Hengyang and West Lake were more than two thousand li apart, and the journey was not short.
After completing his pay-to-win cultivation, Su Chen set off at once, heading toward West Lake.
On this side, Su Chen kept his head down and hurried along, paying no heed to outside affairs.
On the other side, the martial world had already been thrown into an uproar by what he had done.
As the martial artists who had watched the battle in Hengyang City spread the news,
the feat of the black-clad swordsman first killing three Mount Song Protectors, then two Grandmaster Realm experts, became known to all.
Whether Martial World Rogue Cultivators or the major sects, all were stunned by this news.
Two Grandmasters, ten Minor Grandmasters, and over a hundred elite Mount Song disciples had all died. The Mount Song Sect could practically be considered exterminated.
Such a tragic event was rare even in the martial world.
As people spread the news and investigated further, countless martial artists soon learned of a black-clad swordsman named Su Chen.
Hengnan County, Imperial Guards Hundred-Household Office.
Captain Xing was vividly recounting to a group of Imperial Guardsmen how Su Chen had slain Ding Mian and the other two Mount Song Protectors.
At the most exciting part, Captain Xing slammed the table and rose to his feet, spittle flying everywhere.
The Imperial Guardsmen listening were flushed with excitement as well.
"Su is too strong. Those were three Mount Song Protectors, yet he butchered them one by one with a single slash, like pigs..."
"Of course. Su carries a Red Card. In all these years, how many martial artists have earned a Red Card from our Imperial Guards?"
"I heard that Mount Song Sect Leader Zuo Lengchan is a Grandmaster Realm expert. Su killed three of his junior brothers, so he definitely will not let this go. I wonder if Su can withstand his revenge..."
The moment those words were spoken, the room fell deathly silent, and the atmosphere froze.
A look of helplessness also appeared on Captain Xing's face.
When he had left Hengyang, he had considered staying behind to help Su Chen.
But his strength was too weak, and his official rank too low. He could not find any powerful helpers.
If he remained in Hengyang, not only would he be unable to help Su Chen, he would instead become a burden.
Left with no choice, he could only leave.
All he could do was pray that Su Chen would survive Zuo Lengchan and the Mount Song Sect's retaliation.
"Enough. Get back to work. Su has boundless abilities. A mere Zuo Lengchan cannot kill him."
Captain Xing waved the others away as he spoke.
Yet even he did not have much confidence in his heart.
Since their boss had spoken, the Imperial Guardsmen naturally did not dare disobey. They rose one after another, preparing to leave.
But just then, someone rushed into the Hundred-Household Office from outside.
"Chief... big news... huge news." The newcomer was also an Imperial Guard. He had raced back at a frenzied run, so out of breath he could barely speak.
"What happened?" Captain Xing shot to his feet and asked.
"Zuo Lengchan and White Board Fiend, the evil sect Grandmaster, died in Hengyang City..."
The room fell silent once more.
The Imperial Guardsmen who had been about to leave all stopped in their tracks, rooted to the spot.
Every gaze turned toward the man who had brought the news.
Captain Xing was filled with excitement as he pressed, "Who? Who did it?"
"I heard it was a short-haired, black-clad swordsman. If nothing unexpected happened, it should have been Su..."
Upon hearing this, Captain Xing froze where he stood, unconsciously murmuring, "Su killed two Grandmasters, killed two Grandmasters..."
The other Imperial Guardsmen wore expressions as though they had seen a ghost, their hearts shaken beyond measure.
Only after a long while did Captain Xing finally come back to his senses.
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Ecstasy spread across his face, and he shouted, "Hahaha, Su killed two Grandmasters..."
He had gotten along well with Su Chen, and in his heart, he had long regarded himself as Su Chen's little brother.
Now that his big brother had risen to such heights, he was naturally overjoyed.
Seeing Captain Xing so excited, the remaining Imperial Guardsmen also began shouting loudly.
"Someone, bring the wine! We drink today..."
At the same time.
Mount Tai Sect.
Daoist Tianmen had just returned with his party. Having reached the sect gate, he had not even entered yet.
A Mount Tai disciple suddenly came racing up from the foot of the mountain, shouting urgently as he ran.
"Sect Leader, Sect Leader, something terrible has happened."
Daoist Tianmen turned around, looked at the disciple, and asked, "What happened?"
"Alliance Leader Zuo is dead. The Thirteen Taibao of Songshan are dead too, and all of Mount Song's elite disciples have been wiped out..." The Mount Tai disciple blurted everything out in one breath.
At those words, Daoist Tianmen's entire body trembled.
A figure immediately flashed through his mind—Su Chen, clad in black, with short hair and a Ring-Pommel Saber.
He seized the disciple by the wrist and pulled him before him.
"How did they die? Who killed them? Tell me everything."
"Sect Leader, this is what happened..."
Just as the Mount Tai disciple was about to explain, three white-bearded old men emerged from the Mount Tai Sect gate.
They were Yu Jizi, Yu Qingzi, and Yu Yinzi of the Mount Tai Sect. By seniority, they were Daoist Tianmen's martial uncles.
Seeing the three of them arrive, Daoist Tianmen took the initiative to salute them. "Martial uncles..."
Yu Jizi waved a hand, signaling that Daoist Tianmen need not stand on ceremony. He then looked at the Mount Tai disciple who had brought the news and said, "What were you about to say? Go on."
The Mount Tai disciple nodded, then recounted from beginning to end how Su Chen had cut down Zuo Lengchan and White Board Fiend, and how the Mount Song Protectors had been utterly annihilated.
As they listened to the disciple's account, Yu Jizi and the other two had already fallen into a deep daze.
They had never expected Zuo Lengchan to be killed.
Originally, the three of them had long coveted the position of Mount Tai Sect Leader and secretly maintained an unspeakable connection with Zuo Lengchan.
They had intended to find an opportunity to depose Daoist Tianmen and replace him.
Now, Zuo Lengchan had been eliminated just like that.
Their grand plan to seize power could only be put aside for now, until they could find another opportunity.
Daoist Tianmen, however, had no idea that he had already taken a stroll along the Gates of Hell.
Had Su Chen not killed Zuo Lengchan, it would not have been long before he was jointly assassinated by his martial uncles and Zuo Lengchan.
He was still sighing to himself, "That Lord Su truly is formidable. He killed two Grandmasters through his own strength alone. Junior Brother Liu's money was truly well spent!"
The speaker had no particular intent, but the listeners took it to heart.
Hearing Daoist Tianmen say this, Yu Jizi and the other two raised their brows, immediately realizing there were details they did not know.
"Martial Nephew Tianmen, from the sound of it, you seem to know the swordsman who killed Zuo Lengchan?" Yu Jizi asked as though casually.
Daoist Tianmen suspected nothing and told them everything he knew.
After hearing it, Yu Jizi and the other two felt their hearts stir again. Their ambitions, which had already been extinguished, flared back to life.
According to Daoist Tianmen, the swordsman named Su Chen had helped Liu Zhengfeng deal with the Mount Song Sect because of money.
If that was the case, could they not also pay that man to assassinate Daoist Tianmen, then seize the position of Mount Tai Sect Leader?
Thinking of this, the three grew increasingly eager.
Thus, while Daoist Tianmen was not paying attention, Yu Jizi and the other two secretly sent out their trusted disciples to contact Su Chen and arrange Daoist Tianmen's assassination.
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