Life-Taking

White Cloud Villa?

Lu Zhaojin had no idea what kind of power this was, or how formidable or strong it might be. He was just thirsty, wanted a cup of tea, and then continue his journey. How did he end up in such undeserved trouble?

His senior brothers, four of them, split into two groups, attacking the straw-hatted youth and Lu Zhaojin respectively.

Among these four, their senior brother was the most powerful, possessing a Late Seventh-Rank cultivation. The other three disciples from White Cloud Villa consisted of two early-stage and one mid-stage cultivators.

They must have already fought the straw-hatted youth and knew his strength. That's why the two powerful senior brothers went to deal with the straw-hatted youth, while sending two Seventh-Rank early-stage junior brothers to kill Lu Zhaojin.

The two senior brothers were locked in a fierce battle with the straw-hatted youth, their sword shadows overlapping and sword energy crisscrossing. Tables, chairs, and the sunshade cloth above were all damaged, and the supporting wooden poles were precarious, on the verge of collapse.

The two junior brothers drew their long swords, unleashing several sword energies that cut off any path of retreat for Lu Zhaojin.

Lu Zhaojin hadn't planned on retreating anyway. At a speed the two opponents couldn't even perceive, a sharp clang of a sword being drawn echoed, followed by a dazzling flash of white light. Then, nothing else could be seen.

A crimson line appeared on their throats. They went limp all over and collapsed to the ground.

[Killed Seventh-Rank Martial Artist, EXP +5000]

[Killed Seventh-Rank Martial Artist, EXP +5000]

[EXP: 23568]

The battle here ended in the blink of an eye. The deaths of the two junior brothers startled the two senior brothers who were still entangled with the straw-hatted youth. Their eyes widened in disbelief, not expecting Lu Zhaojin to be so formidable that even a Seventh-Rank realm couldn't withstand a single sword strike.

Seeing him rise and walk towards them, the senior brother with Late Seventh-Rank cultivation frowned and shouted at Lu Zhaojin, "Brother, I am Zhao Kuo, the eldest disciple of White Cloud Villa's outer sect. If you leave now, White Cloud Villa will let bygones be bygones."

Lu Zhaojin pointed at the two corpses. "You're saying I can let bygones be bygones after killing your two junior brothers?"

Zhao Kuo was magnanimous, able to bend and stretch, and said boldly, "They attacked you, and you killed them. It's because they were not skilled enough; they have no one else to blame."

He then added with a hint of disappointment, "When we were training, we always told them to be diligent, but they didn't listen..."

Lu Zhaojin was truly astonished. Hearing Zhao Kuo's words made him hesitate to attack Zhao Kuo, as Zhao Kuo had completely shifted the blame, instead speaking ill of the deceased.

If he hadn't clearly heard Zhao Kuo just now telling them not to let this matter get out and to kill him, Lu Zhaojin would have suspected his memory was playing tricks on him.

The straw-hatted youth, under the pincer attack of two opponents, was not at a disadvantage in his counterattacks. However, this was largely due to the famous sword in his hand; his own strength was only at the Mid Seventh-Rank, and it was only a matter of time before he was captured.

Things were different now. Lu Zhaojin's killing of the two disciples forced Zhao Kuo and the other to be wary of him. Consequently, their attacks on the straw-hatted youth were not as full-force as before.

This gave the straw-hatted youth a chance to breathe and calm down, allowing him to find his opponents' weaknesses and injure them.

Seeing his junior brother injured, Zhao Kuo knew that today's mission had failed.

He could handle the straw-hatted youth alone, but now there was another person beside him, an enemy rather than a friend, an unpredictable variable.

Zhao Kuo never fought battles he wasn't sure of winning. So, after repelling the straw-hatted youth, he intended to retreat with his junior brother.

The straw-hatted youth had a deep-seated grudge against Zhao Kuo, or rather, White Cloud Villa. How could he possibly let Zhao Kuo retreat just like that?

A sword energy slashed towards Zhao Kuo's path, blocking their way forward. Then, sword blades danced, sealing off all of Zhao Kuo's possible routes.

Zhao Kuo had no choice but to let go of his junior brother and swing his sword to block the incoming blades. He was extremely annoyed and attacked the straw-hatted youth with all his might.

