Central Plains One Point Red

Clang!

The Longevity Sword was sheathed once more, stained a vibrant, crimson red.

Shi Guanyin was kneeling on the ground, her eyes wide with terror and disbelief. Her life had been extinguished, a sword wound on her throat, yet no blood spilled.

Her last gaze fixed on He Heng before she crashed to the ground. Her vital essence rapidly drained, her once beautiful body shriveled, turning into a mere skeleton.

"A fleeting beauty, nothing more," He Heng sighed coldly. He glanced at Hu Tiehua, who was still dazed from the shock, and strode away.

"Wait, you can't leave," Chu Liuxiang arrived, shouting at He Heng.

He Heng turned back slowly, a smile on his face. "What, Chu Xiangshuai, do you want to invite me to stay for dinner?"

Chu Liuxiang looked at He Heng, forcing a smile. "If Brother Bai has such an inclination, Chu would naturally be honored to host. However, I would first ask for an explanation of today's events..."

As he spoke, Chu Liuxiang glanced with pity at Shi Guanyin's shriveled, skeletal form, a sigh escaping him.

"Explain what?" He Heng's face turned cold. He pointed at Shi Guanyin's corpse. "Do you know who this is?"

Chu Liuxiang looked at it. "Chu truly doesn't know. Although she appeared in Little Hu's bridal chamber, she could never be the Princess of Kucha. Her martial arts are among the best in the jianghu. Even counting hidden masters and legends, she would at least be in the top twenty, if not the top ten."

"Xiangshuai indeed has sharp eyes," He Heng smiled and said gravely, "Someone with such martial prowess cannot be an unknown. She is the notorious great demoness of the martial world, Shi Guanyin."

"It's her!" Chu Liuxiang's expression changed. He stared blankly at the desiccated corpse on the ground, finding it hard to believe this was the once renowned Shi Guanyin.

He then seemed to accept it. "It's true, form and spirit are intertwined with life and death; how could they remain?"

"In this place, only Shi Guanyin would possess such martial arts," Chu Liuxiang said with a sigh, cupping his fists towards He Heng. "As for Brother Bai, you are the one who truly surprised Chu. Even a demoness like Shi Guanyin, who has been famous for decades, is no match for you. In this era, Brother Bai undoubtedly deserves a place among the top ten experts in the world. Given time, you might even contend for the title of Number One Under Heaven."

"Heh," He Heng shot Chu Liuxiang a cold glance. "Since when did Chu Xiangshuai start flattering people like this?"

"He always knows how to flatter, he just hasn't met anyone worthy of his flattery until now."

Just as Chu Liuxiang awkwardly touched his nose, a cold voice echoed. A young man with sharp features strode forward, his eyes as keen as a hawk's.

Laziness, dullness, indecisiveness – these were common flaws in most people, yet on his chiseled face, one could never find even a trace of such emotions. He was the very embodiment of shrewdness and sharpness.

"Dead Rooster, you're finally here." Hu Tiehua, who had been in a daze, shouted upon seeing him. Heaven knew how conflicted he was, having slept with an old woman like Shi Guanyin, and now he desperately needed some psychological comfort.

However, Ji Bingyan clearly ignored him. He pushed Hu Tiehua aside and leaped to Chu Liuxiang's side.

"Wings of swallow and butterfly, fragrance of flowers fills the world. Today, I am fortunate to see all three of you," He Heng said coldly, glancing at the three. He then paused, his gaze fixed on someone behind Ji Bingyan.

Behind Ji Bingyan stood a gaunt man in black, holding a pitch-black sword, incredibly slender. His face was perpetually etched with coldness and loneliness, his pupils filled with an endless, ashen death.

The moment he saw He Heng, a different color flashed in his ashen pupils, replaced by an eerie blood-red.

"Brother Hong, what's wrong?" Chu Liuxiang noticed his distress and quickly pulled him.

Central Plains One Point Red paid no attention to Chu Liuxiang, his gaze locked onto He Heng. He suddenly drew his pitch-black sword.

"It's you, the master of the Green Robe Tower. I've been looking for you for five years, and today I finally see you."

His voice was cold, tinged with excitement and madness, filled with boundless killing intent and chilling aura.

"You know me?" He Heng was taken aback, then reacted. He looked at the slender, blood-red, pitch-black longsword in the man's hand and smiled. "Soul Searching Sword, Shadowless. Central Plains One Point Red. So, you're one of the ones who got away back then. Do you want me to avenge that person?"

"Precisely." Central Plains One Point Red's face was filled with deathly pallor and indifference. He suddenly drew his sword. Under the dark night, he swiftly thrust it towards He Heng's throat.

Seeing One Point Red attack, his sword aimed at He Heng, Chu Liuxiang was alarmed and quickly tried to stop him. "Brother Hong, don't. You're no match for him."

"Don't mind me. Today, I will settle this with him. Kill!" One Point Red dodged Chu Liuxiang, and the pitch-black, blood-red longsword hissed out like a venomous snake.

