The Matter Settled

Chapter 22: The Matter Settled

Uncle Chen was beheaded right before their eyes.

Xu Huan and the others were gripped by uncertainty and alarm.

They sensed a fatal threat from Lu Zhaojin. If they remained here, they would die!

Xu Huan was decisive. He did not even spare a glance at the treasures on the platform before fleeing toward the cave entrance.

But the instant he moved, a strand of Sword Qi swept past like a gentle breeze. One of his legs fell away at the knee, the cut smooth and even. His blood did not spray out until a moment later.

Without his front leg to support him, inertia carried Xu Huan two more steps before he collapsed. Staring at his severed leg, he seemed only then to feel the pain. He clutched it and howled in agony.

Zhao Yuanshan witnessed it all, his entire body taut. Even the faintest stir of wind around him made him tremble in terror.

At that moment, Lu Jinlin slashed with his sword, only cutting Zhao Yuanshan's arm. However, without Xu Huan's help, Zhao Yuanshan was no longer Lu Jinlin's match. Killing him was only a matter of time.

Seeing his father in peril, Zhao Jinzhi was frantic. Yet the two Dingshan Sect elders kept him entangled, leaving him powerless to divide his attention. "Master, please help me!"

His master did not answer at once.

Zhao Jinzhi was anxious as though his heart were on fire. "Master!"

A sigh echoed through his mind. "So be it."

When the two Dingshan Sect elders saw Zhao Jinzhi's attacks seemingly slow slightly, they assumed he could no longer hold on.

The two of them also redoubled their efforts, determined to subdue Zhao Jinzhi as quickly as possible. As for Lu Zhaojin, they had no intention of dealing with him anymore. Only after returning to the sect and asking the Sect Leader to act could they suppress him.

"Falling Meteor."

Elder Qiushui swung his longsword, Sword Qi soaring into the heavens like a meteor streaking across the sky. It shot straight for Zhao Jinzhi's heart.

"Blazing Sun Fist."

Elder Hengshan clenched his fists. Heavy true qi, thick as mountains, spread around him, as if invisible flames burned fiercely, causing even the air to twist faintly.

He leaped forward and closed in. With both arms spread wide, he resembled two massive iron hammers slamming rapidly together, with Zhao Jinzhi's head caught at their point of impact.

One before and one behind, both brimming with killing intent.

Zhao Jinzhi closed his eyes, his thoughts sinking into an abyss. When he opened them again, he watched his master use his body to face the enemy from a peculiar perspective.

At the same time, the purer energy within his body filled him with longing. If only I could cultivate Master's methods. Then how could Lu Zhaojin possibly be my match?

Zhao Jinzhi underwent an earth-shaking transformation.

A heavy aura spread around him. Anyone who stepped within nine feet of him felt as though they had sunk into a swamp, their movements slowing.

The two elders' attacks also stalled, like deflated balloons. They could not advance, and even retreating became difficult.

What was going on?

The two elders looked at Zhao Jinzhi. There was something strange about this boy!

The air before them suddenly shook, as though an invisible mass of qi had exploded. The terrifying shockwave blasted them both flying, and they only stopped after crashing into the rock wall.

Blood sprayed from their mouths, their eyes filled with astonishment. What kind of method was this?

Lu Zhaojin naturally noticed Zhao Jinzhi's transformation. After all, this was not the first time. He had also formed a guess about the change—it was undoubtedly that old grandfather.

He simply did not know how strong this old grandfather was.

When he had fought Zhao Jinzhi before, the old grandfather had also taken possession of him at the critical moment to assist in battle. However, he had not seemed this powerful then.

That meant the old grandfather could only display more of his abilities as Zhao Jinzhi's martial cultivation advanced.

In that case, Zhao Jinzhi's body must have been unable to bear the old grandfather's overly powerful energy. Otherwise, Zhao Jinzhi would likely explode and die.

Lu Zhaojin recalled the sight of Zhao Jinzhi using Jade Palm. His entire hand had looked like jade on the verge of shattering. At the time, he had thought he was the cause. Now it seemed the old grandfather had been the main reason.

The two Dingshan Sect elders had suffered internal injuries from that force and could barely even stand.

The old grandfather judged the situation unfavorable and feigned an attack on Elder Hengshan. But just as Elder Hengshan readied himself, Zhao Jinzhi abruptly reached instead for the nearer Zhao Yuanshan. His purpose was obvious: unable to defeat Lu Zhaojin, he intended to flee first.

However.

Lu Zhaojin saw through the old grandfather's intentions. Mu Kui had used this same move in the ruined temple before, so he had taken some precautions.

