Chapter 79: Chapter 79: Assassination
On a rugged mountain path, a figure as thin as a bamboo pole was rapidly climbing upward.
His movements were quite strange. His whole body seemed to be spring-loaded, leaping a full ten feet with every bound.
As he moved, one could even faintly hear a sound like a bowstring being plucked coming from his body.
"Peng Li has successfully tempered his tendons, giving him extraordinary explosive power. He also excels at the Wind-Breaking Sword Momentum, so his speed is particularly outstanding among his Peers."
Luo Anning’s voice rang in Su Mu’s ear, as if she were speaking right next to him.
Su Mu was amazed. ’So this is the depth of Miss Luo’s background. She even knows the art of secret sound transmission.’
"Find your own opportunity to strike. I’ll cover you."
Luo Anning continued, "I will not intervene unless you are in mortal danger. If anyone else shows up, don’t worry. I’ll handle them."
Su Mu didn’t answer, silently gripping the hilt of his saber.
In just a few moments, Peng Li had reached the cliff’s edge, now only a little over a hundred feet from the large tree where Su Mu was hiding.
Su Mu observed Peng Li from a distance.
Peng Li was extremely tall and thin, with high cheekbones and a savage aura about him.
’He’s a wanted criminal. Killing him on the spot should fall under the duties of both the South City Bureau and the Taiping Bureau, right? Today’s performance quota will be maxed out.’
Su Mu stared at Peng Li, counting silently in his mind.
Ten paces.
Nine paces.
Eight paces.
...
Just as Peng Li was a mere three paces from the tree where Su Mu was hiding, Su Mu struck.
He kicked off the tree trunk with both feet, descending from the air.
A misty shower of saber strikes enveloped him like a Celestial Net of Heaven and Earth.
This attack was like a spring rain in March. It didn’t seem to possess any earth-shattering power; instead, it was subtle and silent, as if nourishing all things.
Pinpricks of saber light reflected the sun, transforming into countless, gossamer-thin threads of saber energy that sealed off Peng Li from every direction.
"Impressive!"
Watching from her hiding spot, Luo Anning also praised him silently in her heart.
Su Mu’s Cloud and Rain Saber Momentum had actually reached such a level.
’If I were in Peng Li’s position, I’d have no good way to deal with this sneak attack either,’ she thought. ’I could only break it with brute force.’
In the blink of an eye, the shriek of the saber roared like muffled thunder.
The air in all directions was compressed by Su Mu’s saber momentum, seeming to ripple and shimmer like a vast, green wave.
The Cloud and Rain Saber Momentum transitioned seamlessly into the Nine Waves of Breaking Waves.
The two saber momentums blended together perfectly, their power skyrocketing.
Peng Li’s expression changed drastically. The hairs on his body stood on end, his breathing grew ragged, and it felt as if the very air around him had been sucked away.
He let out a low roar, his figure flickering as he dodged left and right.
A long, slender sword appeared in his hand, its sword light flashing repeatedly.
In a flash, after blocking just two moves, Peng Li felt a tremor run through his limbs, and his organs went numb.
SHHNK!
A spray of blood erupted from Peng Li’s body.
He used the opportunity to retreat ten feet, staring at Su Mu with a grim expression.
As Su Mu’s feet touched the ground, a flicker of regret crossed his eyes.
’As expected of a notorious criminal from the wanted list. My sure-kill strike only managed to graze him.’
"A mere junior constable dares to ambush me? You’re courting death!"
Peng Li scanned his surroundings warily. Seeing no one other than Su Mu, he let out a sigh of relief, which was immediately followed by a surge of fury.
Since when was a junior constable so confident, daring to challenge him all alone?
Did he really think Peng Li was an easy target?
For days, the Hu Family of Wuling City had been hounding him relentlessly. He had been holding back and lying low just so he could get his hands on the mature Yin Spirit Grass.
To think that now, even a junior constable from the Outer City dared to step on his toes.
"I’m going to flay you and rip out your bones, then hang you from the gates of Wuling City for all to see the fate of those who cross me."
A cold glint flashed in Peng Li’s eyes as he spoke icily.
"We’ll see if you have what it takes."
Su Mu gave a carefree smile, took a step forward, and swung his saber. Faint, water-like ripples seemed to appear in the air.
Anger filled Peng Li’s face. He felt increasingly provoked.
His body shot forward like a bird, his feet leaving the ground as he soared into the air.
The long, slender sword in his hand transformed into specks of sword light.
Wind-Breaking Sword Momentum.
The sword’s path was nimble and agile, yet treacherous and unpredictable.
After just a few exchanges, Peng Li’s eyes and heart were filled with shock.
He had always prided himself on his strength, believing he could roam the Outer City of Wuling City unhindered, rarely meeting a worthy opponent.
In his experience, the Cultivation of most Outer City constables was typically between the Second Stage of Body Tempering and the Third Stage of Body Tempering. In terms of martial arts, mastering even one "momentum" was enough to be considered exceptional.
He, Peng Li, was at Body Tempering Third Realm Perfection and had mastered the Wind-Breaking Sword Momentum.
Even ordinary Martial Artists at the Third Stage of Body Tempering were no match for him.
’Where did this constable come from?’
’His strength is not the least bit inferior to mine, and he’s even mastered two types of saber momentum!’
’Are the higher-ups in Wuling City fucking blind?’
’A man like this is just a constable?’
’He’s more than qualified to be an Outer City Captain!’
Peng Li cursed inwardly.
As these thoughts raced through his mind, Peng Li already felt himself ensnared by his opponent’s saber momentum. He was like a mosquito caught in a spider’s web—the more he struggled, the more powerless he became.
Despite his cunning mind and myriad techniques, he now felt unable to bring any of them to bear.
The difference between one momentum and two was simply too great.
Moreover, this young constable, who was still wet behind the ears, was as steady as a man twice his age. His saber technique was flawless, neither rushing for a quick victory nor revealing any openings.
The two intertwining saber momentums formed a Celestial Net of Heaven and Earth, seeming to want to grind him down and exhaust him to death.
’Damn it. If I weren’t always so cautious, I’d probably meet my end here for real.’
Peng Li thought to himself.
He knew that if this dragged on, once his stamina began to fail, he would truly become a caged bird, a trapped turtle.
"Brother Gao, if you don’t make your move, you’ll be collecting my corpse!"
Peng Li yelled at the top of his lungs.
"Coming!"
A voice suddenly rang out not far to Su Mu’s right, immediately followed by a flash of sword light.
On a green rock that had been empty a moment ago, a dwarf-like figure had appeared out of nowhere.
He leaped down from the air, striking with his sword. His speed was so extreme that it left several afterimages in his wake.
A savage look appeared on Peng Li’s face, as if he could already see Su Mu being run through by the sword.
Su Mu remained expressionless, his saber momentum unwavering, as if completely unaware of the sneak attack from behind.
SHHNK!
SHHNK!
Peng Li had misjudged Su Mu’s reaction. Caught off guard, he instantly suffered two more wounds.
At that moment, the assailant’s sword light was only a foot away from Su Mu’s back.
TING!
Just then, a sword shot out from the side, perfectly intercepting the dwarf’s sneak attack.
With a flutter of black hair, a figure appeared before the dwarf. Just as she had promised, she was there to guard Su Mu’s back.
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