Dusk drew near.
The entire Little West Mountain was anything but peaceful.
What had happened on the river during the day spread with astonishing speed.
Nearly every gang and sailor who made their living from the river had heard of it.
"Heartless Blade Lu Chen has appeared. Today, he even fought Autumn Water Sword Luo Changqing and Yan Henge of the Black Ranking..."
"I heard about it ages ago. Autumn Water Sword Luo Changqing was sent flying by a single slash. What a hollow reputation."
"Isn't that so? They're both on the Kirin Ranking, one ranked sixty-fourth and the other sixty-fifth. How could the gap be so huge?"
"This Luo Changqing has some nerve. Ranked sixty-fifth, and he dared provoke the sixty-fourth? Lucky Young Hero Lu didn't slaughter him. He truly didn't know whether he was alive or dead!"
"Luo Changqing is a complete joke. He only got sixty-fifth on the Kirin Ranking by riding on his Lineage's fame. His real combat strength is too pitiful to behold!"
"Exactly. Lu Chen is a genuine ruthless man. He killed countless people in Panshi City—even the County Magistrate died by his hand!"
"I heard he did it for a group of poor people..."
Countless people on the streets discussed the matter.
Luo Changqing lay in a carriage, wrapped from head to toe like a rice dumpling. Listening to the voices outside, he found them unbearably grating. His face burned with humiliation, fury surged into his heart, and he nearly spat out another mouthful of blood.
He had become someone with nothing but a hollow reputation?
And someone who relied on his Lineage's fame? How could a man who cared so deeply about his face possibly accept that?
"You heard them, didn't you? I told you not to look down on the heroes of the world, but you refused to listen. This time, you were only lucky. Had I arrived a little later, you would both have died completely."
At his side, the middle-aged man spoke with an icy expression.
"Father, it hurts so much..."
Beside him, the young girl was likewise wrapped like a rice dumpling. Tears welled in her eyes. Every movement hurt so badly it felt like she was dying.
"I... I'm going to fight him to the death!"
Luo Changqing's eyes brimmed with frustration as he spoke.
"Shut up!"
The middle-aged man barked coldly, "Fight? What are you going to fight with? You couldn't even take one slash, yet you still have the face to say that? You've utterly disgraced our Luo Lineage! I sent you out to bring Cui Qingqing back, but what did you do? You strutted around showing off everywhere. Well? Ran into an iron plate now, didn't you? Still want to show off?" Luo Changqing's face twisted with humiliation, his teeth clenched tight.
He opened his mouth and spat out another huge mouthful of blood.
"Father, don't speak of Little Brother and Third Sister like that."
Beside him, another woman was somewhat indignant. Looking at her badly injured younger brother and sister, who had nearly died, an icy chill rose in her heart. She said furiously, "No matter what, Lu Chen struck far too heavily. He had no intention of holding back at all. Are we really just going to let this debt go so easily?"
"Let it go?"
The middle-aged man snorted coldly. "Wait until we find Lu Chen first. Prince Cui entrusted us with escorting his daughter back safely. We were almost done, but what happened? These two little beasts started fighting someone at the drop of a hat, turning a perfectly good matter into something even more complicated."
Looking as though he hated iron for not becoming steel, he said, "If Cui Qingqing falls into someone else's hands, our Luo Lineage's reputation will be finished. This old man is furious to death!" If Luo Changqing and the girl had not been seriously injured, he would have slapped them long ago.
Night fell.
The entire forest became pitch-black.
Dense branches and leaves crowded together, not allowing even a sliver of moonlight through.
Lu Chen and the other two followed the mountain path onward.
Rustling sounds came from far behind them. Quite a few bold Martial World wanderers still trailed after them, hoping to watch a lively spectacle.
But as their surroundings grew ever darker,
everyone gradually began to feel drums beating in their hearts and slowly came to a stop.
Before long, the roars of unknown beasts echoed from all directions through the silent, desolate woods.
"Young Hero Lu, I have some dry provisions here. Have something to eat first."
Liu Jinglan took out a flatbread from his bundle and handed it to Lu Chen.
Lu Chen accepted the flatbread. As he chewed, he looked toward a dim mountain god temple ahead.
The hazy temple was kept rather neat and orderly.
Flickers of firelight seeped from within, carrying a warm feeling.
It made one want to go inside, warm oneself by the fire, and rest for the night.
"Should we go in and ask to stay the night?"
Liu Jinglan asked.
"If you want to go, go ahead. I'll turn around and leave."
Lu Chen gave him a calm glance.
"Forget it, forget it. Let's keep moving, then."
Liu Jinglan replied awkwardly. Then he looked at Cui Qingqing and asked, "Miss Qingqing, how are you?"
