Grand

Du Hongwei was a Centurion in the True Martial Division, but unlike Zhao Rong, he had earned his position through sheer strength. Not only did he possess Late Seventh-Rank cultivation, but his mastery of saber arts was also considerable, with one foot already stepping through the threshold of Saber Intent.

He had originally been stationed in Yuanyang City when a sudden transfer order arrived, sending him to Luoxia City to take charge of the local Centurion's office and apprehend the vicious criminals who had killed Zhao Rong and the others.

He had heard some of what happened at the Luoxia City True Martial Division's Centurion's office and felt a sense of gravity towards the young man named Lu Zhaojin.

Before his departure, he had reviewed the autopsy reports of Zhao Rong and the others, noting that they had died effortlessly, their heads cleanly severed as if they had no chance to resist.

This indicated that Lu Zhaojin's strength was far superior to Zhao Rong and the others. Yet, according to the information from the Luoxia City True Martial Division, Lu Zhaojin was also only Seventh Rank and hailed from Mount Qi. How could there be such a vast difference?

Du Hongwei felt that only by comprehending Saber Intent could he defeat Lu Zhaojin; otherwise, the risk would be too great for him to bear.

This trip to Luoxia City would likely not be smooth sailing.

However, he had been in the Centurion position for a long time. It was time for him to move up and be promoted to Battalion Commander, wasn't it?

Du Hongwei had worked diligently in Yuanyang City for many years. His superiors recognized his abilities, but to be promoted to Battalion Commander, he needed a meritorious achievement that would convince others; otherwise, it would be difficult to gain widespread acceptance.

In other words, Du Hongwei lacked a good opportunity to be promoted to Battalion Commander.

Now, the opportunity had arrived.

In fact, this was also a test from his superiors.

As long as he could apprehend Lu Zhaojin and bring him to justice, the position of Battalion Commander would be a certainty.

Therefore, no matter how difficult this mission was, he had to assess the situation first.

"Report!"

Ahead, a scout from the True Martial Guard galloped back. Still a dozen paces away from Du Hongwei, he pulled back on the reins and reported the situation at the teahouse ahead.

Du Hongwei motioned for him to lead the way.

They arrived at the teahouse in a grand procession.

Several True Martial Guard scouts had surrounded the young man inside the teahouse. They gripped their True Martial Sabers tightly but did not attack.

Du Hongwei looked at the composed young man, his brow furrowing slightly. He felt a sense of familiarity, as if he had seen him somewhere before.

He was confident that his memory would not fail him; it was precisely this powerful memory that had allowed him to stand out among the True Martial Guards and attain the position of Centurion.

At the same time.

Du Hongwei sensed a terrifying power emanating from the young man. His own nascent Saber Intent seemed restless upon encountering this youth, yet it also seemed to be in fear of something, unsettling him.

"Centurion sir, look at those corpses."

Du Hongwei followed the gaze and looked at the bodies on the ground. All of them were headless, as if grasping a fleeting spiritual light. His eyes narrowed slightly, and he suddenly looked at the young man, confirming his identity.

Lu Zhaojin!

No wonder he felt a sense of both familiarity and strangeness.

Du Hongwei had seen Lu Zhaojin's portrait, but a portrait on paper could never capture the aura of the person.

He didn't know how to describe it. The delicate features, the indifferent gaze with which he looked at them, as if he weren't looking at living people but at something else, sent a chill down his spine.

Du Hongwei dared not look further. He scanned the corpses again and was surprised to find one of them was Ye Hao, the young master of the Ye Family, whom they had been searching for days.

Recalling the Ye Family, which had been reduced to ruins, Du Hongwei felt a pang of emotion. The official reason was that the Ye Family had obtained a Saber Manual from Dragon Head Mountain, and White Cloud Villa learned of this and intended to seize it from them.

In reality.

White Cloud Villa learned of the Ye Family obtaining the Saber Manual because the True Martial Division had secretly leaked the information to them.

