Wang Yuan's body hair stood on end in an instant, and he abruptly looked up.
At the mouth of the alley, another Black Robe had appeared at some unknown moment.
The same oversized cloak concealed the face.
But this figure was somewhat taller than the one on the ground.
He stood there as though fused with the darkness around him.
Only the slow applause echoed through the deathly silent alley, carrying the teasing ease of a cat toying with a mouse.
This was another Black Robe!
"Not bad. Very not bad."
The same hoarse voice rang out.
Yet it was slightly different from that of the Black Robe just killed—deeper, carrying a lofty, appraising air.
"Quick reactions, ruthless hands, and a meticulous mind. You even know to destroy the corpse and erase the traces..."
"Tsk, tsk. A fine seedling like you is rare indeed in Gaoye City."
Wang Yuan's heart pounded wildly, and every muscle in his body tightened like a fully drawn bowstring.
He could clearly sense that this newly appeared Black Robe possessed an aura far more powerful and profound than the one lying on the ground.
The pressure he gave off was no less than what Wang Yuan felt when facing Shi Long!
The Black Robe seemed quite pleased by Wang Yuan's reaction as if facing a great enemy. He chuckled and continued,
"It seems my useless companion fell by your hand."
"A First Blood Change piece of trash. His death was no great loss."
"However..."
His tone shifted, and the shadow beneath his hood seemed to lock onto Wang Yuan.
"Boy, I see that you possess exceptional bones. You are material worth shaping."
"You killed one of our people. By rights, you should be used to refine Chaotic Blood Incense, as a warning to others.
"However, the Incense God Cult thirsts for talent. I'll give you an opportunity."
"Join us, and everything that happened before will be wiped clean."
"You will receive resources and inheritances far beyond those of Panshi Fist Academy. What do you say?"
Warnings blared incessantly in Wang Yuan's heart, and cold sweat had already soaked his back.
Join the Incense God Cult?
He could not help recalling the strange, thick incense burning where it had been stuck into the corpse.
That grim and horrifying ritual filled him with nothing but intense revulsion and nausea.
This was absolutely an evil cult!
Yet he did not dare reveal the slightest hint of it on his face. His mind raced as he considered a way to escape.
Against an opponent with such a powerful aura, fighting head-on was undoubtedly a road to death.
Pretend to agree?
But the other party was so strange. He likely had other methods as well...
Just as Wang Yuan's thoughts spun wildly and he had no idea how to deal with this life-or-death crisis,
A sudden change erupted!
"Buzz!"
A clear sword gleam, like autumn water, flashed without warning from the rooftop at the entrance of the alley. Accompanied by a piercing whistle through the air, it stabbed straight toward the Black Robe's back.
The sword light was fierce, its speed reaching the absolute limit!
At the same time, an enraged roar like muffled thunder exploded through the alley:
"Evil Outer Dao scum, you dare touch my junior brother? Die!"
A burly figure, like a giant bear and carrying a violent momentum, lunged down from the wall on the other side.
A fist as large as a sand bowl, wrapped in incomparably savage force, blasted straight toward the Black Robe's head.
It was Senior Disciple Brother Shi Long!
And the one who had unleashed that stunning sword strike was naturally Second Senior Sister Zheng Ying, cold as frost.
The Black Robe clearly had not expected that while the mantis stalked the cicada, the oriole waited behind.
All his attention had been focused on Wang Yuan, leaving him caught utterly unprepared by the sudden attack from behind.
"What?"
Alarmed and enraged, he could only barely twist his body in haste.
His black robes billowed as a surge of icy blood-force erupted, attempting to block the deadly pincer attack.
"Clang!"
The sword blade collided with the blood-force the Black Robe had hastily gathered, producing the ringing clash of metal against iron as sparks scattered in every direction.
"Bang!"
Shi Long's violent punch also struck squarely against the arm the Black Robe had hurriedly raised to block it, letting out a dull, thunderous boom.
The Black Robe grunted, staggering several steps forward.
Although he had barely received this sudden assault,
He had clearly suffered no small loss, and his aura became disordered.
Wang Yuan watched this sudden rescue.
Especially when he saw Zheng Ying and Shi Long, the great stone hanging in his heart finally fell to the ground.
Wild joy at having escaped death surged into his heart.
