When Misfortune Reached Its Limit, Fortune Turned

Lu Lao San's Horse Chopping Saber paused, then suddenly changed direction, appearing abruptly in the path of the advancing saber light. With a clang, he steadily blocked the ferocious strike that surged like a stampeding wolf pack.

He raised a brow, stroked the stubble on his chin with one hand, and chuckled.

"Interesting. Again."

Xie Yuan said nothing. He drew his saber back slightly, then suddenly swept it horizontally forward. The icy saber light shot straight for his opponent's throat with astonishing speed.

This strike looked like a retreat but was actually an advance. It came without warning, swift as lightning. In what seemed like no more than a flash of cold light, the long saber had reached Lu Lao San's neck. An ordinary person would never have had time to react.

Yet just as the long saber was about to sever his enemy's neck, that massive Horse Chopping Saber suddenly appeared again, blocking Xie Yuan's slash right beside his throat.

The long Horse Chopping Saber moved in Lu Lao San's hand like a nimble dagger, light as though weightless, turning and advancing like the wind without the slightest hint of clumsiness.

After blocking the strike, Lu Lao San did not counterattack. A strange light flashed through his eyes as he smiled.

"Again."

Xie Yuan drew a deep breath, gritted his teeth, and launched an assault as violent as a raging storm.

The Treasure Blade he had only just acquired displayed enormous power in his hands. It chopped downward and swept sideways, carrying fierce saber winds that severed the surrounding trees one after another.

Xie Yuan's moves were incomparably swift and endlessly variable. At times, he was like a wolf pack charging in a raid, directly striking the center, his savage momentum enough to rob people of their wits. At other times, he was like a lone wolf hunting in secret, drifting unpredictably around his enemy with every move a feint, waiting for an opening to pounce with thunderbolt speed and kill in a single blow.

Galloping Wolf Saber Art—Mastery!

At some unknown point, the Galloping Wolf Saber Art had crossed several hundred points of progress and directly entered Mastery!

It was likely that when the Black Heaven Book had stirred, the image within that saber had brought him many insights, resulting in this tremendous advancement.

Reaching Mastery in a saber art meant that one's understanding of it had reached the pinnacle, leaving no flaws behind. Even the founder of this saber art, or anyone in the escort agency, Shen Longteng included, likely had not cultivated it to such a level.

Once the Galloping Wolf Saber Art reached Mastery, its power became immense, surpassing both the Eight Trigrams Mountain Shaking Fist and the Moon-Chopping Axe Technique Xie Yuan currently possessed. And that was not all. With one saber art brought to Mastery, Xie Yuan had gained a different understanding of the saber path. He often unleashed ingenious, marvelous moves, which was why even a Grandmaster like Lu Lao San had developed some interest.

Yet no matter how fast Xie Yuan swung his saber, how fierce his slashes were, or how unexpected his moves became, his opponent blocked them all effortlessly, without revealing the slightest opening.

Any martial artist of the same level, or even a Fourth Level of Practice martial artist one realm above him, would likely have struggled to withstand such saber techniques. But his opponent was a Grandmaster in the Heaven and Earth Twin Bridges realm.

Between a Grandmaster and an External Refinement Martial Artist lay another level: Qi and Blood Transformation. The gap of two entire major realms made the difference in their strength as vast as heaven and abyss.

Had Lu Lao San not been somewhat astonished by Xie Yuan's perfected saber art, this fight would have ended with the very first strike.

Bang.

Lu Lao San lightly swung his Horse Chopping Saber and effortlessly knocked aside Xie Yuan's long saber again. Raising a brow, he asked.

"Let me ask you. Where did you learn this saber art?"

Xie Yuan remained silent, answering with an upward diagonal slash.

Lu Lao San clicked his tongue, gently batting Xie Yuan's saber aside as he continued.

"Your saber art is rather interesting. Your cultivation is only this tiny bit, yet you can train a saber art to such a level, even manifesting Sword Intent outwardly. Plenty of martial artists several realms above you can't do that."

There was no concealing Lu Lao San's surprise in his voice. He narrowed his eyes at Xie Yuan.

"If no expert guided you, then you really are a saber art genius.

"Who is your master?"

Xie Yuan's heart sank.

That round of furious attacks had already been the highest standard he had attained since entering the martial path. In terms of killing power, it was only slightly weaker than the full-force Three-Pronged Axe.

