Too Weak

The next morning, the mist had yet to disperse.

Qin Jue pushed open the courtyard gate and took a breath of the cool morning air. The Cold Iron Sword on his back sent a chill through him, sharpening his spirits.

"It's about time. Mo Xingkong must be getting impatient."

Qin Jue straightened his collar and headed down the mountain. Qingqiu was a long way off, and he still had to rent two Black Scale Horses.

He hadn't gone far when several figures blocked the road at the junction that led down the mountain.

Quite a few Outer Court Disciples had already gathered nearby. They stood at a distance, pointing and whispering with strange expressions, waiting for a show.

Qin Jue kept walking, his gaze sweeping over the people blocking his way.

There were five of them in all. The burly man at their head wore an Outer Court Disciple's uniform, with a small "Li" embroidered on his sleeve in gold thread. His face was all coarse flesh, and he stood with his arms folded across his chest, watching Qin Jue approach with a mocking look.

"Qin Jue, right? I've been waiting for you."

The burly man stepped forward, completely blocking the way. The four lackeys behind him immediately spread out, vaguely forming a circle around Qin Jue. They all wore malicious smiles.

Qin Jue stopped and furrowed his brow.

He didn't know these people, but from the way they were acting, they had clearly come for him.

"What do you want?" Qin Jue asked indifferently.

"What do I want? Of course I want something, and it's no small matter."

The burly man chuckled, the rolls of flesh on his face jiggling. He looked Qin Jue up and down with his beady eyes as if inspecting a piece of merchandise.

"I'm Zhao Kui. No one in the Outer Prefecture dares slight me. But I'm not here to cause you trouble today. I'm here on behalf of Senior Brother Li Changfeng from the Inner Court to point you toward the right path."

At the mention of Li Changfeng, the onlookers drew a collective breath.

"So Zhao Kui really is one of Senior Brother Li Changfeng's men! I knew there had to be a reason. Zhao Kui never lifts a finger unless there's something in it for him. Why else would he block Qin Jue for no reason?"

"Ning Zhiyuan lost to Qin Jue, so Senior Brother Li Changfeng's come to even the score."

"An Inner Court Disciple... They're people we can only look up to. Qin Jue's probably bitten off more than he can chew this time. No matter how strong he is, he can't possibly stand against the Inner Court, can he?"

Hearing the murmurs around him, Zhao Kui's smug expression grew even more pronounced. He relished the feeling of borrowing a tiger's skin to make himself look powerful. As long as he invoked Li Changfeng's name, he could practically do as he pleased throughout the Outer Prefecture.

He cleared his throat, put on an arrogant expression, and pointed at Qin Jue.

"Qin Jue, don't play dumb. Ning Zhiyuan may have been a good-for-nothing, but he was still a dog Senior Brother Li had his eye on. You killed him, and that was a slap in Senior Brother Li's face."

Zhao Kui sneered, a trace of jealousy in his voice. "Don't think a little talent with the sword means you can throw your weight around in the Outer Prefecture. Ning Zhiyuan was hailed as a genius, too. And look where he ended up. The dead have no value. Senior Brother Li is furious, and there will be consequences."

Zhao Kui paused, then held up two stubby fingers in front of Qin Jue.

"You've got two choices. First, you come with me like a good boy, go to Senior Brother Li's residence, and kowtow while you apologize. Then you join his faction and become an obedient dog. Senior Brother Li is generous. Maybe he'll even toss you a few bones."

"As for the second option..."

A vicious glint flashed in Zhao Kui's eyes, and his voice turned icy. "We settle the score for Ning Zhiyuan properly. If you don't know what's good for you, hmph, as long as we don't kill you, I doubt the Enforcement Hall will stick its nose into it."

At his words, the four disciples behind him spread out in understanding. Their qi and blood stirred, and four powerful auras locked onto Qin Jue.

Looking at Zhao Kui's arrogant bearing, Qin Jue couldn't help but find it amusing.