The purpose of this was to destroy the Ye Family without shedding blood.

White Cloud Villa would obtain the Saber Manual from the Ye Family.

The True Martial Division would then absorb all of the Ye Family's assets into its own hands.

If White Cloud Villa had not been ruthless enough, the Saber Manual might have fallen into the hands of the True Martial Division as well.

It was a plan that killed three birds with one stone.

Du Hongwei had not been aware of the superiors' plan beforehand. It was only because White Cloud Villa had handled the matter unreliably and allowed Ye Hao to escape.

His superiors had ordered them to apprehend Ye Hao, but not openly. Instead, they were to use the guise of helping the Ye Family to lure Ye Hao out, then secretly capture him and question him about the whereabouts of the Saber Manual.

He hadn't expected Ye Hao to die here.

Furthermore, the other individuals, judging by their pale blue attire, were likely from White Cloud Villa.

Du Hongwei quickly analyzed what had happened in the teahouse.

The people from White Cloud Villa had found Ye Hao's whereabouts and set up an ambush here. However, they hadn't anticipated the variable of Lu Zhaojin. The outcome was self-evident.

But why was Ye Hao also dead?

Du Hongwei glanced at Lu Zhaojin, wondering if the Saber Manual was perhaps on him.

He hadn't expected to encounter the True Martial Guard here.

Lu Zhaojin glanced at them, his expression indifferent, thinking that if he killed them all, his EXP might increase significantly.

Because of Zhao Rong, he didn't have a good impression of the True Martial Division. In recent days, he had come to understand that the True Martial Division was established to supervise martial artists.

But it seemed to be more than just that.

The thoughts of that Great Ding Emperor were likely even deeper.

Lu Zhaojin glanced at Du Hongwei again, and the two sword intents within his body stirred restlessly, as if encountering a worthy opponent to draw his saber against.

This indicated that this person should have comprehended a true martial intent.

Lu Zhaojin noticed Du Hongwei's pupils contract slightly as he looked at him, realizing the other party recognized him. He couldn't help but smile and ask, "Your target doesn't seem to be me, yet it feels like it is."

Du Hongwei looked at him with a grave expression, knowing that today's situation could not be easily resolved. He drew the True Martial Saber from his waist, its saber intent permeating the air, leaving behind streaks of saber marks on the tables and chairs.

Du Hongwei knew his chances of winning were slim. If that were the case, the people behind him were no different from walking to their deaths. "You guys hurry and leave, I'll hold him off."

As soon as he finished speaking, a gust of cold wind suddenly blew.

Du Hongwei only saw a flash of green light before his eyes, followed by blood filling his vision. The True Martial Guard who had been beside him moments ago had his head severed, his face filled with confusion.

Du Hongwei's pupils contracted sharply. He hadn't even seen the trajectory of the sword energy before a True Martial Guard was decapitated. If this had struck him, he would likely have met the same fate as this True Martial Guard.

Unbeatable!

Du Hongwei had initially thought he could exchange a few blows with Lu Zhaojin, but reality had slapped him hard. He probably couldn't even block a single strike.

Du Hongwei fully activated his movement technique, desperately trying to escape the area.

Lu Zhaojin glanced at him and swung his sword, unleashing a bolt of lightning that streaked through the void like an arrow shot from a fully drawn bow. In the blink of an eye, it pierced Du Hongwei's left shoulder.

To survive, Du Hongwei endured the intense pain and desperately continued to use his movement technique, no longer concerned about the others. In a flash, he disappeared from Lu Zhaojin's sight.

The Falling Leaves Following the Wind Movement Technique was only at the introductory level and not of high grade, clearly inferior to Du Hongwei's movement technique. Therefore, Lu Zhaojin did not pursue him.

Because the True Martial Guards before him could also provide him with enough EXP.

As for Du Hongwei, judging by the direction he fled, he was likely heading to Yuanyang City.

Coincidentally, he also needed to go to Yuanyang City.

Yuanyang City was a necessary route to reach Lushu Commandery.