But the Three-Pronged Axe was a one-use killing move. He had just performed the mastered Galloping Wolf Saber Art from beginning to end, every slash carrying its peak might, yet before Lu Lao San, it had been like a child waving a saber, casually neutralized with a flick of his hand.

The gulf between their realms was too great. No matter how exquisitely he used his moves, they looked like slow motion in a Grandmaster's eyes, not worth a laugh.

A trace of despair inevitably rose in Xie Yuan's heart. He knew he would have difficulty defeating his foe, but being unable even to touch the hem of his clothing still left him unwilling to accept it.

He fixed Lu Lao San with a hard stare and sneered.

"What, are you afraid I have a powerful master and that you'll provoke someone you shouldn't?"

Having had his thoughts exposed, Lu Lao San could not quite save face. He snorted.

"Tell me your lineage. If he's an acquaintance, perhaps I can spare you."

Xie Yuan looked at Lu Lao San, his thoughts spinning like lightning. Then he suddenly smiled.

"My master who taught me has a name that, with your knowledge, you may not recognize even if I tell you.

"His secular surname is Liu, and he is called Liu Heshang. Have you heard of him?"

Hearing this name, Lu Lao San frowned and pondered deeply.

"Surname Liu, a Buddhist expert? Skilled with the saber too? How come I've never heard of such a figure in Cloud Province...?"

He had preconceived notions. Given Xie Yuan's age and cultivation, he believed it impossible for him to have trained his saber art to such a level by himself. If he had a master, that master had to be an expert.

But no matter how he racked his brains, he could not recall any Buddhist expert surnamed Liu. He could not help becoming cautious.

"May I ask which mountain this Master Liu cultivates upon?"

"Master Liu once had some connection with Prajna Temple..."

"Prajna Temple!"

Lu Lao San was startled. Before he could react, he heard Xie Yuan burst into laughter.

"He used that as a selling point to take in many disciples in town and make a fortune. He also taught me the basics. Mm, 'Master Liu' is a Second Level of Practice expert. Your caution is only proper."

In town? Second Level of Practice?

A martial arts school instructor?

Lu Lao San froze for a moment before realizing Xie Yuan was making a fool of him. His face immediately turned the color of soy sauce. He gave a harsh laugh and bared his teeth.

"Fine, fine, fine! It's been a long time since I met such a bold young man!

"There's been no movement for so long. Looks like that woman really doesn't know you, yet you still dare speak to me like this. Fine. You like showing off that tongue of yours? I won't kill you. First, I'll chop off all four of your limbs, drag you behind a horse, and let you keep talking all day long!"

Lu Lao San raised his Horse Chopping Saber, his face grim, and slashed down at high speed!

At that moment, a circular blade of black-and-white light suddenly shot from the forest. It was silent and incredibly swift, reaching Lu Lao San's back in the blink of an eye!

Lu Lao San had only brought his saber halfway down when he abruptly sensed something wrong. Instinctively, he twisted around and drew his saber back.

But the light blade was already before him. In his haste, he could only raise his saber and block it head-on.

Black-and-white light erupted through the forest in an instant. Lu Lao San's Saber Light and protective force were both dissolved and pierced through by the light blade. Though it too shrank drastically until only a tiny point remained, it still struck him squarely in the chest.

Lu Lao San staggered back several steps, spat out a mouthful of blood with a wah, and began gasping heavily.

Xie Yuan only felt a gust of wind sweep past him. Then his body became light and his neck tightened as someone grabbed him and retreated at tremendous speed.

The fierce wind rushed into his face. Trees on either side shot backward, their outlines dragged into a blurred painting.

Xie Yuan struggled to lift his head, but from this angle, he could still see only a pointed chin and a swanlike neck, white as frost and flawless in its lines.

Sure enough, he had been saved.

He let out a great sigh of relief and smiled. The wind twisted his lips sideways as he said indistinctly.

"Good thing you came. I nearly thought you wouldn't make a move."

"You knew I was going to save you?"

A clear, cold voice reached Xie Yuan's ears through the wind, like a chilly spring in the mountains, making his spirit jolt awake.

"You've been nearby all along. You couldn't have been watching a show."

Xie Yuan shook his left hand. The residual heat from the mark on his arm had yet to fade.

After that initial eruption, he had noticed something unusual about his arm and guessed that Miss Yun must be nearby, not far away at all.

The woman's voice paused. When she spoke again, there seemed to be a hint of surprise.

"So you deliberately angered him to create an opportunity for me?"