"Second Senior Sister! Senior Disciple Brother!"
Wang Yuan's delighted cry eased the tense atmosphere in the alley somewhat.
Zheng Ying's sword tip trembled slightly, still locked onto the Black Robe, while her frosty eyes flicked toward Wang Yuan.
Seeing that although he was covered in blood, his breath remained steady and he had suffered no grave harm, she felt somewhat relieved.
Shi Long stood before Wang Yuan like an iron tower, his ox eyes, large as brass bells, glaring furiously at the Black Robe as he said in a muffled voice,
"Don't be afraid, Junior Brother. With your senior brother and senior sister here, this rat hiding its head and showing its tail can't hurt you!"
The Black Robe steadied himself. His gaze beneath the hood swept over Zheng Ying and Shi Long, and though his voice carried a trace of gravity, it remained hoarse.
"Zheng Ying and Shi Long of Panshi Fist Academy?"
"Hmph. I underestimated this brat. To think he could make the two of you move together."
Zheng Ying's voice was icy as frost. "The Incense God Cult has stretched its claws too far."
"If you dare touch someone from Panshi Fist Academy, you must pay the price."
Shi Long was even more direct, his fists cracking as he clenched them.
"Enough nonsense! Die!"
It turned out that Wang Yuan had returned home much later than usual today. His older sister, Wang Yu, waited and waited at home but saw no sign of her younger brother, and the worry in her heart grew ever stronger.
Recalling the Black Tiger Gang's harassment from several days ago, she feared that something might happen to her brother again. Gritting her teeth, she gathered her courage and made her way through the darkness to Panshi Fist Academy to ask for help.
When Zheng Shan learned of it, he immediately sent Zheng Ying and Shi Long out to search.
Following the route Wang Yuan usually took home, the two searched all the way here. They happened to hear the sounds of fighting and commotion from this direction, which was why they arrived in time.
At this moment, both Zheng Ying and Shi Long possessed the cultivation of the Third Blood Change. Their auras were deep and robust, evenly matched with the Black Robe.
The three instantly became entangled in battle.
Zheng Ying's swordsmanship was light and swift, like a butterfly flitting through flowers, her sword tip always piercing craftily toward the Black Robe's vital points.
Shi Long, meanwhile, struck with overwhelming force. As the Panshi Fist unfolded, his fist wind howled like giant hammers beating drums, forcing the Black Robe to divide his attention and meet his blows head-on.
The Black Robe's movement technique was bizarre and his moves vicious, often launching attacks from unbelievable angles.
His blood-force carried a corrosive chill, making it clear that the technique he cultivated was exceptionally sinister.
For a time, Sword Qi crisscrossed the alley, fist winds surged, and sand and stones flew.
Roars and collisions rang out without end.
After several dozen exchanges, the Black Robe was at a slight disadvantage. Zheng Ying's sword had sliced through his robes in several places, while Shi Long's fist wind had shaken his blood-force into turmoil.
Yet relying on his strange movement technique and ruthless attacks, he still barely held on.
He suddenly swept out a palm wind of frigid yin energy, temporarily forcing the two back. Seizing the chance to retreat several steps, he let out a harsh, unpleasant laugh beneath his hood.
"Hehe... the True Disciples of Panshi Fist Academy truly are quite capable."
"However, with just the two of you, you are still lacking a little heat if you want to keep me here."
"The Incense God Cult will remember what happened today!"
With that, he twisted his body, intending to use his movement technique to flee into the darkness.
However, at the instant he turned to leave,
His entire body seemed frozen by ice as he suddenly stiffened in place. The foot he had raised could not take even a single step forward.
A pressure far heavier than that of all three of them descended upon the entire alley without warning.
Under this pressure, the Black Robe felt the blood-force throughout his body grow sluggish, until even breathing became difficult.
With great difficulty, inch by inch, he turned his head toward the depths of the alley—the shadows of what should have been a dead end.
There stood a gaunt old man in plain gray clothes, who had appeared there soundlessly at some unknown moment.
It was as though he had always been there, fused with the darkness around him.
His hands were clasped behind his back, his face as still as an ancient well without ripples. Only his eyes shone terrifyingly bright in the night as they calmly watched him.
It was none other than Zheng Shan, master of Panshi Fist Academy—a Hua Jin Martial Master!
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