Elder Peng was greatly shocked. He had never imagined that his trump-card Mind-Control Technique would prove completely ineffective. His palms, already striking midway, hastily changed direction and clamped inward, trying to catch Lu Chen's sword between them.
His reaction was indeed incredibly fast, worthy of an expert. But using his bare hands to catch a sword in such haste...
Lu Chen reckoned that Elder Peng, white and plump, looking every bit like a pampered wealthy landlord, had probably gone a long time without fighting anyone to the death. His status was too high, and he had too many Beggars' Sect disciples at his beck and call.
His taking the initiative today was likely only because he thought Lu Chen was young and believed he could use his superior internal strength to bully a junior.
With that thought in mind, Lu Chen merely twisted his wrist slightly. The thrusting blade spun with it, shifting from vertical to horizontal.
Thus, Elder Peng's palms, which had been closing in from both sides to strike the blade, slammed heavily into its edge.
Clang!
With a crisp ring, Elder Peng's palm force proved truly ferocious. The steel sword was actually snapped in two by his palms.
But the price was equally severe.
His fleshy palms had struck the sword edge head-on. Under that heavy blow, both hands were severed at the middle as well, leaving only bare stumps and a lone thumb on each side...
Blood sprayed everywhere. Severed hands and broken sword fragments flew through the air as Elder Peng's face twisted and he let out a scream of unbearable agony:
"Ah! My hands..."
He had not yet landed and was still lunging forward from momentum, but the pain of his severed hands disrupted his internal energy. His body immediately went out of control, and his once imposing aerial pounce turned into a disastrous fall.
Lu Chen regretfully glanced at the half-broken sword in his hand.
This was his first sword in life. Rong'er had bought it for him. He had used it to pass Huang Yaoshi's test and claim his first kill. It held great sentimental value.
With a soft sigh, he sidestepped again, avoiding Elder Peng's plump body as it fell out of control.
Bang!
Elder Peng crashed face-first into the ground, leaving him dazed and knocking out one of his front teeth.
"Elder!"
The Clean-Clothed Faction disciples of the Beggars' Sect who had been crowding around Elder Peng moments ago had never expected that the imposing, intimidating elder would be sprawled on the ground in utter disarray the next instant, both hands cut off. They all cried out in alarm.
On the other side, Cao Song, Shen Qingshi, and the others had only exchanged a few moves with Huang Rong and Li Mochou. Hearing the cries, they stole a glance and were horrified as well. Their own fight had barely begun, yet Elder Peng, whom they regarded as their greatest support, had already gone down!
He was a Nine-Bag Elder of the greatest gang under heaven!
The Beggars' Sect had over a hundred thousand disciples, yet only four Nine-Bag Elders in total. Their standing in the martial world was no less than that of the Seven Freaks of Quanzhen, and they commanded far more disciples. How could he possibly be so easily defeated?
Shocked, Cao Song and the others inevitably faltered in their attacks.
How could Huang Rong let such an opportunity pass? The Azure Adamantine Sword launched a rapid assault like a storm. Maiden of Yue Swordplay, Falling Blossom Swordplay, and Jade Flute Swordplay alternated in swift succession. With several soft pops, three Hanshui Gang experts fell dead on the spot, while Shen Qingshi, the Black-Clothed Scholar, was struck in the wrist. His iron fan dropped to the ground as he screamed and staggered backward.
Huang Rong pressed her advantage without mercy, chasing after him as swiftly as a breeze.
Shen Qingshi fiercely flicked his sleeve, firing a handful of iron caltrops wildly at Huang Rong. With a sweep of her Azure Adamantine Sword, Huang Rong unleashed a clear blue sword light like a peacock spreading its tail, knocking every incoming caltrop aside.
Then she flicked a finger, sending a copper coin whistling out. It struck Shen Qingshi squarely in the knee.
Shen Qingshi cried out in pain and stumbled backward, falling onto his back. Before he hit the ground, Huang Rong had already swept past him. Her sword edge lightly brushed his throat, drawing a vivid line of blood.
While Huang Rong seized the opportunity and won with ease, Li Mochou was also growing rapidly in battle.
Previously, when facing several minor gang members at the inn, their desperate attacks had briefly thrown off her rhythm. But now, relying on the Ancient Tomb Sect's movement technique and swordplay, she effortlessly suppressed Cao Song, the Hanshui Gang's chief, along with three Hanshui Gang experts.
