Heart Like Still Water, Intent Like Fierce Tiger

The two groups collided in the clearing between the trees.

On the constables' side, they held an absolute advantage in numbers, most of them having undergone Acupoint Opening, and their combat power was not to be underestimated. However, the ferocious members of the Five Poisons Cult possessed strange arts, were skilled in poison techniques, and their weapons were unconventional, making them difficult to defend against.

As the two sides clashed, the constables, despite being outnumbered, fought with their hands tied, unable to gain the upper hand.

In the center of the crowd, Liu Jingsheng faced off against the zombie-like man with a livid complexion. His long saber emanated a chilling mist, reflecting the cold moonlight and stinging the zombie man's eyes, which narrowed into two thin slits. He became extremely vigilant.

When masters spar, they first compare heights.

No, they exchange taunts first.

"Liu Jingsheng, the 'Fengxian Iron Constable,' I've heard of your reputation. With your martial arts, being a constable is beneath you."

The zombie man, with a stiff accent, tried to praise before criticizing, sneering, "How much is your monthly salary, what's your fame worth, how much hardship have you endured, and how much credit have you been given? A lifetime of mediocrity, ending with injuries and illness in old age, still needing your wife and children to attend to your waste, how pathetic, how pathetic!"

Facing such sarcasm and mockery, Liu Jingsheng nodded, "Your words have merit. Since that is the case, I shall use your head to exchange for a better future!"

The zombie man, having not anticipated this, snorted and drew the curved dagger hanging from his lower back.

This blade was shaped like a crescent moon, short and narrow, resembling a dog's tooth, unlike ordinary weapons. A faint blue light emanated from its edge, coated with a potent poison that sealed one's fate upon drawing blood.

Liu Jingsheng, unfazed, gripped his long saber and took several large strides, instantly appearing before the zombie man.

The saber light flashed like a fierce tiger leaping from its cage. Where the blade pointed, the wind howled, instilling fear and daring no one to resist.

The zombie man dared not block with his short dagger. He gathered his energy to defend himself and retreated a full zhang. Only when Liu Jingsheng's saber momentum had lost some of its ferocity did he counter-grip his short dagger, surge forward, and slash towards Liu Jingsheng's neck.

His body was stiff, yet his speed was incredibly fast.

A faint cold light spread, exuding a soul-stirring killing intent, accompanied by a foul stench.

Liu Jingsheng, with his old strength not yet depleted and new strength surging, had clearly feigned a weakness, deliberately allowing the zombie man to seize the opportunity. Before the poison-coated blade could get close, he evaded it with exquisite footwork.

With this, the zombie man's center was exposed. Liu Jingsheng retracted his saber to his abdomen.

When masters spar, it's like a game of chess; one wrong move leads to a cascade of errors.

The white saber light flashed instantly. The zombie man barely managed to block with his short dagger. The subsequent continuous parries were all defensive, compensating for his carelessness in the first move.

Liu Jingsheng's saber momentum was fierce, like a tiger pouncing. Each slash was powerful, imbued with the force of mountains and seas.

He fought speed with speed. The saber light and afterimages became increasingly rapid, giving the zombie man no chance to employ his strange arts or poison techniques. Furthermore, with each descending blow, his spirit and energy surged, and the force of his saber increased continuously.

After more than ten exchanges, the zombie man could no longer block, and his short dagger was knocked away by sheer force.

Without his weapon, the zombie man's face contorted in extreme terror. Facing the saber strike aimed at his chest, he gritted his teeth and lunged with both hands towards Liu Jingsheng's ribs, intending to trade his life for an injury.

Liu Jingsheng's saber tip touched the zombie man's chest, striking the Tanzhong acupoint, producing a sound of clashing metal.

As if he had anticipated this, he smoothly flicked the saber tip upwards, evading the poisoned claws aimed at his ribs. He spun around and slashed the saber edge towards the zombie man's eyes.

A few drops of blood splattered, followed by a suppressed groan.

The zombie man and Liu Jingsheng passed each other. The zombie man raised a hand to cover his right eye, blood seeping uncontrollably through his fingers.

He had avoided losing both eyes at the last moment, but one of his eyes had been struck.

"You used your poisoned blade to confuse me, masking your superior claw techniques and hardened body, then feigned carelessness to lure me in. You put a lot of thought into it, but I've seen at least eight thousand, if not ten thousand, schemers like you, head constable."

Liu Jingsheng said coldly, "Your hardened body technique isn't fully cultivated yet; you have many weak points. To dare let me get close like this, it would be better if your eyes were blind."

The zombie man was furious. He thought he had succeeded in his plan to kill Liu Jingsheng with one move, only to find himself seen as a mere clown by the other.

And he lost an eye!