Moreover, he would never let Zhao Jinzhi take Zhao Yuanshan away. This was the perfect chance to strike at the Child of Destiny's spirit—how could he let Zhao Yuanshan go so easily?

A sharp Sword Light made Zhao Jinzhi's body freeze. As though he possessed the ability to foresee the future, he dodged that Sword Light.

But in that instant of hesitation, Lu Zhaojin slashed out several more strands of Sword Qi, forcing him back.

Within his own body, Zhao Jinzhi could only watch helplessly, unable to control it. Fury smoldered in his heart. "Master, kill him!"

His master said coldly, "No. Your body cannot withstand it."

Zhao Jinzhi roared angrily, "Then what about my father?"

His master advised, "As long as the green hills remain, there will be no shortage of firewood."

Zhao Jinzhi fell silent.

Zhao Yuanshan had originally still held hope, but when he saw Zhao Jinzhi being forced back, he knew there would be no good ending today. "Jinzhi, hurry and leave. A gentleman's revenge is never too late, even after ten years."

He did not wish to drag his son down with him.

At seventeen, Zhao Jinzhi had already broken through to the Seventh-Rank Realm. Outside Mount Qi, he could be called a prodigy. Even if he died in this Cave Mansion, and even if the Zhao Family was later destroyed by Lu Zhaojin, so long as Zhao Jinzhi remained as a spark, the Zhao Family could rise again from the ashes.

Therefore, Zhao Jinzhi could not die. It would be best if he fled far away and never appeared before Lu Zhaojin again.

He could not see through Lu Zhaojin. After escaping death, Lu Zhaojin's cultivation had advanced by leaps and bounds. He was even stranger than Zhao Yuanshan's own son.

Zhao Jinzhi had not expected his father's thoughts to align with his master's. He fell even deeper into silence, as though sinking to the bottom of an abyss. Even his master could not discern his thoughts.

His master took that as consent and controlled Zhao Jinzhi's body to flee the Cave Mansion.

Lu Zhaojin did not pursue him.

He knew well that the Child of Destiny was favored by fate. If he did not force out all of the other party's hidden cards, he might drive him into desperation and make him perish together with him.

When the two Dingshan Sect elders saw Zhao Jinzhi retreat in defeat, they too wanted to flee.

Lu Zhaojin naturally would not allow it. After beheading them one after the other, another ten thousand experience points arrived.

Experience gained for killing a Seventh-Rank Martial Artist: +5000

Experience gained for killing a Seventh-Rank Martial Artist: +5000

Experience: 17318

His experience points had surpassed ten thousand once more, and Brute Ox Stance could also be raised to the Extreme Realm.

But there were more urgent matters to handle now.

Xu Huan and Zhao Yuanshan were not dead yet.

Xu Huan had stopped howling. Dragging his severed leg, he crawled toward the exit of the Cave Mansion.

Footsteps sounded behind him.

Xu Huan's heart and liver split with terror, as though a savage beast were chasing him. He used both hands and his remaining good leg, kicking desperately to crawl faster.

Yet he was still caught.

He turned and saw that handsome face stained with blood, along with those indifferent eyes carrying a chill. His whole body shook uncontrollably. "Don't come any closer! I serve the Third Prince! I came to Mount Qi by imperial order to take office!"

Xu Huan pointed at Lu Zhaojin and screamed himself hoarse, "You murdered an imperial official! That means you are an enemy of the dynasty, and an enemy of the Third Prince as well..."

Lu Zhaojin had no interest in hearing his nonsense. With a swing of his sword, he severed Xu Huan's fingers—and sent his head rolling along with them.

Experience gained for killing a Seventh-Rank Martial Artist: +5000

Experience: 22318

Lu Zhaojin swept his gaze around, only then realizing that Zhao Huaishui had disappeared. "He got away quickly enough."

Clearly, Uncle Chen had injured Zhao Huaishui. He had appeared unable to move, but Zhao Huaishui had only been pretending.

When Uncle Chen held Lu Zhaojin back, he had slipped away in secret.

Lu Zhaojin looked at Zhao Yuanshan. Lu Jinlin had already stabbed him, though he was not yet dead. He lay on the ground, struggling to breathe. "Still, a monk may run, but the temple cannot."

Seeing his suffering, Lu Zhaojin did not torment him further. He swung his sword and ended him.

Experience gained for killing a Seventh-Rank Martial Artist: +5000

Experience: 27318

From then on, only Lu Zhaojin and Lu Jinlin remained in the Cave Mansion.

The two looked at each other in silence.