Mo Da looked at Su Chen, his eyes filled with surprise and suspicion.
For one thing, he had not expected Su Chen to act so decisively, immediately striking to kill.
Of course, it was not that Mo Da was too kindhearted to kill.
He was simply curious about the identity of this linen-clothed man who had suddenly appeared.
He had originally planned to capture him alive and interrogate him.
Yet Su Chen could not even be bothered to ask a question before killing him outright.
On the other hand, he was astonished by the speed of Su Chen's blade.
Just now, Su Chen had been standing beside him. The two had nearly been shoulder to shoulder, less than half a foot apart.
Yet even at such close range, he had failed to see how Su Chen had drawn his blade.
"It seems this Mr. Su is even stronger than I imagined. He must be a Grandmaster Realm expert without question."
With that thought, Mo Da felt somewhat relieved.
"Next, we must deal with Zuo Lengchan. Mr. Su is also in the Grandmaster Realm. This battle may not be as hopeless as I imagined."
Meanwhile, Liu Zhengfeng, who had fought Qinghai One-Eyed Owl for a long time without defeating him, wore a deeply disappointed expression.
Disappointed in himself!
"As the second-in-command of the Hengshan Sect, I have always considered myself someone of standing in the martial world. Yet now, I cannot even defeat a nobody and have to rely on Mr. Su to save the situation..."
The more he thought about it, the more ashamed Liu Zhengfeng felt.
With an apologetic look, he turned to Mo Da. "Senior brother, I have disgraced the Hengshan Sect..."
Mo Da consoled him, "Junior brother, there is no need to belittle yourself. This man's martial arts are actually inferior to yours. He merely relied on an unusual movement technique to evade your attacks time and again."
"It is your first time encountering such a technique, and you are not yet familiar with it. It is only natural that you could not take him down at once."
"If you had continued fighting, within fifty moves, you would have figured out the pattern of his movement technique. By then, capturing him would have been easy."
Listening to Mo Da's analysis, Su Chen somewhat agreed.
Mo Da was indeed worthy of being the head of the Hengshan Sect. His judgment was still sharp.
Qinghai One-Eyed Owl's martial arts were indeed mediocre. At the very least, he was absolutely no match for Liu Zhengfeng.
In the original world, at the Five Mountains Alliance Ceremony, Qinghai One-Eyed Owl had captured Daoist Tianmen, the head of Mount Tai, through a sneak attack, only to be killed in return by Daoist Tianmen.
That was enough to show that this man's martial arts were utter trash.
Encouraged by Mo Da, Liu Zhengfeng regained his confidence.
He then asked, "Senior brother, did you recognize this man's background?"
Mo Da shook his head. "His martial arts differ from ordinary styles. I cannot tell which sect or school he came from."
Having received no answer from Mo Da, Liu Zhengfeng instinctively looked toward Su Chen.
Over the past few days, the intelligence network Su Chen had displayed had already left a deep impression on Liu Zhengfeng.
Thus, he instinctively believed that Su Chen might know something.
"Lord Su, did you recognize his style?"
Mo Da also turned toward Su Chen, awaiting his answer.
Su Chen nodded. "If I am not mistaken, he should be a man of the underworld known as Qinghai One-Eyed Owl."
"Qinghai One-Eyed Owl?" Mo Da and Liu Zhengfeng pondered the name and searched their memories, but still came up empty.
Although they had not figured out who Qinghai One-Eyed Owl was, Mo Da understood one thing.
"Mr. Su knew this man's identity. No wonder he acted directly just now, with no intention of capturing and interrogating him."
If Su Chen had known what Mo Da was thinking, he would have found it amusing.
Whether he knew Qinghai One-Eyed Owl's identity had nothing to do with why he killed him.
Even if he had not known who Qinghai One-Eyed Owl was, he would still have cut him down with a single strike.
Dragging things out had never been his style.
"Qinghai One-Eyed Owl has a master known in the martial world as White Board Fiend. He is a member of an evil sect and shares an extraordinary friendship with Zuo Lengchan."
Upon hearing this, Mo Da and Liu Zhengfeng finally understood.