The two resumed their fight. With one eye blinded, the zombie man's movements were full of openings in his haste. If not for his formidable hardened body technique, making him as impervious as a zombie, he would have been dismembered long ago.

Even so, he was at a disadvantage, only able to protect his weak points, and was on the verge of being captured.

Xiang Yuan stood on the periphery, shouting along with several constables wielding long sabers, striking the air with great effort.

With swords and sabers flying indiscriminately in the arena, he had no combat experience. He feared disrupting his own men's formation and being caught off guard by a sudden strike from the enemy.

He shouted loudly to scare the enemy and create psychological pressure, considering it his support role.

At the same time, he witnessed the entire battle between Liu Jingsheng and the zombie man. Their footwork and changes in moves were incredibly fast, so he couldn't see the whole picture. He only saw Liu Jingsheng's fierce saber techniques, which shared similarities with the essence of the Five Tigers Severing Gate Saber.

Mind as still as water, intent as a fierce tiger!

Using a calm mind to control the saber, and the ferocity of a tiger to intimidate the enemy!

Xiang Yuan felt he had learned something. As he rejoiced, his headache suddenly flared up, making him wince.

Just when I encounter masters sparring, this headache strikes...

Xiang Yuan grumbled inwardly. Meanwhile, a faint whistling sound could be heard approaching. Judging by the direction, it seemed to be constables from the Six Doors who had sensed something and were coming to reinforce them.

Hearing the wind, the constables' spirits soared. The fierce members of the Five Poisons Cult roared in anger. Several of them, enduring several saber wounds, took out poisonous insects and medicines from their quivers.

Instantly, a chilling wind swept through, carrying a pungent, fishy odor.

Several constables fell asleep without a word.

Even Liu Jingsheng, whose heart was as cold as a knife, couldn't help but falter at the sight. His saber momentum missed its mark, and the zombie man seized the opening. After a few leaps, he seized an opportunity to unleash his poison techniques.

He spat out black smoke, and a poisonous miasma spread.

The poisonous miasma resembled ghost fire, like mist, spreading with astonishing speed. Liu Jingsheng swung his long saber to cleave it apart. Several fierce members of the Five Poisons Cult leaped into the air, cackling as they lunged at him.

Horizontal saber slashes, splitting them in two.

The zombie man grabbed several cult disciples along the way, using them as sandbags to throw at Liu Jingsheng before diving into the woods. After a rustling sound, his tracks disappeared.

The remaining thugs from the Five Poisons Cult dared not prolong the fight. Following their leader's example, they plunged into the woods and fled in all directions.

"As if it were that easy!"

Liu Jingsheng held his saber in one hand while his other hand became a blur, unleashing four streaks of cold light. Four Five Poisons Cult thugs fell to the ground in response.

Flying daggers.

He wanted to order the constables to pursue, but seeing them either collapsed in the poisonous miasma or hiding far away, their formation long broken, he had to give up.

"I'll go capture the ringleader. You all quickly rescue the injured. When the Six Doors arrive, inform them of the situation." Liu Jingsheng twitched his nose and charged towards the direction the zombie man had disappeared, saber in hand.

No matter what, the criminals had escaped the path guarded by the constables. Only by capturing the ringleader could he provide an explanation to his superiors.

The constables swung their sabers, dispersing the poisonous miasma and dragging their poisoned comrades to safety. Xiang Yuan did not retreat this time, energetically wielding the Five Tigers Severing Gate Saber. He managed to rescue two colleagues.

Entering the poisonous miasma for the third time, Xiang Yuan's head began to spin. He had inhaled some of the toxic gas and stumbled.

Danger within danger arose at this critical moment. A Five Poisons Cult thug, lying on the ground, suddenly leaped up and lunged at Xiang Yuan with a short saber.

His face was covered in blood, feigning death to wait for an opportunity, intending to carve a path to freedom through Xiang Yuan.

He chose his timing very cleverly. The constables were busy rescuing people, scattered in all directions, and no one noticed him, the 'corpse'. Even if they had the thought to save him, it would have been too late.

All he needed to do was kill Xiang Yuan and then he could escape into the woods.

This young lad, a constable barely starting out, can he block even one of my moves!

A small trick will suffice.

With a roar, the thug accelerated, his blade flashing even faster.

Xiang Yuan was still groggy, startled awake by the shout. Seeing the 'corpse' with a blood-covered face, resembling a demon, he instinctively prepared to dodge.

Suddenly, Liu Jingsheng's saber-wielding figure flashed before his eyes. His eyes sharpened, his mind instantly calmed, and his hands and feet moved faster than his brain. Following Liu Jingsheng's example, he held his saber, stepped forward, and chopped down.

Power surged to the tip of his saber, a white streak like lightning, incredibly fierce, with all directions subdued, like a fierce tiger descending from the mountain!