Beggars' Sect Nine-Bag Elder, Is That All?

A Beggars' Sect Nine-Bag Elder?

Lu Chen thought back for a while but couldn't remember any particularly formidable elders in the Beggars' Sect.

In his impression, the Beggars' Sect seemed to rely entirely on its Gang Leader to hold it up.

Once it lacked a powerful Gang Leader, it would rapidly decline until anyone could come and kick it around.

The elders seemed to be little more than filler, didn't they?

Of course, that might simply have been his mistaken impression.

After all, in the eras of Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils and The Legend of the Condor Heroes, the Beggars' Sect Gang Leaders had been far too powerful, their brilliance far too dazzling.

With their radiance eclipsing everything, it was only natural that the elders seemed insignificant.

But to rise to the rank of Nine-Bag Elder, second only to the Gang Leader, in the largest sect under heaven with over a hundred thousand disciples, perhaps he really did have some skill?

As Lu Chen pondered this, he casually gave the fair, plump Elder Peng a couple of appraising glances.

At that moment, the burly man carrying the Nine-Ring Broadsword glared furiously at Lu Chen and shouted:

"Our Hanshui Gang threw open its gates and sincerely welcomed you with the courtesy due to guests, yet you attacked and killed at the slightest disagreement. Do you have any respect at all for the rules of the martial world?"

This man was precisely the Hanshui Gang's chief boss, Cao Song, the "River-Turning Dragon."

The black-robed young man beside him was the Second Boss, Shen Qingshi, the "Black-Clothed Scholar."

Lu Chen was busy recalling figures from the Beggars' Sect and couldn't be bothered responding to Cao Song. Huang Rong, however, let out a soft laugh and said brightly:

"What a fine welcoming ceremony! Those fishing nets and lime powder were also sincere gifts prepared especially for us, I suppose? Did you really think we were young and ignorant enough to be easily bullied?"

Only when she spoke did the Hanshui Gang members, whose attention had been wholly seized by Lu Chen's ruthless slaughter, notice Huang Rong and Li Mochou following behind him.

At the sight of them, even with Lu Chen, a fearsome god of slaughter, standing before them, the Hanshui Gang members couldn't help brightening up. No wonder Third Boss had stumbled into trouble. These two young ladies were truly as lovely as celestial maidens. Who wouldn't be tempted after seeing them?

But in the present situation, the Hanshui Gang had no mood to admire beauties.

Cao Song's momentum had faltered somewhat after Huang Rong refuted his earlier accusation. Yet when he glanced at Elder Peng standing calmly behind them, confidence immediately returned to him, and he shouted:

"Who exactly are you people? Do you dare announce your names?"

Huang Rong giggled.

"Why wouldn't we dare? This one here..."

She pointed at Lu Chen and said solemnly:

"His surname is Lu, his given name is Chen, and his nickname is the 'Little Sword Demon'!"

She had originally wanted to call him the Heavenly Outer Sword God, but on second thought, Lu Chen had yet to reach the level of the Five Greats. It would be better to use that title after he attended the Mount Hua Sword Conference and earned a ranking.

So she improvised the title "Little Sword Demon"—Senior Dugu was called the "Sword Demon," Lu Chen specialized in swordsmanship, and he had obtained Senior Dugu's Profound Iron Heavy Sword and Azure Adamantine Sword. Calling him the "Little Sword Demon" actually seemed quite fitting, didn't it?

Lu Chen was quite pleased with the nickname as well.

After all, calling himself the Heavenly Outer Sword God now would be rather embarrassing. Using Little Sword Demon to pay tribute to Dugu Qiubai was much better.

Li Mochou was stunned.

Little Sword Demon? Though it had the modestifying word "Little," the title "Sword Demon" sounded truly imposing!

Now that I've entered the martial world, should I also choose an impressive nickname? What should I call myself?

Little Sword Immortal? No, that won't do. My swordsmanship seems inferior to Brother Lu's.

Then perhaps the Zhongnan Sword Recluse? The Zhongnan Fairy?

Cao Song, Shen Qingshi, and the others were all startled.

Little Sword Demon?

What sort of figure was that? Why had they never heard of him?

Upon hearing the nickname, Elder Peng narrowed his eyes into slits and sneered.

"Little Sword Demon? 'Demon' is a fine word for him. Slaughtering people like flies at such a young age—doesn't that make him as mad as a demon?"

When Elder Peng spoke, Cao Song and Shen Qingshi both secretly breathed a sigh of relief. They knew Elder Peng had finally had enough and was about to personally teach this junior a lesson.

After laughing for a while, Elder Peng clasped his hands behind his back, looked down at Lu Chen's group of three, and said calmly:

"My surname is Peng. I am a Nine-Bag Elder of the Beggars' Sect. Which families do you juniors belong to? You act with such viciousness, killing at every turn, with no regard whatsoever for the rules of the martial world! Did your elders not teach you that harmony is precious when traveling the martial world, and that one should spare others whenever possible?"

Huang Rong giggled.

"Harmony is precious? Spare others whenever possible? My father never taught me that. He only taught me that if someone wants to bully me, then if he reaches out his left hand, chop off his left hand; if he reaches out his right hand, cut off his right hand. If he dares curse at me, cut out his tongue. Of course, breaking his legs isn't bad either..."

Upon hearing that, not only were the Hanshui Gang members astonished, but Li Mochou was also left staring in shock.