"Otherwise, did I eat myself silly and deliberately provoke a Grandmaster?"

Xie Yuan said with a smile.

The woman fell silent for a moment.

"If I hadn't been there, you would have had no choice but to flatter him."

"If there's a chance to live, naturally I have to fight for it."

Xie Yuan smiled.

"But there's no need to wag my tail and beg for mercy."

If death was unavoidable, then he still had to curse when the time came. Even if he could not cut the man, he had to collect some verbal interest.

The woman could not resist lowering her head to look at Xie Yuan. A strange light flickered through her cloud-and-mist eyes.

The youth's features were handsome and refined, his expression composed. A faint smile hung at the corner of his lips, and his tone was filled with certainty.

Miss Yun looked at him twice, then turned away and curled her lips slightly.

"You make it sound nice. Your face has gone white from fright."

Xie Yuan did not dwell on it and admitted frankly.

"With a forty-zhang saber chopping at my head, fear is only natural."

The woman did not reply, merely glancing at him.

This youth was not overly concerned with saving face. His conduct was rather mature.

But how could that saber be forty zhang long? That was far too exaggerated.

"Mm, your saber art is not bad. To make Lu Lao San, who is used to wielding a saber, regard you highly is quite extraordinary."

The woman praised him. If this youth's saber art had not been so unexpected, and if he had not been clever enough, she likely would not have found a good opportunity. She could only have acted in haste, and the two of them might not have escaped easily.

"My strength is still far too inferior to yours."

Even though two Grandmasters found his saber art worth noticing, Xie Yuan was not proud. He shook his head slightly.

The woman disagreed. He was only an External Refinement Martial Artist now. What meaning was there in comparing him with Grandmasters?

Xie Yuan looked upward again. He still could not see the woman's face clearly, but he could tell that she was exceptionally tall—tall enough to carry him through the forest at high speed without any awkwardness.

"Why did you save me?"

Having nothing to do while being carried along, Xie Yuan could not help asking.

"You... were implicated by me in the first place."

The woman answered somewhat vaguely.

Xie Yuan asked again.

"Lu Lao San is injured. Can you take the chance to kill him?"

The woman shook her head.

"The difference in strength is too great. His injury is only light. We can only use this chance to get away."

"There are differences even among Grandmasters? You look so young. Are you a Grandmaster too? Or do you have some method of preserving your looks?"

Xie Yuan fired off questions like a string of firecrackers.

Though they were fleeing for their lives, the woman was left somewhat speechless. She could not help saying.

"Why do you have so many questions again?"

Xie Yuan looked slightly embarrassed. Clearly, both of them had recalled how he had interrogated her family background in the carriage earlier.

Yet she had played the Lin Family's Miss without a single flaw. Her tone, manner, and speech were all perfect. What acting...

If it were any other Grandmaster, Xie Yuan would never dare ask such questions. But with this Miss Yun, including the tacit understanding they had shown while facing Lu Lao San earlier, he always felt there was some peculiar affinity between them.

Even though this was only their second meeting, Xie Yuan did not even know her name.

Especially the mark on his arm—it seemed able to resonate with hers, as though it had added another layer of connection between them and kept them from feeling like strangers.

Thinking of this, Xie Yuan frowned.

"What exactly did you do to me in the forest? And what is the Black Heaven Book?"

At those words, the woman's expression changed. Just as she was about to explain, her face suddenly shifted.

"He's caught up!"

She grabbed Xie Yuan and swiftly darted aside.

A streak of red Saber Light flashed through their original path. With a boom, a great tree thick enough for several people to encircle was cut cleanly in half at the waist. It slowly toppled down, blocking their route.

Lu Lao San's figure emerged among the trees. Blood stained his chest, and his aura was somewhat weaker than before, but he was still impossible to resist.

How had he still caught up?

Xie Yuan's heart sank.

Lu Lao San swept his gaze across the two of them and gave a harsh laugh.

"So this pretty-faced brat is Miss Yun's lover. No wonder you couldn't bear to let go."

The woman stepped in front of Xie Yuan. Hearing that, she flung his hand aside, raised both palms, and faced Lu Lao San.

Lu Lao San grinned.

"Why make things so hard on yourselves?"

He slashed out. Massive Saber Light blanketed the entire forest.

The woman shifted one step. It seemed as though she barely moved, yet she easily evaded the Saber Light. With another step, she crossed several zhang, brilliance gathered in her palm as she struck toward Lu Lao San's chest!