Across from him, He Heng showed no panic, a sinister smile on his face. "A petty trick, daring to show itself in such company."

The Longevity Sword clanged out of its sheath, accompanied by a crisp sword cry. Cold light illuminated the area for miles, sword qi crisscrossing, fiercely enveloping One Point Red.

"No!"

Chu Liuxiang, Hu Tiehua, and Ji Bingyan attacked simultaneously from three directions, intending to relieve the pressure on One Point Red and lend him aid.

"You dare oppose me? You're seeking death!" He Heng sneered and leaped forward, kicking out with both feet. Hu Tiehua and Ji Bingyan were sent flying like broken arrows.

Only Chu Liuxiang, with his incredibly refined Qinggong, darted into the range of He Heng's sword strike. His palms pushed forward with true qi, striking the hilt of the Longevity Sword.

Swish!

A clear sound rang out. He Heng and One Point Red's swords clashed. One Point Red was forced back several steps by the terrifying sword momentum, his internal organs churning. At this moment, He Heng struck again, a sword thrust directly at One Point Red's chest.

If this sword landed, One Point Red's internal organs would be instantly shredded by He Heng's sword qi, leaving no chance of survival.

The sword strike was incredibly fast, indescribably so, like lightning. In a fraction of a second, it covered One Point Red's chest. He would have no chance to block or dodge; it was all too late.

Only then did One Point Red realize that his proud swift sword was utterly insignificant against He Heng. He Heng's sword was ten times faster. He had no chance of resistance; his so-called revenge was a joke.

One Point Red gave a desolate laugh. He didn't even have time to close his eyes in resignation as the terrifying sword descended, about to destroy everything he was.

At this critical juncture, Chu Liuxiang's figure suddenly appeared to He Heng's right. He passed through layers of sword energy, his palms wrapped in true qi, and struck the tip of the Longevity Sword.

Under this blow, the Longevity Sword veered sharply, its strike momentarily paused. In that instant, One Point Red shifted his body slightly.

The Longevity Sword was deflected by only an inch or two, and One Point Red moved only an inch or two. Yet, these few inches represented the distance between life and death.

The Longevity Sword missed One Point Red's chest, instead slicing off his right arm. The sharp blade instantly severed the limb.

"Brother Hong!" Chu Liuxiang cried out in shock and rushed to One Point Red's side. He stared at the severed arm on the ground, his face frozen.

For an assassin who lived by killing, losing the arm he relied on, losing his peerless swift sword – what would he do?

"Don't worry, I'm fine. It's just an arm." Yi Dian Hong gestured with his remaining arm to Chu Liuxiang, his eyes still dead gray, as if they had never held any change. He continued, "Besides, even if my arm were still here, could my sword be faster than him?"

Yi Dian Hong looked at He Heng, then at Chu Liuxiang. Chu Liuxiang shook his head indifferently. While Yi Dian Hong's sword was fast, compared to He Heng, the difference was like heaven and earth. There was no comparison between the two.

"Since that's the case, even with it, I can't get revenge. What use is it to me?" Yi Dian Hong's eyes were filled with an eerie, incomparably bright crimson light, illuminating his pitch-black, dead-gray pupils.

Chu Liuxiang fell silent. He looked at Yi Dian Hong, then suddenly stood up and faced He Heng, saying gravely, "Brother Bai, this is our third meeting. You surprise me every time. Last time you killed Wu Hua, this time you killed Shi Guanyin and crippled Yi Dian Hong. I don't understand what your goal is in doing these things?"

He Heng looked coldly at Chu Liuxiang. The Longevity Sword returned to its sheath. "My purpose, you will understand later, Chu Xiangshuai. Now, please step aside and let me deal with my enemy."

An icy aura filled He Heng's body, and a world-shattering, surging power pressed in on Chu Liuxiang from all directions, making it difficult for him to breathe.

But Chu Liuxiang still stood firmly in front of Yi Dian Hong. "Although I don't know what grievances you have with Brother Hong, he is already a cripple. Why must Brother Bai be so aggressive? Why not let him live?"

"Once you enter the Jianghu, you are no longer your own master. You should know this saying, Chu Xiangshuai, shouldn't you?" He Heng looked at Chu Liuxiang indifferently, his tone extremely cold. "If you don't cut the weeds at the root, they will grow back with the spring breeze. In this world, only the dead are truly safe and trustworthy. Xiangshuai, please step aside, otherwise..."

"No need. I only know that Brother Hong is my friend." Chu Liuxiang looked at He Heng resolutely, no fear in his eyes.

At this moment, Yi Dian Hong suddenly grabbed Chu Liuxiang's hand and said coldly, "You don't need to do this for me. It's not worth it."

"Brother Hong, don't try to persuade me. In Chu Liuxiang's life, I can die myself, but I will never betray a friend." Chu Liuxiang said resolutely, gazing at He Heng with eyes full of determination and conviction.