue afterimage, bringing forth a clear sword chime across the vast arena!

Xie Jinhuan's eyes were like a calm, cold spring; he carefully observed the delicate and charming physique of his sister-in-law, waiting until they had advanced three zhang before suddenly launching his forward pressure.

Ding~

Dang—

Everyone watched with full concentration, yet they saw the veiled-hat female knight thrust at the throat, only to have Xie Jinhuan press her sword aside vertically; then, Xie Jinhuan顺势 pulled his sword, slashing toward her ribs!

The veiled-hat female knight's hidden short sword in her left hand swept upward almost simultaneously; the three weapons collided instantly, producing a light and a heavy crisp sound, and the two passed each other by.

In the instant they crossed, Xie Jinhuan delivered another 'Turn-and-Point Sword', striking the woman's veiled hat on her left shoulder.

The veiled-hat woman's technique was extremely strange; her right-hand sword actually used 'Wrapping the Head and Covering the Brain' to block the point, yet the sword was double-edged and relatively soft, making this move more suitable for a blade, as using a sword risks self-injury.

Yet the woman pressed the sword body against her back, truly blocking the回头 point; her form pressed down, 顺势 sweeping her leg backward in a spin; her water-blue skirt hem spread like Kong Que displaying its feathers, the short sword spun once in her palm before thrusting straight, followed immediately by her right-hand sword!

Facing the sweep leg as swift as a thundering gallop, Xie Jinhuan's form was swept sideways into the air; yet even so, he still gripped the woman's short-sword wrist with his left hand, blocked the long sword with his right, and delivered a whip kick mid-air toward the woman's veiled hat.

Hoo~

Ding—

As her form fell downward to the ground, the veiled-hat curtain rose with the spin, revealing a face below.

Her face was white as soft jade, carrying a light mature charm; her peach-blossom eyes were like autumn waves, also looking at him; her red lips were delicate and dripping, the overall appearance alluring yet not vulgar, gorgeous yet not demonic...

She looked like a car that saves fuel...

Boom~

In a single thought, her form had already fallen to the ground.

Bu Yuehua's left hand was gripped, but the short sword spun in her palm, resting on her wrist; she pressed her body down to dodge the whip kick, while her right-hand sword pressed the insufficiently powerful long sword down onto the opponent's chest; the scene looked exactly like pinning a man to the ground.

However, this posture lasted only an instant; Bu Yuehua quickly stabbed her sword into the ground and helped Xie Jinhuan to his feet:

"Are you alright?"

Xie Jinhuan felt that Sister Hua's sword technique was interlocking; although the moves were a bit strange, the technique was truly impeccable; he rose, brushed off his robe, and said:

"It is nothing; Miss, your sword technique is excellent."

Bu Yuehua might have gained an advantage, even hitting the young man a few times; feeling embarrassed, she helped brush the dust from his robe, like a mother-in-law tidying a young disciple's clothes; yet after one brush, she quickly withdrew her hand and stood properly.

"Buzzzz..."

The noisy chatter erupted from all sides!

The martial artists around, who had been watching with full concentration, could not see Xie Jinhuan's moves in the previous seven matches, but this time they saw the method.

This was the Jianghu's ultimate technique for spreading dog food—the Lovers' Mutual Affection Sword!

Just that light, floating sword, yet so rigid and formal, as if fearing the lady opponent could not receive it; the Phoenix Nodding whether it nods or not, tapping the person's shoulder; finally, a fake whip kick for show, and if it misses, so be it...

Xie Shaoxia, if you fight like this, then even I could win!

And this veiled-hat female knight was even more outrageous; she was letting off water until it became an ocean; starting slowly, using 'Wrapping the Head and Covering the Brain' with a blade to block a sword, spinning the short sword in her left hand to play tricks, afraid the person would fall even when hitting the ground, and even helping the person up and brushing their robe...

Do you think the Seven Martial Heroes present are blind, or do you think the entire Jianghu crowd does not understand romance?

If you know each other, you know each other; what are you pretending for?

Hua Ruyue of the Qingming Sword Manor and Dan Yang Marquis Xie Jinhuan must have a story behind them...

This might be a couple coming together to snatch heavenly treasures...

Nangong Ye sat in his seat, seeing that the rascal used not a bit of strength, playing the 'Eyebrow-Glancing Sword' with the demoness; his phoenix beauty eyes even sparked with fire!

Why not take the energy you used to endure the Yang Poison to that place?

So this is how you take care of her?

Fine, fine, fine...

Meiqiu, having finally finished watching the duel, instantly perked up, shaking her head and waiting for the meal to begin...

—

Purely typed out; there may be some typos. I originally wanted to leave one chapter, but I didn't want to break the chapter, so I posted it all.

I'll eat and sleep for a while; when I wake up, it'll be six or seven in the morning. It won't be possible to finish writing by eight. I'll release it tomorrow once Ah Guan finishes writing...

(End of this chapter)