Lie Yingniang

The woman's brows furrowed.

Her gaze swept over every Jianghu person in the teahouse, one by one.

Anyone her eyes passed over either lowered their head or dared not meet her gaze.

"If any hero is willing to fight for the Hundred Battles Sect, the terms can still be discussed!"

With that, the woman turned and left.

"Whew..."

As the woman departed, the atmosphere throughout the teahouse seemed to ease as well.

Many people let out long breaths of relief.

"It's Lie Yingniang again. She really comes here every day without fail. Martial arts and gold and silver are certainly tempting, but you have to be alive to spend them. The person she wants to deal with is Li Tianyang, leader of the Heavenly Sun Gang—a renowned Second-Rate Martial Artist. Who would dare step forward?"

"Lie Yingniang's father, Lie Zhenyue, was the Hundred Battles Sect's master. Not long ago, he signed a life-and-death pact with Li Tianyang, leader of the Heavenly Sun Gang, and they fought to the death in the arena. Lie Zhenyue was just half a notch weaker and died at Li Tianyang's hands. Ever since then, Lie Yingniang has put up rewards of gold, silver, and martial arts manuals. Anyone willing to act for the Hundred Battles Sect need only enter the arena and fight Li Tianyang."

"I heard Lie Zhenyue and Li Tianyang once came from the same school. Later, Li Tianyang betrayed the school and was hunted down by his former sect. He barely survived by sheer luck, then returned to Anyang City and founded the Heavenly Sun Gang. It stood opposed to the Hundred Battles Sect, and the two sides often clashed. They agreed to settle things with a life-and-death arena battle, and in the end, Lie Zhenyue died!"

"Judging by martial arts alone, Li Tianyang truly is stronger. To challenge him, you'd need at least the strength of a Second-Rate Martial Artist. But if someone truly were a Second-Rate Martial Artist, the conditions Lie Yingniang offered would not be particularly enticing. What Second-Rate Martial Artist would risk fighting Li Tianyang?"

"If Lie Yingniang keeps this up, I'm afraid she'll meet with misfortune..."

As for what sort of misfortune she might meet, everyone understood perfectly well.

"Hundred Battles Sect..."

Ji Qing's heart stirred.

He was rather interested in the Hundred Battles Sect's martial arts.

However, whether it was worth his making a move was something he would have to see for himself.

Thus, Ji Qing silently paid for his tea, then rose and left the Listening Wind Tower, heading straight for the Hundred Battles Sect.

Lie Yingniang returned to the Hundred Battles Sect.

"Senior Sister, how did it go?"

"Senior Sister, this can't go on. Some more disciples left the Hundred Battles Sect today."

"Senior Sister, we have to think of something..."

Lie Yingniang glanced over the few disciples, a thread of bitterness rising in her heart.

The once vast Hundred Battles Sect now had only a scattered handful of strays left.

There were barely any disciples remaining.

In truth, the Hundred Battles Sect now existed in name only.

Without even a single Second-Rate Martial Artist in the sect, how could it support such a large sect?

But Lie Yingniang was unwilling to accept it!

She could not forget how, before her father died, he had clutched her hand, eyes wide as he said he was unwilling to accept it.

What was more, how could the vengeance for her father's murder go unavenged?

"Senior Sister, there are also rumors that the Heavenly Sun Gang intends to make a move against you..."

her junior brother said worriedly.

Lie Yingniang sneered. "They're nothing but hearsay. It's not that Li Tianyang doesn't want to kill me, but he is the leader of the Heavenly Sun Gang. He has a great household and great holdings, as well as prestige in the Jianghu. If he moves against a young woman like me, it would damage his reputation in the Jianghu."

"However, that may not hold true if enough time passes... So we still need to recruit an expert to defeat—or even kill—Li Tianyang. Otherwise, my Hundred Battles Sect will never know a day of peace!"

Lie Yingniang saw the situation clearly.

In truth, her father had also been burdened by his reputation, leaving him no choice but to sign the life-and-death pact with Li Tianyang and fight him to the death in the arena.

Li Tianyang was the same.

He had only just openly and honorably killed Lie Zhenyue in the arena, so naturally, he would not move against Lie Zhenyue's family for the time being.

But such a situation could only be delayed for a while.