At the same time, she understood the weakness of her own swordsmanship and realized that Ancient Tomb Swordplay lacked killing power somewhat.
So she wielded her sword in her right hand and fired needles with her left. The tiny silver needles were impossible to guard against. She first blinded the three Hanshui Gang experts, then easily finished them off with her sword.
Then Cao Song, the chief, was struck in the left eye by a needle. He screamed and raised a hand to cover his eye, but the moment his hand touched it, Li Mochou followed with a sword thrust through his throat.
"I killed someone!"
Looking at Cao Song and the others lying at her feet, blood gurgling from their bodies, Li Mochou felt her throat go dry and her hand tremble slightly.
When she and Huang Rong had broken the ambush earlier, she had blinded many Hanshui Gang members with Flying Needles, but she had never actually killed anyone. Only now had she truly begun killing, and the shock hit her hard.
But when she thought of Lu Chen, who was about her age, and the calm, composed look on his face whenever he wielded his sword and scattered blood through the air, Li Mochou could not help taking a deep breath. She suppressed her emotions, tightened her face, pressed her lips together, and tried her hardest to look composed. One hand behind her back, she lightly flicked her sword with the other, shaking the blood droplets from its tip before cleanly sheathing it.
Well, she had imitated him rather convincingly, but her expression was still too tense, lacking some natural ease.
Seeing Elder Peng fall, along with the deaths of the two chiefs and the experts from the various branches, the scattered Hanshui Gang members no longer dared linger. They shouted in panic and fled in every direction.
But those few Beggars' Sect disciples did not dare abandon their elder. Bracing themselves, they said to Lu Chen:
"You have already severely wounded Elder Peng. We hope you will show mercy and spare his life!"
Lu Chen had kept an eye on Huang Rong and Li Mochou's battle. Seeing that both had decisively defeated their enemies, he relaxed. He was now reviewing his fight with Elder Peng.
Recalling the force of Elder Peng's attack, judging from his movement technique, palm strength, and quick response in withdrawing his move to catch the sword, if he had not been so showy and insisted on leaping into the air, but had instead stood firmly on the ground and fought seriously with a weapon he was skilled in, he might actually have been a decent opponent, enough to trade moves with Lu Chen for a while.
Yet for some reason, Elder Peng had insisted on jumping up to show off...
You didn't know Flying Dragon in the Sky. What the hell were you showing off for?
Lu Chen felt that he had learned another lesson:
Stay steady in battle.
Especially in a fight to the death, never show off when it is not the time to show off.
Otherwise, no matter how skilled you are, someone may seize an opening and take you down in a single move.
As he was pondering this, he heard the Beggars' Sect disciples speaking and glanced sideways at them.
"What did you just say?"
Swept by his gaze, the few Beggars' Sect disciples felt their scalps tingle. After hesitating for a moment, they still said:
"Elder Peng is a Nine-Bag Elder of our Beggars' Sect..."
Lu Chen frowned. "So?"
One Beggars' Sect disciple took a deep breath and said solemnly:
"If a Nine-Bag Elder violates the sect rules, even the Gang Leader must gather the elders and Eight-Bag Disciples to discuss his crimes. He cannot be dealt with arbitrarily."
Lu Chen nodded.
"The Beggars' Sect's rules, right? I understand. But..."
With a swing of his broken sword, there was a sharp slash as he severed Elder Peng's neck.
Only after killing him did he ask with a baffled expression:
"I am not a Beggars' Sect disciple. The Beggars' Sect's rules do not apply to me, do they?"
Though his words were blunt, he felt that this was actually showing Hong Qigong respect.
After all, though Hong Qigong had a chivalrous heart, he was bound by sect rules. Even dealing with an elder was such a hassle, so it was better for Lu Chen to do it for him.
"..."
The few Beggars' Sect disciples stood dumbfounded. They had never expected him to kill Elder Peng so decisively!
"This man associated with scum like the Hanshui Gang, who committed evil and harmed the common people, tarnishing the Beggars' Sect's name. He deserved to die. I believe that if the Beggar Gang Leader knew what this man had done, he would surely purge the sect as well."
Lu Chen said calmly.
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