"So he was White Board Fiend's disciple."
White Board Fiend had some reputation in the martial world, and both of them had heard of him.
At the same time, they realized why Qinghai One-Eyed Owl had suddenly appeared.
Liu Zhengfeng's face filled with indignation. "As expected, this is Zuo Lengchan's doing again."
If Zuo Lengchan had been present, he would surely have felt wronged.
He was quite wary of the strength Su Chen had displayed.
He knew very well that Qinghai One-Eyed Owl was no match for Su Chen.
Thus, he had only ordered Qinghai One-Eyed Owl to keep an eye on Su Chen and Liu Zhengfeng, lest they vanish without a trace.
However, Qinghai One-Eyed Owl had always been arrogant and had not taken Zuo Lengchan's instructions seriously this time either.
He had made his own decision to test Su Chen's true strength.
As a result, he had underestimated Su Chen and been cut down with a single strike.
Had he foreseen the current situation, he would not merely have refrained from probing Su Chen's strength.
He likely would not even have dared to sneak into Hengyang City.
Mo Da said, "Zuo Lengchan's advance scout has already arrived. I imagine it will not be long before he personally comes seeking revenge."
As he spoke, a grave expression flashed across Mo Da's face.
He subconsciously looked at Su Chen beside him.
At present, Su Chen, who was suspected to be in the Grandmaster Realm, was their only support.
Liu Zhengfeng likewise looked at Su Chen. "Lord Su, we will have to rely on you when it comes to Zuo Lengchan."
Su Chen yawned and said, "No problem, no problem. Since I have taken your silver, I will certainly handle this matter properly. Put your mind at ease."
"It would not matter much if something happened to you, but would that not ruin my reputation? What client would dare hire me afterward?"
Liu Zhengfeng's mouth twitched as he listened to Su Chen.
The reasoning was sound, and Liu Zhengfeng believed that even if Su Chen was only doing it for his reputation, he would still do his utmost to protect him.
Still, those words were truly unpleasant to hear.
Even Liu Zhengfeng, who was smooth in all directions, widely connected, and used to hearing every sort of flattery and insult, found them difficult to accept.
Ah, forget it. When one is under another's roof, one has no choice but to bow one's head. My life and fortune now depend on Lord Su's protection. I can endure a few unpleasant words from him.
Besides, when I first met Lord Su, my attitude was hardly good either. Given his temperament, the fact that he did not kill me with a single strike already counts as great magnanimity.
Before long, Liu Zhengfeng had talked himself into accepting it.
Su Chen glanced at Qinghai One-Eyed Owl's mangled corpse. "By the way, this counts as the first head. Remember it."
Liu Zhengfeng nodded. "I will remember."
Afterward, Su Chen returned to the house to rest and conserve his strength while waiting for Zuo Lengchan and the others to arrive.
Liu Zhengfeng, meanwhile, arranged for Qinghai One-Eyed Owl's severed remains to be hung outside Liu Manor's gates, using them as a warning to Zuo Lengchan.
At the same time, forces from all sides began converging upon Hengyang City.
Martial artists who had come to watch the excitement arrived in groups.
Yue Buqun had altered his appearance and concealed his identity as he escorted one hundred thousand taels of silver here with several disciples.
Ren Yingying and Xiang Wentian had also arrived. They hid within the city, ready at any moment to approach Su Chen and ask him to rescue Ren Woxing.
Qu Yang also hurried over to assist his friend.
Tong Baixiong led dozens of Sun Moon Holy Cult experts into Hengyang City to observe the battle.
The greatest spectacle, however, was the Mount Song Sect's party.
Sect leader Zuo Lengchan led the group personally. Great Yin Yang Hand Yue Hou, Nine Bends Sword Zhong Zhen, and the other ten guardians had all come out, along with more than a hundred elite disciples.
Their purpose in making such a grand display was only one: to use thunderous methods to wipe out the Nameless Swordsman and Liu Zhengfeng, restoring Mount Song's prestige.
For a time, Hengyang City was filled with all manner of people, and the winds and clouds began to stir.
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