Harvest

Chapter 5: The Harvest

Mu Kui's thoughts were simple.

Lu Zhaojin appearing here meant certain death.

What's more, Zhao Nuanyu was injured and could be killed with a casual blow.

Fierce light flashed in Mu Kui's eyes. This saber strike was powerful and heavy. If it landed on someone, it would definitely split them in two.

Unfortunately, it didn't hit Lu Zhaojin.

Ever since the Gale Sword Art reached the Perfected realm, Lu Zhaojin found his reaction speed had also greatly improved.

Mu Kui's attacks seemed to slow down several times in his eyes.

It was as if he had foreseen it, taking a step back and watching the saber tip descend before his eyes.

The great saber almost smashed into the ground, creating a narrow, shallow pit.

Lu Zhaojin seized the moment while Mu Kui was withdrawing his saber, thrusting his sword towards the opponent's throat. It was swift as lightning, causing Mu Kui's expression to change slightly.

He hadn't expected Lu Zhaojin to possess such a quick sword technique.

Mu Kui tilted his head. This sword didn't pierce his throat, but it did draw some blood and skin from his neck. That alone was enough to enrage him.

He, a dignified Eighth Rank mid-stage martial artist, was unable to gain an advantage over a Ninth Rank late-stage martial artist. Instead, he was wounded by the opponent. If this got out, how could he maintain his standing in the martial world?

"Whirlwind Triple Slash!"

Mu Kui swung his great saber, drawing an arc and slashing at Lu Zhaojin.

Mu Kui spun like a tilted top, delivering three consecutive slashes. Each strike was fierce, and the wind from the saber whistled.

Lu Zhaojin could dodge the first two strikes, but the third one seemed to gather the momentum of the previous two, becoming even more ferocious. It was like a tsunami surging, overwhelming and inescapable.

Lu Zhaojin immediately gripped his sword with both hands, mustering all his strength to meet Mu Kui's strike head-on.

Clang!

The sword and saber collided, scattering countless sparks into the air.

Mu Kui was an Eighth Rank martial artist after all. Even though Lu Zhaojin's Brute Ox Stance had reached the Perfected realm, the gap in cultivation was undeniable.

Therefore, this strike felt like Lu Zhaojin was resisting a giant boulder rolling down a mountain. It not only made his tiger's mouth split and bleed, nearly causing him to lose his grip on the iron sword, but also made his arm go numb and unable to straighten.

Moreover, the materials used to forge this iron sword were ordinary metals, so it couldn't compare to Mu Kui's great saber.

Thus, where it collided with the great saber, a notch about half a finger's length appeared on the sword body.

If he had exerted a little more force, it probably would have snapped.

Mu Kui's great saber got stuck in the notch.

Mu Kui pressed down with his great saber, the sharp blade almost touching Lu Zhaojin's shoulder.

Lu Zhaojin was desperately trying to push it away, but he was clearly outmatched in strength, especially considering the opponent's physical advantage.

Seeing the two locked in a stalemate, Zhang Mang, unable to focus on anything else, snatched a simple saber from a nearby gang member and attacked Lu Zhaojin, intending to chop off his hand.

Although Zhao Nuanyu was injured, Zhang Mang had also lost a hand, and it was his dominant right hand. He was wielding the saber with his left hand, which was very clumsy, and he could barely hold it.

With a few swift strikes, Zhao Nuanyu knocked the saber out of Zhang Mang's hand. She also left a long, narrow sword wound on his chest, causing Zhang Mang to cry out in pain, clutch his wound, and retreat repeatedly.

Zhao Nuanyu ignored him and thrust her long sword towards Mu Kui, forcing him to withdraw his saber.

This gave Lu Zhaojin an opening. In an instant, he unleashed ten sword strikes. Ten streaks of sword light rained down like a fierce storm. Even though Mu Kui dodged three of them, seven sword lights still left him with gaping wounds, blood gushing out.

Zhao Nuanyu also delivered a killing blow, but Mu Kui swept his saber horizontally, forcing her to retreat.

Mu Kui retreated with the momentum, shouting angrily, "You lot, hurry inside and help your gang leader kill the enemy!"

A group of gang members swarmed in from outside, at least a dozen figures.

Mu Kui shielded them with his body, brandishing his great saber, and roared, "They're just the last of their strength. Anyone who kills that brat will be rewarded with fifty taels of silver."

Greed stirred their hearts.

The gang members' eyes turned red, and they charged at Lu Zhaojin and Zhao Nuanyu recklessly, not noticing Mu Kui turning to leave.

Although the iron sword was broken, the blade was still intact and could still be used to kill.

A series of notification sounds echoed in his ears.