Clearly, Zhao Kuo's mastery of swordsmanship was slightly superior to the straw-hatted youth's. Even though the straw-hatted youth wielded a famous sword, his skill was a notch lower. After only a few exchanges, he was dangerously wounded by a sword strike.

However, the sword energy also severed the straw hat on his head, revealing a haggard young face.

The youth knew he couldn't kill Zhao Kuo himself and could only ask Lu Zhaojin for help.

But this was their first meeting, and the other party would surely not intervene without reason.

The youth also understood what leverage he possessed, and it depended on whether Lu Zhaojin recognized its value. "Young hero, if you help me kill him, I can give you the sword manual they want."

Lu Zhaojin hadn't moved from the side, not because he was watching a show, but because he was curious about the sword manual Zhao Kuo wanted to snatch from the straw-hatted youth. He didn't know what it was. It would be the same if he killed Zhao Kuo after Zhao Kuo had obtained it from the youth.

Now, the youth was actually using the sword manual as a bargaining chip with him, which was somewhat unexpected.

The youth seemed to think that just saying it might not be reliable. So, he took out a scroll of beast hide from a hidden pocket inside his clothes and said to Lu Zhaojin, "This is the sword manual they want, and it's also an ancestral treasure of my Ye Family."

Lu Zhaojin's eyebrows twitched slightly, and his gaze towards the youth held a hint of surprise.

Surname Ye?

Zhao Kuo became anxious. "Brother, don't listen to his nonsense. This sword manual originally belonged to our White Cloud Villa. He designed a scheme to steal it from us. I am merely following my master's orders to retrieve the villa's sword manual."

The youth's face showed a mocking expression.

Lu Zhaojin didn't consider all this. He was interested in the sword manual, and he also wanted to kill the person. Five thousand EXP was desperately needed, and he wouldn't let it go so easily.

Lu Zhaojin drew his sword without any warning. A thunderous sound was heard, and Zhao Kuo felt a sense of lightness, the world spinning. Then he saw a headless corpse, and in surprise, realized it had the same attire as him. In the next moment, he realized he had been beheaded.

[Killed Seventh-Rank Martial Artist, EXP +5000]

[EXP: 28568]

Lu Zhaojin showed no mercy to the other White Cloud Villa disciple either, sending him to join Zhao Kuo.

[Killed Seventh-Rank Martial Artist, EXP +5000]

[EXP: 33568]

With both of them dealt with, Lu Zhaojin extended his left hand to the youth. "The sword manual."

The youth hadn't expected Lu Zhaojin to deal with Zhao Kuo and the others so easily. His gaze towards Lu Zhaojin held a trace of solemnity and wariness.

He didn't go back on his word either, handing the sword manual in his hand to Lu Zhaojin. However, a strange glint suddenly flashed in the young man's eyes, and he abruptly withdrew his hand holding the manual. A sword light, at a tricky angle, thrust towards Lu Zhaojin's jaw.

Clang!

The young man's sword strike failed. Lu Zhaojin blocked it with the Cold Edge sword, the tip pressing against the blade. No matter how hard the young man pushed, he couldn't move it an inch.

The young man's face changed drastically. He still wanted to use the sword manual to persuade Lu Zhaojin, but Lu Zhaojin was no great philanthropist. He had killed Zhao Kuo not for the young man's sake, but for the sword manual.

Now that the young man had gone back on his word and tried to kill him, there was no reason for him to live.

[Killed a Late Seventh-Rank Martial Artist, EXP +15000]

[Dropped: Thirteen Swords of Life-Taking]

[EXP: 48568]

"He dropped something!"

This was the first time an item had dropped.

And it was this sword technique.

Lu Zhaojin looked at the young man's headless corpse. "As expected of someone surnamed Ye."

He even dropped fifteen thousand EXP for him. Was this the drop rate of a Child of Destiny?

Moreover, this young man wasn't like Zhao Jinzhi, who carried an old grandpa with him. Therefore, Zhao Jinzhi was even more favored by destiny. Perhaps if he killed Zhao Jinzhi, the dropped items would be even more astonishing.

Lu Zhaojin put away the famous sword and the sword manual, then walked into the teahouse. He found some clean water to quench his thirst and was about to leave when the sound of dense hoofbeats suddenly rang out, approaching from a distance.