Rong'er's father really taught her that? Why did he sound like some great Demon Lord?

Lu Chen, however, found it perfectly normal.

That was simply how Huang Yaoshi was. Cutting out tongues, piercing ears, and breaking legs were all Teacher Huang's standard methods. The "Heretic" in Eastern Heretic wasn't merely because Teacher Huang despised the world and disregarded rites and laws.

Elder Peng was likewise stunned for quite some time.

He had originally intended to put on the airs of a senior figure of the martial world and an elder of a great sect, probing into the origins of these three young people. He had never expected this little girl to say something like that.

"Little girl, do not spout nonsense. What family elder would teach their children such things?"

"My daddy would!"

"You... What is your father's name?"

Huang Rong giggled.

"My daddy's name? You, a mere Nine-Bag Elder of the Beggars' Sect, aren't qualified to know it, fat old man."

"You!"

Elder Peng flew into a rage and pointed at Lu Chen's group.

"Take them down!"

Cao Song and Shen Qingshi exchanged a glance. After a brief hesitation, they tacitly circled around Lu Chen and charged separately at Li Mochou and Huang Rong.

Several other skilled Hanshui Gang members did not waste any words either. They bypassed Lu Chen, split into two groups, and followed their two bosses in attacking the two young women.

Li Mochou had already joined Huang Rong in breaking the Hanshui Gang's ambush, then watched Lu Chen cut down enemies as easily as chopping vegetables all along the way. Her confidence was now overflowing. Seeing Cao Song lead men toward her, she remained entirely unflustered. A faint smile curved her lips as she casually drew her sword and, imitating Lu Chen's calm composure, raised it to meet the enemy.

Facing Shen Qingshi and the others rushing toward her, Huang Rong remained equally composed. Smiling, she said:

"We'll handle these few. Brother Lu Chen can deal with that fat old man."

As she spoke, she drew the Azure Adamantine Sword, activated Falling Blossom Swordplay, and swept out a sheet of deep azure, icy radiance like fine rain and falling flowers toward Shen Qingshi and the others.

Seeing Huang Rong handle multiple enemies with ease, and knowing she had the blade-proof and spear-proof Soft Hedgehog Armor as well as hidden weapons, Lu Chen was not overly worried. Looking at Elder Peng, he said slowly:

"A Nine-Bag Elder of the Beggars' Sect ranks only below the Beggars' Sect Gang Leader. I wonder whether your martial arts rank the same way."

He had become serious.

This Elder Peng was likely the first martial arts expert with a significant background that he had encountered in actual combat.

As a dignified Nine-Bag Elder of the Beggars' Sect, his martial arts were certainly far superior to the likes of Xue Wu and Zhang Yong. Perhaps he had even reached first-rate level.

He could not afford to underestimate such a formidable enemy!

Cold light flashed from Elder Peng's tiny eyes as he sneered.

"Young fool who knows neither heaven nor earth! Today, this old man will teach you what it means that there is always someone greater, and a heaven beyond heaven!"

The instant he finished speaking, Elder Peng sprang into motion. His fat body actually leaped more than ten feet into the air and swept two or three zhang through the air. Like a fat tiger pouncing down a mountain, he dove from above Lu Chen, both palms striking down at him.

It had to be said that Elder Peng was indeed an expert.

The palm force behind this airborne strike was exceptionally fierce. Before his palms even landed, a sharp gale of force had already rushed toward Lu Chen's face, making his breathing tighten slightly.

At the same time, an eerie glimmer emerged in those narrow eyes fixed upon Lu Chen's own.

Elder Peng's true trump card was an unusual art called the Mind-Control Technique.

By locking eyes with someone, this technique could muddle their mind. Combined with verbal and hand-gesture guidance, it could even directly send a person to sleep.

In the midst of battle, he naturally had no conditions to guide someone slowly, so he could not directly put an opponent to sleep. But if Lu Chen was caught by his gaze and his Mind-Control Technique muddled his senses for even an instant, Elder Peng's twin palms would strike him squarely!

Elder Peng was certain of victory. He refused to believe that a youth who appeared not even twenty could resist his Mind-Control Technique.

However...

Lu Chen, who had been fully prepared and exceptionally serious, instead felt that Elder Peng might have something seriously wrong with his head.

Could your martial arts possibly crush mine?

Were you using Flying Dragon in the Sky from the Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms?

Could your Movement Technique turn midair, or even let you circle without falling like a soaring eagle?

You actually dared leap up to attack...

Were you trying to show off?

But you were a Nine-Bag Elder of the Beggars' Sect, an old hand of the martial world. Didn't you know that when experts fought, it was best to keep their feet on the ground?

And here I thought I might have to bring out the Profound Iron Heavy Sword...

Shaking his head in disappointment, Lu Chen merely stepped diagonally to the side, evading the range of Elder Peng's palm force. At the same time, his entire sword arm abruptly blurred into an indistinct afterimage. With a sharp whistle, his sword became a streak of light that thrust straight toward Elder Peng's heart.

Well, Elder Peng's Mind-Control Technique was entirely useless against Lu Chen, whose Sea of Consciousness was guarded by the Sword Intent of Extermination of Immortals.

He had not even realized Elder Peng had used a hidden trick. He merely thought that although Elder Peng's eyes were small, his pupils were awfully bright...