Yang City Prodigy

The young man galloped forward with sword in hand. As he drew near, the Sword Qi hanging over the bandits' heads began to shriek as well, as though welcoming their master.

Everyone's weapons trembled even more fiercely, faintly showing signs of leaving their sheaths.

The vicious bandits who had been so menacing moments ago were now scared out of their wits. One by one, their faces were stricken with terror, and none dared move a muscle.

Clang!

At that moment, three streams of Sword Qi gave a long cry, changed direction, and shot toward the dense woods nearby.

"Ah—!"

A scream immediately rang out from the woods. Everyone saw an Old Man, covered in blood, stumble miserably into view.

"That's an Eighth Grade Bandit who has cultivated Sword Qi! His strength is no weaker than that senior who saved us that night." Escort Huang's expression was grave.

Clearly, he knew this Old Man. The man's name was well known throughout the counties.

Yet there were always people beyond people, mountains higher than mountains. Even such a top expert who had cultivated Sword Qi had now struck an iron plate and was treated like fish on a chopping block by someone even more terrifying.

Da Da Da!

The hoofbeats grew louder, and the young man had arrived before them.

At this moment, he seemed somewhat dazzling—far more dazzling than Fang Yong.

That top Eighth Grade expert who had cultivated Sword Qi was now practically wagging his tail and begging for pity. "Spare me!"

Yet the young man astride the White Horse did not even spare him a glance. His attention remained fixed on Lady Chen as he said softly, "Qingyan, I came too late. I let a bunch of mud legs frighten you."

As he spoke, the Sword Qi descended.

It was as easy as chopping melons and slicing vegetables. Whether it was the Old Man who had cultivated Sword Qi or the others, all were crushed like ants.

In mere moments, this bandit gang that had claimed the mountain as king was wiped out completely.

"Gulp!"

The escorts swallowed, their mouths dry and their tongues parched.

So it turned out that those they considered difficult to provoke were nothing more than ants in the eyes of others, to be handled however they pleased.

"A genius. A true genius of Yang City." A Senior Drafter exclaimed in amazement.

Fang Yong's heart felt somewhat heavy. He seemed to understand Liu Wensheng's feelings as well.

Just days ago, Escort Huang had told him that cultivating Saber Qi would take one or two years of work; even a genius would have to pause in his tracks.

But now, there appeared a young man about his age, and the moment he made a move, he displayed a radiance Fang Yong had never seen before.

Those dozens of majestic streams of Sword Qi were like a Big Mountain pressing upon his heart, making it hard for him to breathe.

It was as though legend had stepped into reality. There really were people who, despite their youth, could become so powerful that even the older generation had to look up at them.

"Qingyan, you should have told me when you were going far from home. With me here, how could I have let you suffer fear and worry?"

The young man's expression did not change as he killed, showing just how decisive and ruthless he was.

Yet before Lady Chen, he spoke in a soft voice. His words seemed reproachful, but they were filled with concern.

The escorts watched quietly. Even Escort Huang, who had seen grand scenes before, did not dare interrupt at this moment.

Chen Qingyan was expressionless, merely glancing at the dead bandits. The Little maid, however, curled her lips. "Young Master Song, since when does my young lady have to report to you whenever she goes out?"

"Besides, your words are far too ambiguous. You're even more overly familiar and presumptuous than Fang Yong. People will misunderstand. You should keep your distance and should not directly call my young lady by her given name."

"..." Fang Yong.

Hey, hey, hey!

He was being very quiet right now, okay? What did this have to do with him?

Song Yuanshan looked puzzled and asked, "Who is Fang Yong?"

The Little maid pointed at the youth trying to hide behind Escort Huang. "There, That Person. His Martial Dao talent seems no worse than yours."

"..." Fang Yong.

First of all, he hadn't provoked anyone!

"Oh?" Song Yuanshan raised a brow and looked toward Fang Yong, then smiled. "Since when did the Four Seas Escort Agency produce someone like this? Brother Ji never mentioned him to me."

