Chapter 2457: Chapter 2457
As soon as Ye Liuyun stepped into the merchant guild, he spotted an elderly man accompanied by a young girl purchasing medicinal herbs.
"Master, how much of this herb should we buy?" the female disciple asked her teacher.
Ye Liuyun immediately sensed the overwhelming sword aura radiating from them—far stronger than anyone else in the vicinity. Unable to help himself, he stole a few extra glances.
Unexpectedly, the girl snapped at him, "What are you staring at? Keep looking and I’ll gouge your eyes out!"
Ye Liuyun was taken aback. He wasn’t some lecherous creep ogling women—just observing out of curiosity. The idea that a mere glance warranted such a threat rubbed him the wrong way.
"If you can’t stand being looked at, maybe you shouldn’t leave your house," he shot back casually.
But his offhand retort sent the guild steward, who had been assisting them, pale with panic. The man rushed over and tried to shove Ye Liuyun away. "You must be from out of town! If you don’t know any better, keep your mouth shut! The alchemists of the Divine Sword Manor aren’t people you can afford to provoke!"
As he spoke, the steward kept throwing frantic glances at Ye Liuyun, silently urging him to leave.
"You looking for death?" the girl’s master roared, his face darkening with fury.
"Master Pei, please calm down! He’s just some ignorant outsider—no need to stoop to his level!" the steward hastily interceded, trying to placate the alchemist.
"Bullying others just because you can? So what if you’re an alchemist from the Divine Sword Manor? Believe me, I could wipe your precious manor off the map!"
Seeing their arrogance, Ye Liuyun made up his mind in an instant. If they wanted a fight, he’d give them one—right here, right now.
The steward and several nearby sales assistants were left gaping in shock.
Never in their lives had they seen someone dare to speak to members of the Divine Sword Manor in such a manner.
The woman sneered coldly upon hearing Ye Liuyun’s words. "Destroy the Divine Sword Manor? Fine! Let’s see how you plan to do that! If you fail, don’t even think about leaving alive!"
Ye Liuyun smirked, meeting her challenge head-on. "Heh, whether you even make it back to the Divine Sword Manor today is still up for debate. You might not live long enough to witness its downfall!"
By now, the steward had regained his composure. With a pleading tone, he turned to the alchemist and his female disciple. "Master Pei, our guild’s rules strictly prohibit fighting here! Please, calm yourself and join me in a private room for some tea!"
Seeing how brazenly Ye Liuyun spoke, the steward no longer cared whether he had powerful backers or not. His only concern was preventing a clash within the guild’s premises.
Alchemist Pei snorted dismissively. "No need. Out of respect for your guild, I’ll let this slide for now. A-Qian, we’re leaving!"
Before departing, he cast a final glance at Ye Liuyun, his voice dripping with provocation. "The Divine Sword Manor awaits you at any time." With a flick of his sleeve, he strode out of the guild.
As the woman named A-Qian passed Ye Liuyun, she hissed venomously, "You’re dead!"
Ye Liuyun merely curled his lips in amusement, utterly unfazed.
The steward bowed obsequiously as he escorted the master and disciple out. The moment he turned back and saw Ye Liuyun picking up the medicinal herbs A-Qian had been examining earlier, he hurried over.
Not daring to offend Ye Liuyun outright, he chose his words carefully. "Young master, the Divine Sword Manor is not to be trifled with. Even members of the royal family wouldn’t dare slight them. You’ve just stirred up serious trouble!"
Ignoring him, Ye Liuyun focused his spiritual sense, tracking the departing duo.
Meanwhile, A-Qian whispered to Alchemist Pei, "Master, are we really leaving just like that? Doesn’t this tarnish the Divine Sword Manor’s prestige?"
Alchemist Pei chuckled darkly. "Of course not. There are barely a handful in the entire Sacred Dynasty who would dare speak of destroying our manor. Even if he were royalty, killing him would be no issue!"
"I just don’t want to cause trouble for the Merchant Guild. We’ll still need to do business with them in the future. If they cut off our supplies over this, it’d be a real headache. Let’s wait till he steps outside—then whatever happens won’t involve the Guild!"
So they immediately halted, biding their time until Ye Liuyun emerged.
Seeing this, Ye Liuyun smirked inwardly. He’d been racking his brains for a way to infiltrate the Divine Sword Manor, hoping to lure them out. Now, with this golden opportunity handed to him on a silver platter, he wasn’t about to let it slip.
"Enough talk! They’re waiting for me outside!"
With that, Ye Liuyun set down the medicinal herbs and strode out of the Guild without another glance at the steward.
"......" The steward wisely kept his mouth shut.
He had no idea how this would end for Ye Liuyun. As long as no blood was spilled within the Guild’s walls, it was none of his concern!
The moment Ye Liuyun stepped outside, A’qian eagerly volunteered to her master, Alchemist Pei: "Master, let me deal with this arrogant fool!"
"Very well. But don’t underestimate him—his cultivation surpasses yours," Alchemist Pei cautioned.
"Don’t worry, Master! What does a higher realm matter? I’ve always been able to defeat opponents above my level!" A’qian declared with unshakable confidence.
As Ye Liuyun approached them, his hand flicked, and the Demon-Slaying Blade materialized in his grip.
"I’ve long heard the Divine Sword Manor’s sword intent grows weaker with each generation. Can’t say if it’s true, though," he remarked coolly to A’qian, deliberately provoking her.
"You insolent cur! How dare you slander the Divine Sword Manor! I’ll carve your head off and kick it like a ball!"
Ye Liuyun’s mocking tone and dismissive expression struck a nerve. If she didn’t kill him today, the Divine Sword Manor’s reputation would be tarnished beyond repair—and the shame would be hers to bear.
Without hesitation, she strode swiftly toward Ye Liuyun, a gleaming emerald-green sword suddenly materializing in her hand.
The crowd on the street immediately scattered, clearing a path. To them, Ye Liuyun had sealed his fate the moment he dared openly insult the Divine Sword Manor.
"Not bad for show," Ye Liuyun sneered, his voice dripping with mockery. "But I bet it’s all flash and no substance!"
"Still running your mouth even with death at your doorstep!" A’Qian snapped, her temper flaring. With a flick of her sword, a chilling blade intent shot straight toward Ye Liuyun.
"Too slow."
With a contemptuous swing of his saber, Ye Liuyun struck—faster than her attack. A dark streak of light flashed, not only extinguishing her emerald glow but continuing its deadly arc toward A’Qian’s neck.
Her sword intent was merely at the level of his saber intent’s rudimentary stage—hardly worth his notice. Yet to ordinary people, such skill was already a rare sight.
"You dare?!"
Alchemist Pei knew things had taken a dire turn the moment Ye Liuyun drew his blade. He shouted in alarm, his own sword flashing into his hand—but it was too late.
A’Qian’s head soared into the air. A dizzying sensation overwhelmed her, and in her final moments, she glimpsed her master’s sword suddenly appearing in his grip.
She tried to speak, but no sound came. Then, her vision plummeted downward, the light in her eyes fading into nothingness.
"I told you," Ye Liuyun said coolly, his saber still in hand as he advanced steadily toward Alchemist Pei. "You wouldn’t live to see the Divine Sword Manor fall."
He tilted his head slightly, his voice laced with cold amusement. "I’ve already killed her. What’s your next move, old man?" Not an ounce of mercy lingered in his words.