"I'm fine." Cui Qingqing's cheeks reddened.
In truth, her feet had long since begun to sting, and blisters had rubbed raw and bloody.
But at a time like this, how could she dare say so?
She only hoped she could keep up with them as much as possible and not drag them down.
They set off again.
"Two young masters, the night is deep and danger abounds. Traveling is not easy, and you have a young lady with you. Why not come inside and rest?"
A soft, syrupy voice suddenly rang out from the mountain god temple, like that of a beautiful woman inviting them in.
The voice was not loud, yet it rang precisely in their ears.
Clearly, she was no ordinary person.
Lu Chen sneered and ignored her, continuing onward.
Liu Jinglan pulled Cui Qingqing along and likewise forced himself to continue walking.
"Heartless Blade Lu Chen, your vigilance truly is formidable. But you will not escape tonight."
A hoarse male voice suddenly came from the dense forest ahead.
It drifted left and right, elusive and unpredictable.
Two figures rapidly closed in from either side, so fast they were blurred, like ghostly shadows.
Each held a longsword and pounced straight at Lu Chen.
"Ghost Shadow Twin Swords have come to witness your brilliant skills!"
Puff! Puff!
Blood sprayed as two heads flew away in an instant.
"Go!"
Expressionless, Lu Chen continued forward.
[You have delivered two Martial World villains who played ghosts and gods beyond salvation. Merit Points +250]!
Liu Jinglan hurriedly pulled Cui Qingqing along after him. His heart pounded wildly.
Before he had even understood what was happening, those two men had already been killed!
Boom!
After they had gone several hundred meters, a dangerous aura suddenly descended from above.
A figure plunged down headfirst, feet up, wielding a sharp sword that stabbed viciously toward Lu Chen's crown.
As if he had eyes on the top of his head, Lu Chen did not even look. His long blade flashed.
Rip!
A corpse split in two flew outward and smashed down on both sides.
Blood and viscera spilled all over the ground.
[You have delivered a Martial World villain who attempted to ambush you beyond salvation. Merit Points +130]
Cui Qingqing felt dizzy at the sight and nearly retched, but she forcibly held it down.
Expressionless, Lu Chen continued onward. After another hundred meters, a rumble suddenly rose directly beneath their feet. Two figures burst out from underground like burrowing rats, gripping Emei piercers as they stabbed straight at Lu Chen's lower body.
Puff! Puff!
Blade light flashed repeatedly again.
The two corpses had barely emerged when they were sent flying backward and died miserably.
[Merit Points +220]
Rumble!
Just then!
From the boundless darkness ahead came a deafening boom. A scarlet beam shot into the sky and exploded in midair.
The eerie radiance instantly dyed more than half the night sky a dark red, as though it had been draped in blood.
Then waves of booming laughter rang out beneath the night. Firelight flickered in every direction as an unknown number of people emerged.
"We have long heard of Heartless Blade's great name. Seeing him today, his reputation is indeed well deserved!"
"Heartless Blade Lu Chen, leave the girl at your side behind, and we will not make things difficult for you. This matter has nothing to do with you!"
"What do you mean, it has nothing to do with him? He killed quite a few of our companions too. How can we let him leave so easily?"
"That's right! If we let him go like this, he'll think the heroes of Three Mountains and Four Waters are nothing but decorations!"
"Heartless Blade Lu Chen, today you will not escape death either!"
"Hahahaha!"
All manner of chaotic voices rang out.
Lu Chen narrowed his eyes and stopped, utterly unmoved.
"The greenwood of Three Mountains and Four Waters!" Liu Jinglan revealed shock and fury. Then he circulated his inner force and shouted, "Everyone, we have all once received Prince Cui's great kindness. If Prince Cui had not resisted the northern invaders in the north ten years ago, I fear all of you would have long died beneath their blades and weapons! Now the invaders' iron cavalry has come again—how long will you continue kneeling?"
"Bah! We are Martial World people. We do not concern ourselves with the Imperial Court's affairs. Saying this to us is useless!"
"Exactly! We too have received another's favor and have no choice but to take Cui Qingqing away!"
"If you know what's good for you, leave Cui Qingqing behind!"
Shouts soon rose from every direction.
"The invaders' blades and warhorses cannot distinguish officials from commoners. Even if you are Martial World people, once the Northern Barbarians' iron cavalry arrives, how can you avoid them? The Imperial Court pays tribute year after year, but does not the gold and silver offered come from all of you? How long can you hide?"
Liu Jinglan shouted:
"The barbarians want not only land—they want to destroy our people and exterminate our race!
When there is no more land left to cede one day, will you all still be able to roam carefree?"
Lu Chen's brows furrowed slightly as he gave Liu Jinglan a surprised look.
Before you continue