In both his past and present lives, he'd seen far too many idiots who threw their weight around by borrowing someone else's power. They had no real ability of their own, relying entirely on the masters behind them to bully others, yet they actually thought they were somebody.

"Li Changfeng..."

Qin Jue repeated the name, smiling wryly. "The young one gets beaten, so the old one comes along? That's a familiar routine. But this 'old one' sure thinks highly of himself. He doesn't even show up in person—he sends a few dogs to bark for him."

Qin Jue shook his head, his gaze turning cold.

"I'll give you two choices, too."

Qin Jue held up one finger. "First, a good dog doesn't block the road. Get lost."

Zhao Kui froze, apparently not understanding what he'd just heard.

"Second..." Qin Jue tapped the hilt at his waist. "I'll clean house for the Inner Court Senior Brother."

The words fell, and the entire crowd fell silent.

Everyone stared at Qin Jue with wide, disbelieving eyes.

Was this guy insane?

Those were Li Changfeng's men! How dare he speak like that?

Zhao Kui's face instantly turned the color of liver. His beady eyes seemed ready to spit fire. He was used to throwing his weight around in the Outer Prefecture. When had anyone ever pointed at him and called him a dog?

"Good! Good! Good!"

Zhao Kui laughed in fury, his teeth grinding. "You refuse the toast only to drink a forfeit! Since you're asking to die, I'll make it happen! Brothers, get him! Just don't kill him. If he loses an arm or a leg, Senior Brother Li will take responsibility!"

"Move!"

The four disciples were ready and sprang into action almost as soon as they heard the order.

They weren't top experts, but all four were at the Hundred Refinements Fourth Layer, and they worked together with considerable coordination. They closed in at once, their palms sweeping through the air as they reached for Qin Jue's shoulders, elbows, and knees, intent on dislocating his joints right there.

The watching disciples shut their eyes, unable to bear the sight.

In their view, two fists couldn't withstand four hands—especially with Zhao Kui, a Hundred Refinements Fifth Layer cultivator, watching from the side.

Yet Qin Jue, at the center of the storm, remained completely unmoved.

He hadn't even put a hand on his sword hilt.

"Too slow."

Qin Jue sighed inwardly. In his eyes, these men moved as slowly as snails crawling along.

Just as their palms were about to touch his clothes, Qin Jue moved.

But he didn't draw his sword.

His left hand remained behind his back. His right gripped the middle of the scabbard, and he lightly tapped the ground with his foot.

A phantom image appeared where he had stood.

It was the second layer of Startling Swan Flash—Fleeting Shadow!

Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud!

Four dull impacts rang out almost at once.

The four disciples charging at him saw only a blur. Before they could make out what had happened, it felt as if lightning had struck their chests. An irresistible force, sharp enough to pierce bone, drilled into their bodies, leaving their internal organs churning.

"Pfft—"

All four spat out blood at the same time. Their bodies flew backward like kites with severed strings and slammed into the ground two zhang away. They groaned, unable to get back up.

One breath.

It had taken only one breath.

Four disciples at the Hundred Refinements Fourth Layer had been instantly rendered unable to fight.

And Qin Jue's figure had already appeared before Zhao Kui like a ghost.

Zhao Kui hadn't even had time to draw the long saber at his waist when his vision went black. Then he felt a chill at his throat.

It was Qin Jue's scabbard. The tip of the black scabbard was pressed firmly against his throat.

The vicious grin on Zhao Kui's face froze. Cold sweat instantly rolled down his forehead and ran along his cheek into his collar, making him shudder.

He could clearly feel the concentrated power surging from the scabbard. All Qin Jue had to do was apply the slightest pressure, and it could easily pierce his throat.

"You..."

Zhao Kui tried to speak, but his throat was so dry that no sound came out. He stared at Qin Jue, so close he could reach out and touch him, his pupils shrinking.

Too fast!

So fast he couldn't even make out the afterimage!

