A Formidable Enemy, Part Two

2024-07-31

Chapter 46: A Formidable Enemy, Part Two

In the blink of an eye, the two had exchanged over a hundred blows. Sand and stones flew across the battleground, while dense Sword Marks crisscrossed the ground.

Zhu Changyi had been completely suppressed by then, unable even to break free. His defeat seemed inevitable.

Just then, Song Changming heard Zhou Sixin's voice from behind him.

"Watch out!"

Almost at the same time, a gust from a blade swept toward him.

Alarm bells blared in Song Changming's mind. He decisively withdrew his saber, pushed off with his feet, and used his Light Body Technique to roll sideways out of the way.

His hurried dodge was somewhat awkward. He heard his clothes and armor tear, followed by a searing pain across his back.

But he had at least avoided the fatal strike from behind.

I was careless! Song Changming gritted his teeth against the pain.

He had fought Zhu Changyi intensely for too long and had let his guard down toward his surroundings.

If there had been no one else around and it had been a formal one-on-one duel, there would naturally have been no need to divide his attention.

But this was a chaotic melee. Such carelessness was truly inexcusable.

With a sweep of his eyes, he saw that the one who had ambushed him was none other than the mysterious Nine Bends Society Leader.

The man also seemed quite surprised that his sure-kill strike had failed.

"A superior Light Body Technique?" Scarface was well-traveled and knowledgeable. He recognized that Song Changming's movement technique was extraordinary. Wind gathered beneath his feet as his long saber continued toward Song Changming.

Zhu Changyi also hurriedly pressed his attack, unwilling to let Song Changming escape this crisis.

Fortunately, though Zhou Sixin was a step late, he still caught up and blocked Zhu Changyi for Song Changming in time.

Song Changming, meanwhile, faced the mysterious Nine Bends Society Leader.

What had originally been two one-on-one fights became a fierce battle among four people.

The nearby patrol guards were too weak to even intervene and help.

The remaining Patrol Captains capable of providing support were all occupied with the other Nine Bends Society Leaders and had no time to spare.

From afar, Liang Chuanshan also noticed this crucial four-man battle. He abruptly drew the Side Saber at his waist, intending to go lend a hand.

"Director, you mustn't!" Several personal guards following beside him were so frightened that they hurriedly tried to dissuade him.

"Move aside!" Liang Chuanshan said in a low voice.

"Director, victory in this battle is already assured. If anything happens to you now, all our efforts will have been in vain!" a guard said anxiously.

"That's right. Please trust your subordinates."

Hearing this, Liang Chuanshan calmed down somewhat and ultimately did not join the battle.

His current position did not allow him to act willfully or impulsively.

If he were captured by the enemy and used as leverage, the consequences would indeed be unthinkable.

Meanwhile, Song Changming truly felt pressure greater than anything he had faced against Zhu Changyi as he confronted Scarface.

This man was a mysterious figure not mentioned in the intelligence reports, and he was not one of the Nine Leaders.

Song Changming guessed that this man might be the Nine Bends Society Leader who had never shown himself.

The thought had only just surfaced when he could no longer afford to be distracted.

Against Scarface, he had fallen into a disadvantage in a saber duel for the first time.

Even switching repeatedly between the advanced martial arts of the Flying Swallow Style and the Soul Severing Saber to catch his opponent off guard, he still could not reverse the situation.

In terms of raw strength, he was simply inferior to his opponent!

Fortunately, his temporary ally Zhou Sixin, who came from the General Security Department, was no weakling. Within moments, he had forced the already wounded Zhu Changyi into a desperate struggle.

"Rebel, die!" Zhou Sixin shouted lowly as he finally drove his saber through Zhu Changyi's heart, killing him.

Zhu Changyi's eyes remained wide open even in death, as though he could not believe it.

As the leader of this group from the Nine Bends Society, he had ambitions. Now, before those ambitions could be fulfilled, he had died just like that. Anyone would have been unwilling to accept it.

But Zhou Sixin had no interest in Zhu Changyi's dying thoughts. He killed decisively.

After the frustration he had suffered against Scarface all night, he finally vented his pent-up anger on Zhu Changyi. It felt satisfying.

Scarface, who was fighting Song Changming, also realized that the situation had turned bad.

Though he had suppressed Song Changming, defeating him would not be something he could accomplish in a short time.

With Zhu Changyi dead, the situation had become extremely unfavorable for him.

He sensed the danger and wanted to abandon everything and escape alone, preserving his own life first.

However, Song Changming saw through his intentions. With all his strength, he used his Light Body Technique to obstruct him, leaving him no way to retreat.

"Die!" Zhou Sixin turned his blade, attacking Scarface with killing intent.

Seeing this, Song Changming consciously yielded the main offensive position. He caught his breath and supported Zhou Sixin from the side.

Neither he nor Zhou Sixin alone was Scarface's match, but their two-on-one assault, with their sabers attacking in turn, left Scarface restrained at every turn.

If they had been ordinary Urban Patrol Captains, he believed that even if three or four of them came at him together, he could have retreated calmly.

But the two he faced now were one Patrol Captain from the Prefecture City General Security Department and one young Martial Arts Genius who had appeared from who knew where.

Both were far beyond the level of ordinary Urban Patrol Captains. Once they joined forces, he was plunged into grave danger.

After a hundred exchanges, Scarface had long lost his initial composure. Pressed by Song Changming and Zhou Sixin, his eyes had turned bloodshot, and new wounds continuously appeared on his body.

His clothes and armor had been slashed to pieces.

After holding out for two hundred exchanges, Zhou Sixin seized an opportunity. He crouched low and unleashed an extremely tricky slash, cutting off one of Scarface's legs in a spray of blood.

"Ah!!"

Scarface howled in pain, looking utterly deranged.

Song Changming forced himself to summon one more breath. His arm, already sore from swinging his saber, exerted itself once more as the Soul Severing Saber shifted into the Flying Swallow Style.

The blade thrust forward, becoming a streak of silver light that pierced through Scarface's wide-open mouth.

Scarface's body twitched twice before falling still.

Blood gushed from his mouth and dripped down along the blade.

The death of this mysterious Society Leader completely drove the Nine Bends Society to its end.

This force, which had once grown powerful enough to control the entire underground of Houli Street, vanished into nothing after this day, just like the Qinghe Gang of old.

Song Changming withdrew his saber, and Scarface's corpse, eyes still open in death, toppled at his feet.

"He was truly strong!" Song Changming panted as he looked at the corpse on the ground and thought to himself.

Though he had personally slain the man, he felt no joy at all. All he felt was relief.

He knew very well that this man's raw strength far surpassed his own. He was monstrously strong!

It had to be said that Liang Chuanshan's money had been well spent when he had paid a large sum to hire Zhou Sixin.

If Zhou Sixin had not helped tonight, no one among them could have handled this fierce opponent. The consequences would have been unthinkable.

Fortunately, the situation was settled now. Tonight's outcome was a good one.

"Brother Song, impressive!" Zhou Sixin laughed twice and praised Song Changming.

He had already known that Song Changming, this rising talent, possessed considerable strength.

But Song Changming's performance today had exceeded even his expectations.

Without Zhou Sixin at his side, Song Changming could never have killed this formidable enemy.

Likewise, without Song Changming's assistance tonight, Zhou Sixin could never have taken down Scarface.

After their cooperation, it could be said that he was now the person who understood Song Changming's strength best.

(End of Chapter)