[Experience Points: 3114]

Lu Zhaojin glanced at the experience points on his panel, feeling an urgent need to find a new cultivation technique.

Zhao Nuanyu suddenly called out to him, "Catch!"

She threw her long sword to him.

Lu Zhaojin grasped the hilt. It was still warm, but he didn't pay it any mind. He only felt that the sword was light, as if it weighed nothing. Furthermore, the blade was slender, like a greatly magnified embroidery needle.

Lu Zhaojin thanked Zhao Nuanyu, "I'll be right back."

However, before leaving the dilapidated temple, Lu Zhaojin casually killed Zhang Mang.

[Killed Ninth Rank martial artist, Experience +100]

[Experience Points: 3214]

The gang members didn't hold Lu Zhaojin back for long. Moreover, Mu Kui was injured by him and had wounds on his leg, so he couldn't run far.

Seeing Lu Zhaojin catching up, Mu Kui became furious, "All of you are useless!"

He continued, "My elder brother is Chen Kang, the Howling Moon Wolf. He's a Seventh Rank expert. If you kill me, you won't be able to live in Mount Qi either."

Lu Zhaojin didn't speak, only continuing to draw his sword.

Mu Kui blocked with his saber, but he was becoming more and more strained. It was even difficult for him to lift his saber. "Young hero, spare my life..."

Lu Zhaojin couldn't be bothered to listen to his nonsense. His sword light, swift as lightning, pierced the opponent's throat, silencing him forever.

He withdrew his long sword, and the corpulent figure fell backward, kicking up dust.

[Killed an Eighth Rank martial artist, EXP +500]

[Experience Points: 3714]

Lu Zhaojin let out a deep breath, and his tense body gradually relaxed. "With full power, I can barely kill an Eighth Rank mid-stage cultivator. If I encounter an Eighth Rank late-stage martial artist, I'm still no match for them."

He estimated his strength again, now having a clear scope.

Lu Zhaojin returned to the ruined temple and gave the sword back to Zhao Nuanyu.

Lu Zhaojin glanced at the wound on her shoulder and asked, "Are you alright?"

Zhao Nuanyu sat leaning against the base of a statue. "I can still manage."

Lu Zhaojin pursed his lips. "Does the cultivation technique you mentioned still count?"

Zhao Nuanyu nodded. "Of course, it counts."

Lu Zhaojin didn't know how to describe Lu Jinlin. After thinking for a moment, he asked, "Have you seen anyone on the mountain... who looks similar to me, but more mature, middle-aged?"

Zhao Nuanyu, who had been pretending to be unconscious, heard the conversation between Zhang Mang and Lu Zhaojin. She knew that the person Lu Zhaojin was asking about was his father. So, after thinking carefully, she did notice something slightly different. "I did see a figure who was somewhat similar to you, young hero. I couldn't see clearly at the time because I was trying to escape the Moon Wolf Gang, but he went deeper into the mountain."

Lu Zhaojin nodded and said no more.

The depths of Mount Qi were not a place he could enter now.

He had heard that even Sixth Rank martial artists risked their lives if they ventured in.

If that figure was indeed Lu Jinlin, it was possible he went deeper into the mountain to escape the Zhang family.

"Quick! Hurry! Miss should be just ahead!"

Urgent shouts came from outside.

However, this time, the arrivals were not enemies.

Lu Zhaojin heard them clearly and looked at Zhao Nuanyu, thinking they must be people looking for her.

A maid, followed by a group of constables, rushed into the ruined temple.

Among the constables, Captain Liu's eyes narrowed as he saw Mu Kui's corpse, a flicker of an unusual expression crossing his face.

The constables behind him stopped. Seeing Mu Kui, they gasped in surprise that he was dead here, and that the daughter of their county magistrate seemed to be here too... They exchanged glances.

The captain raised his hand. "Alright, no more discussion. Report tonight's events truthfully to the county magistrate."

The maid entered the temple before the constables. Seeing that Zhao Nuanyu was alive, she was overjoyed and rushed to her side. "Miss, are you alright?"

Zhao Nuanyu said, "I'm fine. However, if it weren't for the help of this young hero, I wouldn't have made it through the night."

The maid then noticed someone else was present. Lu Zhaojin was sitting in the shadows, so she hadn't seen him. She let out a surprised exclamation.

The captain outside heard this and his expression changed slightly. He led everyone towards the ruined temple.

Captain Liu's gaze swept over, and he saw Lu Zhaojin about to draw his saber to apprehend the culprit.

Zhao Nuanyu quickly stopped him. "Uncle Liu, don't act. This young hero is not a bad person."

With brief words, Zhao Nuanyu explained her experience on Mount Qi to Captain Liu, mentioning the frequent appearance of the Moon Wolf Gang during her account.