Chapter 67: Chapter 64: Wind Chasing Life-taking Sword (Seeking for More Reading)_1
It took more than twenty days to almost collect up all the supplementary spiritual grasses and the corresponding martial food seasonings.
In total, it had cost more than five thousand pieces of silver, which distressed Lu Yan immensely.
The most expensive item among them was the supplementary spiritual medicine, the nine-section ginseng, which cost three thousand pieces of silver for a single root.
However, considering that he could cook the mutated nine-section heart meat in the future, he gritted his teeth and endured the cost.
For one must understand that a single portion of the mutated nine-section heart meat was worth forty thousand pieces of silver.
Therefore, the investment he was making now was certainly worthwhile.
He had not to worry about the mutated heart meat decaying and turning bad.
According to Lu Yan’s understanding, alien beast meat contains blood poison. Before the blood poison was removed, no bacteria or microorganisms could survive on it, hence naturally it was not likely to decay and go bad.
Of course, over time, the blood poison would slowly diminish. But by then, the essence inherent in the alien beast meat itself would also be lost, and it would have no use at all.
But there was no need to worry about this aspect within one year.
...
Now, it was Lu Yan and his group’s turn again for a ’rotation rest’, and they were in charge of the Red-clad Guard duties.
That day, as soon as he entered the Red-clad Guard duties, he ran into Wang Lin.
"Lu Yan, you’re just in time. We’ve got a mission," said Wang Lin, pulling Lu Yan by the arm to leave.
"Captain Wang, what is the matter?" asked Lu Yan.
Speaking of which, Lu Yan had been a part of the Red-clad Guard for nearly three years and nine months. When he first joined, Wang Lin was at his third limit-breaking stage. After much dedication and further cultivation for many years, exercising a second-rate martial art, he had finally achieved a breakthrough and progressed to the fourth breakthrough stage.
When Wang Shun died, Wang Lin was naturally promoted to be the squad leader of the Seventh Squad according to normal proceedings.
"Lu Yan, we get on well, why do you speak so formally? Continue to call me Brother Wang, I prefer that," Wang Lin patted Lu Yan on the shoulder.
"Brother Wang!"
Lu Yan responded with a laugh.
"That’s more like it. Let me tell you about this mission. Do you know who Liu Xingming is?" asked Wang Lin.
"I do. He’s one of the pillars among the younger generation of Liu family," Lu Yan nodded.
Liu Xingming, twenty-eight years old, had just reached his Fifth limit-breaking stage not long ago. Even though he was far inferior to Liu Xingren, he was still quite formidable.
"One of his favorite concubines comes from Hongliu Town. Yesterday, her younger brother was murdered at home. Today, he wants to investigate personally and find the killer. We, the Red-clad Guard, have been assigned to cooperate. It will be you, me, and Huo Tian," Wang Lin informed.
"Do we know who the murderer is?" asked Lu Yan.
"That’s unclear for now. Let’s go, Liu Xingming has been waiting," answered Wang Lin.
They walked into the living room and saw a young man standing with his hands on his back. This man was dressed in a royal blue silk shirt and wore an alligator leather belt, inlaid with three blue gemstones.
He had a delicate and handsome appearance but he also bore an effeminate air. His complexion was rather pale, appearing worn out from overindulgence.
Obviously, this was Liu Xingming.
Huo Tian stood behind him.
Seeing Wang Lin and Lu Yan enter, Liu Xingming waved his hand and said, "Let’s go. We’re going to Hongliu Town to find the murderer. I want them to pay with their blood."
Four fast horses galloped out of the city gate and headed towards Hongliu Town.
Hongliu Town, one of the eight towns under the jurisdiction of the Liu family, was about twenty miles away from Changfeng City, and they soon approached it.
However, on a small mountain trail close to Hongliu Town, two figures stood in their way.
Two tall and thin men, wearing straw hats, stood there with swords in their hands.
Hu!
The group immediately pulled on their reins to stop the horses.
"Friends, you’re blocking the way," said Liu Xingming.
"We’ve been waiting for you," one of the men in the straw hat said, barely lifting his head to reveal a lean but sharp face, appearing to be in his forties or fifties.
As soon as his words fell, two figures emerged from the woods on either side of the trail behind them, cutting off their retreat path.
They were also men in straw hats, each holding a sword.
They were clearly up to no good.
Lu Yan and the rest tensed their muscles, their qi-blood circulated faster, readying themselves for a fight at any moment.
At the same time, they thought that Liu Xingming’s cousin brother being killed would most likely have been the handiwork of these people.
Was that act carried out by these people as a ruse to draw out Liu Xingming?
What were they aiming for?
"Seeking your own death," Liu Xingming apparently also made the connection. He spurred his horse forward, charging directly towards the two men up ahead.
Whoosh!
One of the straw hat men suddenly drew his sword. His move was exceptionally quick. A flash of sword light seeming like a stroke of lightning on a clear day, and the next moment, blood spattered and a horse’s head flew.
Liu Xingren sprang up dramatically, flipping backwards in mid-air to land on the ground, saying darkly, "Wind Chasing Life-taking sword, you all are from the He family of Zhuifeng City?"
The four men in conical bamboo hats remained silent, not answering, but the answer was clear.
The He Family of Zhuifeng City also was one of the Martial Marquis-grade feudal lords within Li’an County. Back in Qingyang City, Lu Yan had met people from this Feudal Lord family.
"You killed Sanxun and purposely lured me here. What’s your intention? If you think you can take me as a hostage to threaten the Liu Family, then you’re mistaken. The Liu Family, don’t take threats," Liu Xingming said coldly.