Was this really the Hundred Refinements Fifth Layer? Even the senior disciples in the Outer Prefecture's top ten were probably no better!

Qin Jue held the scabbard in one hand, his expression still calm, as if he'd merely swatted a few flies.

"Too weak," Qin Jue said, sounding utterly uninterested. His voice carried clearly across the crowd.

"You aren't even worthy of making me draw my sword."

The area fell silent.

The onlookers stared with their mouths agape, their eyes nearly bulging out of their heads.

They'd guessed Qin Jue was strong, since he'd managed to kill Ning Zhiyuan despite the difference in cultivation. But never in their wildest dreams had they thought he was this strong!

He hadn't even drawn his sword!

Using only his scabbard, he'd taken down four people in one breath and subdued Zhao Kui!

This was no longer a sparring match. It was a complete and utter crushing defeat!

"Go back and tell Li Changfeng."

Qin Jue looked into Zhao Kui's terrified eyes and spoke indifferently. "If the Inner Court Senior Brother wants to instruct me, I'll gladly oblige. But if all he's doing is sending a few mad dogs to bite at me..."

Qin Jue's gaze turned cold. He swung the scabbard hard across Zhao Kui's face. "Don't blame me for beating the dog without sparing the master."

Smack!

Zhao Kui cried out and spun twice in place. Half his face swelled up instantly, and several bloodied teeth flew out.

He clutched his face and dropped to the ground, trembling. He didn't dare utter a single threat. All his earlier arrogance had vanished without a trace.

Qin Jue drew back the scabbard and casually hung it at his waist. He couldn't be bothered to look at them again and turned to continue down the mountain.

"Excuse me."

The crowd parted of its own accord, opening a wide path.

Everyone watched the young man with a sword on his back with reverent eyes. Only after Qin Jue had gone far away did the crowd finally burst into subdued chatter.

"My god... What was that move just now?"

"I couldn't see it! I couldn't see it at all! I only saw a shadow flash by, and then they were all down!"

"So this is how strong Qin Jue is now? That's terrifying! Zhao Kui is at the Hundred Refinements Fifth Layer, and he couldn't even fight back!"

Outside the south gate, beneath a crooked willow tree.

"What time is it already? Why hasn't he shown up?"

Mo Xingkong was muttering to himself when a familiar figure came into view.

"Brother Qin! Over here!"

Mo Xingkong's eyes lit up, and he waved vigorously.

Qin Jue walked up, patted the Black Scale Horse's neck, and nodded. "Sorry I'm late."

"Not late at all. You're right on time."

Mo Xingkong grinned. His eyes ran over Qin Jue a few times before he lowered his voice and asked with a gossipy look, "I just saw some disciples passing by. They looked pretty worked up, and they were talking about Zhao Kui getting beaten up. Was that you?"

Qin Jue swung onto his horse in one smooth motion. "Word travels fast."

"Of course. Gossip like this grows wings and flies faster than anything."

Mo Xingkong clicked his tongue in amazement, looking delighted. "Good! Zhao Kui's been throwing his weight around on Li Changfeng's coattails and doing all sorts of despicable things. I've never liked him. But Brother Qin, you've really made an enemy of Li Changfeng this time."

"Made an enemy?" Qin Jue smiled faintly. "I'd already made one the moment I killed Ning Zhiyuan. With more lice, the itching doesn't matter; with more debts, there's no need to worry."

"But..." he continued, "the peak of the Blood Melting Realm is indeed powerful. If I faced him now, I'd have less than a two-in-ten chance of winning."

"Less than two in ten? And you're still acting so boldly?" Mo Xingkong was startled.

"That's why I'm going to Qingqiu. Pressure brings motivation."

Mo Xingkong paused, then gave him a thumbs-up and grinned. "Brother Qin, I respect your attitude. All right, let's get going!"

They clamped their legs against their horses. The two Black Scale Horses whinnied and kicked up a cloud of dust as they raced toward Qingqiu.