Fang Yong had long been so awed by the other man's strength that he felt ashamed of his own inferiority and did not know how to answer. Escort Huang spoke instead:

"He started too late. He merely bears the name of a genius. How could he possibly enter Young Master Song's discerning eye? You are a True Dragon destined to make your name resound throughout Changping Prefecture."

"Escort Huang, you jest. The affairs of this world are difficult to predict. Since Brother Fang possesses such talent, how can he be underestimated? Before long, I fear he will shake Yang City, competing on the same stage as Brother Ji and me. That gives me a measure of anticipation. The Martial Examination Ranking may gain another newcomer."

Faced with Fang Yong, his "rival in love," the young man did not use his realm to oppress him, did not ask about his background, and did not belittle him with words.

He merely described his Daily Life, yet it made Fang Yong's face flush faintly, leaving him at a loss.

What competing on the same stage? What Martial Examination Ranking? Fang Yong had never heard of any of it. Like an ignorant rustic villager, he was seeing the world of geniuses for the first time.

No—he had always been a countryman.

"You flatter the youngster too much. He started late and was born into humble circumstances—how could he possibly be qualified to share the stage with you? Let alone make the Martial Examination Ranking."

Escort Huang was clearly speaking up for Fang Yong, keeping him from offending Song Yuanshan, yet his words were like the sharpest blades, stabbing at Fang Yong's tenderest spots.

"Who can say for certain what the future holds?" Song Yuanshan said with a smile.

"Oh, right." He added, "Now that Song has arrived, your mission to escort Qing Yan may be considered completed ahead of time. She will certainly arrive safe and sound."

Escort Huang's expression shifted slightly. Knowing that Song Yuanshan did not want them to continue the escort, he immediately replied, "This is our duty. We absolutely cannot abandon it halfway. If the Escort Agency learns of it, we will be punished."

"If that is the case, then come along. You will simply have to make an extra trip," Song Yuanshan said with a nod, not forcing the matter.

Clearly, this journey had been led by the Escort Agency, yet now it seemed this man had the final say.

The group set off once more. With Song Yuanshan, a formidable expert, traveling alongside them, everyone relaxed considerably. They even dared to stop and rest in the desolate mountains and wilderness.

Night fell, and the stars glittered brilliantly.

The escorts sat around the campfire, eating dry rations.

By another campfire, the person lavishing attention on Lady Chen had changed. Fang Yong had been replaced by Song Yuanshan.

Fang Yong glanced at Lady Chen, whose cheeks had been reddened by the firelight. There was no longer any covetousness in his heart; he had long since retreated in the face of difficulty.

Still, he voiced the doubt in his heart in a low voice. "What is Lady Chen's background, that a genius as strong as Young Master Song is treating her so warmly?"

Escort Huang glanced at Song Yuanshan before answering, "Miss Chen's Parents are merely ordinary wealthy merchants, but her Uncle is an old military examination graduate."

"A martial examination graduate?" Jiang Ping spoke up. Huang Youren nodded. "Naturally, a military examination graduate."

Then he smiled.

"You have now witnessed the strength of Yang City's true heavenly geniuses. What do you think?"

"'Monstrous' barely begins to describe it," Liu Wensheng sighed.

Fang Yong, already outstanding, had been difficult enough for him to catch up to. Now he had seen Yang City's true heavenly genius—clearly about the same age as them, yet slaughtering Eighth Grade Skin Refining martial artists like pigs and dogs.

Forget catching up to someone like that. He was someone Liu Wensheng would need to look up to for his entire life.

"That Person was already among Eighth Grade Skin Refining martial artists?" Fang Yong recalled the scene from that afternoon, and even now, his heart still trembled with lingering fear.

Escort Huang shook his head slightly and uttered two words. "Seventh Rank."

"A Seventh Rank who can enter the Sixth Grade at any time!"