Given enough time, Li Tianyang had plenty of ways to wipe out everyone in the Hundred Battles Sect.

That was also why the Hundred Battles Sect's disciples had been fleeing one after another—they feared the Heavenly Sun Gang would make its move.

"Senior Sister, then have you recruited an expert?"

one of the disciples asked.

"Not yet. Second-Rate experts in the Jianghu are all renowned figures in their own regions. Recruiting one is very difficult..."

Lie Yingniang sighed softly as well.

Becoming a Second-Rate Martial Artist was difficult.

The Hundred Battles Sect had once been glorious, yet aside from Lie Zhenyue, not a single other person had been a Second-Rate Martial Artist.

Lie Yingniang herself was only a Third-Rate Martial Artist.

For her to become a Second-Rate Martial Artist, it would take at least several decades—and that was only if she encountered some stroke of fortune.

Lie Yingniang had no hope at all of avenging herself.

Whoosh.

Suddenly, a figure "floated" in through the doorway.

And without making a sound. Only when the figure landed did Lie Yingniang and the others abruptly realize someone had entered.

"Who is it?"

Lie Yingniang immediately drew her saber, watching the other party warily.

Black clothes, a conical hat, and a saber tucked at the waist—a very common Jianghu attire.

"What brings you to our Hundred Battles Sect, sir?"

Lie Yingniang and the few remaining disciples all stared tensely at the black-clad man.

"Wasn't your Hundred Battles Sect recruiting experts?"

Ji Qing spoke slowly.

"Hm? Are you willing to challenge Li Tianyang?"

Lie Yingniang was overjoyed.

"That depends on whether the terms offered by your Hundred Battles Sect satisfy me."

"May I ask how you are addressed?"

"Li Mu."

"Hero Li, our Hundred Battles Sect is willing to offer gold, silver, and martial arts manuals. As for gold and silver: one hundred taels of gold and one thousand taels of silver!"

"As for martial arts... Hero Li may choose freely from any martial arts in our Hundred Battles Sect. Take as many as you wish!"

Ji Qing raised an eyebrow.

Those were truly generous terms!

"The gold and silver are plentiful enough, but what I seek is martial arts."

"Rest assured, Hero. Our Hundred Battles Sect has collected many martial arts, including our sect's internal arts and saber techniques—all of them first-rate."

At that moment, a disciple quietly tugged on Lie Yingniang's sleeve and whispered, "Senior Sister, this man's origins are unknown. We've never even heard the name 'Li Mu' in the Jianghu. What Second-Rate expert could suddenly emerge from nowhere? Be careful—he could be a swindler..."

Lie Yingniang was likewise uncertain upon hearing this.

Indeed, second-rate experts were not cabbages that could simply sprout up anywhere.

Anyone capable of becoming a Second-Rate Martial Artist would likely make a name in the Jianghu after only a few appearances. They could not possibly remain unknown.

The name "Li Mu" was indeed unfamiliar.

Either the man was using an alias, or he was very likely a fraud.

After pondering for a moment, Lie Yingniang said, "Hero Li, this is a matter of great importance. We can provide martial arts and gold and silver, but could you perhaps display a little of your skill, or offer us some guidance...?"

Ji Qing understood at once. They wanted to see his strength!

After all, the one he would be dealing with was Li Tianyang, a Second-Rate expert renowned for many years.

Even Lie Zhenyue had died. What chance did anyone else have?

If his strength was lacking, he would merely be going to his death.

Besides, Lie Yingniang and the others feared being deceived by a swindler.

Ji Qing had no intention of wasting breath on explanations.

Clang.

Ji Qing drew his saber.

A dazzling arc of saber light flooded Lie Yingniang and the others' vision. Everyone's minds seemed to sink into that exquisitely beautiful flash of light.

Snap.

But in the next instant, Ji Qing had already sheathed his saber.

Lie Yingniang and the others were still somewhat baffled.

Rip.

Yet in the next moment, the sleeves of several of Lie Yingniang's disciples split apart at once.

Everyone's faces filled with horror.

"What a fast saber..."

Lie Yingniang murmured softly.

She had not even seen how he drew it.

Such a fast saber was unlike anything she had ever seen in her life!

"Does Li qualify to challenge Li Tianyang?"

Ji Qing asked calmly.