Lu Lao San snorted coldly, reversed his saber hilt, and smashed it toward the woman's palm.

With a thunderous bang, force surged in all directions through the woods. Lu Lao San did not move from where he stood, while the woman was forced one step back.

But she employed an unfathomable movement technique and flashed to Lu Lao San's side again. Her palms came in succession, shrouding her enemy.

Xie Yuan watched the two rapidly exchange blows, their movements so fast that even he could barely see them clearly.

But Miss Yun's movement was elusive, and her footwork profoundly mysterious. It seemed somewhat similar to the Eight Trigrams Mountain Shaking Fist, also containing the principles of the innate eight trigrams. Lu Lao San was unable to break it for the moment and fell into a passive position.

After watching only a few moments, Xie Yuan prepared to leave. He could not interfere in their fight, and staying would only get in the way.

Both combatants saw Xie Yuan turn and run. The woman secretly nodded, but a glint flashed in Lu Lao San's eyes.

He feinted with his long saber, then suddenly slashed in Xie Yuan's direction. A blood-colored Saber Light abruptly formed.

The woman was startled and instinctively tried to block it, only to see the saber light sharply turn and shoot directly at her.

It was a trap!

Caught off guard by that move, she could only hurriedly raise her palms, but the Saber Light struck her head-on and sent her flying. She spat out a mouthful of blood in midair.

The woman flipped over and landed on her feet, her chest heaving violently as she coughed without stop. Seeing Lu Lao San press his advantage and close in, she gritted her teeth and shot backward, vanishing into the forest in an instant.

Xie Yuan looked back and saw two shadows chasing away in opposite directions, worry rising in his heart.

Yet when he turned back and had not run very far, that red light rushed before him in the blink of an eye and cut him off!

Lu Lao San's face was gloomy as he said coldly.

"Now she's completely vanished without a trace. Looks like she abandoned you."

Xie Yuan's expression changed slightly at the sight.

Lu Lao San advanced step by step and barked at him.

"Speak! How do you know each other? Where will she flee to?"

Xie Yuan frowned deeply and shook his head.

"I don't know."

"You don't know? Then die!"

Lu Lao San reached out and seized Xie Yuan by the throat.

Xie Yuan felt as though an iron hoop had clamped around his neck. He had no strength to resist, and his face flushed crimson.

"Weren't you acting pretty arrogant just now?"

Lu Lao San's face twisted savagely.

"I admit I was a little loud just now..."

Xie Yuan forced out the words with difficulty.

"It was only a joke. Senior, my master truly came from Prajna Temple. Look..."

He did his utmost to circulate the Golden Bell Cover, and a faint golden gleam appeared over his skin.

Lu Lao San raised his brows at the sight, loosening his grip slightly.

"Golden Bell Cover? Are you really the disciple of a Buddhist master?"

"Yes, yes, yes... Do I still have a chance, then?"

Xie Yuan nodded repeatedly.

"If you're a disciple of Prajna Temple... it wouldn't be impossible to spare your life."

Lu Lao San smiled, revealing a mouthful of large yellow teeth.

"But as I recall, Prajna Temple does not accept lay disciples."

"You fucking brat, trying to fool me?"

Seeing the murderous look on Lu Lao San's face, Xie Yuan hurriedly said,

"My master has ties to Prajna Temple, which is why I was able to learn the Golden Bell Cover."

"A Buddhist master, huh..."

Lu Lao San nodded, seeming to sink into thought.

Xie Yuan's heart began pounding wildly. Seeing Lu Lao San's grave expression, his own emotions rose and fell with it.

After a long while, Xie Yuan stared intently at Lu Lao San, only to see him turn his head, look at him, and grin.

"Do you think you still have hope?"

"Do you really think I'm afraid of some master? Even if your master is on the Soaring Dragon Ranking, I'll still kill you. Once I enter the desert, who the hell can find me?"

"Dog bastard, don't you love playing people? Go on, then!"

Lu Lao San lifted Xie Yuan with one hand, a cruel smile on his face.

Xie Yuan's heart suddenly sank to the bottom, but his neck was clamped tight, the grip growing tighter and tighter until he could not move.

As Xie Yuan's face gradually swelled from red to purple, the corners of Lu Lao San's mouth stretched wider and wider. Then, all at once, he paused, tilted his head slightly, and his ears twitched.

Whoosh...

It seemed that the sound of wind was drawing near.