He wasn’t wrong. Feudal Lords would never be threatened because of a certain individual, not even if they captured Liu Xingchao.
"You’re overthinking. We don’t plan on using you to threaten the Liu Family. We lured you out here only to ask a question. If you answer honestly, all of you can leave unharmed today."
"Otherwise, Well..."
Said the lean, middle-aged man who was leading. His eyes were sharp as a sword, and he exuded a cold killing intent.
"Ask!"
Liu Xingming replied.
"What exactly is inside the forbidden area cordoned off by the Liu and Wu Families?"
The lean, middle-aged man asked.
Lu Yan looked composed, but Wang Lin and Huo Tian’s faces turned particularly grim.
Things were looking bad.
Because no matter whether Liu Xingming answered or not, the situation would be extremely unfavorable for them.
If Liu Xingming didn’t answer, they would inevitably have to fight the people from the He Family. As the others had come prepared, their strength was undoubtedly extraordinary. The chances were that things would fare far worse than better for them.
If Liu Xingming did answer, and they found out about the Liu Family’s secret, would the Liu Family let them go?
The hearts of the two men sank.
Liu Xingming’s expression also darkened, but the next moment, he revealed a smile, saying, "Alright, then I’ll tell you, listen closely..."
Before he finished speaking, Liu Xingming rushed towards the forest on the right side.
However, clearly, the men of the He Family had anticipated Liu Xingming’s escape. The moment Liu Xingming moved, the talking lean middle-aged man also moved. His sword light flashed, streaking through the air like a shooting star, the Wind Chasing Life-taking Sword aimed at Liu Xingming’s throat.
Wind Chasing Life-taking Sword was extremely swift, just like chasing the wind, a kill in one strike, without staining the body with blood.
Against such top-notch Martial Arts that focus on killing, Liu Xingming obviously couldn’t be careless. His Qi-blood surged between his palms, and his Tian Gang Red Scale Palm was fully operational. On his hands and arms climbed red scales as he made a sweeping palm strike.
Clank! Clank!...
In a flash, the two sides clashed more than a dozen times, neither gaining the upper hand.
This lean middle-aged man of the He Family was also a warrior who had undergone the fifth limit-breaking breakthrough.
At this time, one of the men in the conical bamboo hat stepped forward, his hand on the hilt of his sword, ready to draw it out. His Qi-blood spread over the hilt of the sword, his eyes sharp, staring at Liu Xingming.
This made Liu Xingming feel like a fishbone was stuck in his throat, constantly on guard against this man.
From his Qi-blood, he should have undergone the fourth limit-breaking breakthrough.
Liu Xingming naturally had no fear of confronting him head-on, but if the man tried to sneak attack him, the Wind Chasing Life-taking Sword could pierce his throat in one strike.
What’s more, there was also a warrior who had undergone the fifth limit-breaking breakthrough.
Under the distraction, Liu Xingming immediately fell into a disadvantage.
"Why aren’t you two taking action yet?"
Liu Xingming yelled angrily.
However, Wang Lin and Huo Tian dared not act, as they were being eyed by two men in conical bamboo hats from behind. The sharp and murderous looks from these men made their hearts beat faster, and cold sweat seeped from their temples.
"Keep Liu Xingming alive, capture him, and force him to reveal the secret of the forbidden area. As for the three Red-clad Guards, kill them all," said the lean middle-aged man harshly.
"Split up and run."
Huo Tian, unable to withstand the pressure, leaped and rushed towards the forest on the right side.
"Go!"
Wang Lin, pulling Lu Yan’s arm, rushed towards the forest on the left side.
In his heart, Lu Yan was just a Second limit-breaking warrior and was completely unable to participate in such a confrontation. If he tried to take action, he would undoubtedly be signing his death warrant.
"Kill!"
One of the men in conical bamboo hats moved to intercept Huo Tian. His movements were swift and amazing. With a flash of sword light, Huo Tian was paralyzed in place, his hands tightly clutching his throat, but blood was still seeping out continuously through his fingers.
With one sword sealing his throat, Huo Tian, a warrior at the third limit-breaking stage, had no chance of parrying.
The man who had made the move was also a warrior who had undergone the fifth limit-breaking breakthrough.
"I’ll take these two."
The fourth man in a conical bamboo hat murmured. This man seemed rather young, around twenty-five, leaped towards Lu Yan and Wang Lin. His sword was already out of its sheath in mid-air, pointing at Wang Lin’s back.
"Lu Yan, you go first, I’ll hold him off."
Wang Lin pushed Lu Yan forward, while he himself quickly turned around and drew his sword in a swift strike.
With a loud clang, the two blades collided.
This man from the He Family was also a warrior who had undergone the fourth limit-breaking breakthrough, the same cultivation level as Wang Lin.
But the difference in fighting power was immense.
What Wang Lin cultivated was merely second-rate martial arts, while his opponent cultivated top-notch martial arts.
Moreover, Wang Lin had just entered the fourth breakthrough not long ago, while the man from the He Family was already close to the peak of the Fourth Breakthrough.
As the two blades clashed, Wang Lin staggered backward, his arms shaking non-stop, blood flowing from the base of his thumbs, and he could barely hold his sword.
"Die!"
The man from the He Family plunged his sword again, the sword light pointed directly at Wang Lin’s throat, as fast as lightning.
Wang Lin wouldn’t be able to block this strike no matter what.
"Well, looks like, I have to expose myself today."
Lu Yan sighed, his palm was already golden, and he reached out and grabbed.
