If Life Were Only Like the First Meeting

Hoo...

In a flash of lightning, three silver lights pierced the wind and shot towards the enemy's neck. A roar came from his ears, "You're asking for death."

Lu Changfeng reacted in time, suddenly releasing three silver needles to attack a vital point, aiming for the black-clothed man's Taiyang, Ermen, and Qingming acupoints.

The needles glowed, whistling through the air with incredible accuracy.

The black-clothed man grunted. The fierce and heavy sword he had just swung dropped like a straw, turning back and forming a mirror-like light. With a soft puff, he swept away the three acupoint-piercing silver needles.

The serrated sword spun in his palm. The black-clothed man twisted his body, and his sword light surged again, buzzing ominously. He had already exchanged three moves with Lu Changfeng, who had pounced after him.

Three consecutive sword strikes, clang, clang, clang. Lu Changfeng's face was flushed, his sword light slightly disordered. He saw a greenish-purple hand pass through the sword light and strike his chest with a thump.

"Silver Needle Swordplay, nothing more."

The black-clothed man laughed heartily. He swung his sword in a semicircle with his right hand, intending to pursue his victory.

"Chii..."

A stream of light flashed. His waist and ribs were struck by a sword, and intense pain surged through him.

The black-clothed man lunged back and forth. Lu Wu-bing was not scared into falling or even dodging. Instead, he stomped his feet heavily and charged forward...

A thrusting sword, practiced to the bone and integrated into his body and soul, was unleashed.

The sword tip sank half an inch into flesh, as if stuck in a mire, blocked by layers of internal energy, unable to advance further.

Lu Wu-bing's eyes turned fierce. He took another step, his arm vibrating as he exhaled and shouted, trying to exert secondary force and pierce the opponent through.

The black-clothed man roared. Disregarding his pursuit of Lu Changfeng, his internal energy surged. He slapped down with his backhand, shattering the long sword. Blood bloomed from his ribs as he flipped backward.

Mid-air, he was struck by three more needles with puk, puk, puk. He landed with a stagger, cracking the flagstones beneath his feet. He stomped heavily on a flowering tree and leaped over the courtyard wall.

Lu Changfeng's retreat had just stopped. He used his last bit of strength to shoot out three silver needles. He watched the black-clothed man escape, then opened his mouth and spat out a mouthful of blood, his eyes filled with unwillingness.

The palm strike to his chest, with its layered force, had injured his internal organs. His internal energy had become chaotic. He had reached his limit by managing to fire three more needles.

Moreover, the estate guards were incompetent and couldn't be of much use.

He could only watch helplessly as the injured enemy escaped easily, unable to pursue.

Lu Wu-bing gritted his teeth.

His decision was swift. He threw away the broken sword hilt, bent down to pick up Changfeng Sword that had fallen to the ground, rushed to the edge of the wall, reached out, and climbed over.

He knew that if he didn't pursue the "Life-Severing Sword" while it was injured, and waited until its injuries healed, it would return and kill them all. Even if all of them combined, they wouldn't be enough for the opponent to kill.

The Lu Family Estate was attacked and ambushed, a bloody battle ensued. However, the street outside the courtyard was bustling with traffic and people.

Lu Wu-bing only saw the black-clothed man's swaying figure disappear into the crowd, like a drop of water merging into the sea.

"Meow..."

As he was trying to figure out his direction, he felt his trouser leg grow heavy. He looked down and saw that the Little Black Cat had somehow followed him and was biting his trouser leg, pulling him back. It seemed to be telling him not to pursue.

He might not be able to win if he chased, or he might be killed by the enemy.

"Do I not see things more clearly than a little cat? But this is just the difference between a long pain and a short pain. Now there's still a sliver of hope... If that scoundrel heals, or calls more people, it won't be a question of how much pain, but how I die."

Lu Wu-bing picked up the little cat and continued to sprint.

A knot of frustration in his heart couldn't be expelled.

His own strength was still far too lacking.

He had stabbed his opponent but couldn't kill him. No, if the "Life-Severing Sword" hadn't been completely focused on Lu Changfeng and his fierce sword fight, he wouldn't have been able to stab him at all.

That person's movement technique was extremely fast, his internal energy was vast, and his bones and muscles were incredibly tough, his skin as hard as cowhide.

In modern society, he would be a proper super-human. If Lu Wu-bing faced him directly, he might die in one move.

He had previously heard Head Constable Li say that this was one of the seven direct disciples of Gu Dongting, the sect leader of the Eastern Sea Sword Sect. If all seven arrived, or if the man named Gu himself came...

Fortunately, this person had been wounded by his sword, and several vital acupoints had been pierced by silver needles. This was his weakest moment...

"Just ahead."

The crowd parted, and Lu Wu-bing saw the black-clothed man ahead leaving bloody footprints with each step, his stride shorter, clearly struggling with his injuries.

He felt a surge of joy, took a deep breath, and was about to sprint forward and draw his sword to strike.

"Woo woo..."

The wind suddenly picked up.

The black-clothed man turned back with a sinister grin.

His palm flipped backward, and seven or eight dark shadows whistled towards him, scattering into a fan shape.

They enveloped Lu Wu-bing and the surrounding civilians.

"Iron Caltrops..."

He saw the sharp, spiked projectiles around him and felt the whistling sound of them cutting through the air. Lu Wu-bing felt a sense of powerlessness well up in his heart again.

He had only learned a quick sword style, and could only save himself.

At most, he could save one or two more people.

Considering the incoming projectile, the other four or five ordinary citizens would likely be impaled, leading to heavy casualties.

What a ruthless scoundrel.

Lu Wu-bing inwardly cursed, preparing to unleash his full sword power to block.

"Swish..."

A gust of wind suddenly rose in his ears.

A green silhouette lunged forward, striking abruptly.

Lu Wu-bing's vision seemed to fill with starlight, the sharp aura piercing his brow and chilling him to the bone.

It was sword light...

Specks of light whistled as they encircled and intercepted all the incoming projectiles.

The sword light suddenly retracted, transforming into soft, flowing silk. With a gentle flick, seven or eight Iron Caltrops clanged onto the street.

This delay allowed the black-clothed figure to dart into the chaotic crowd with a single stride, disappearing in an unknown direction.

There was no way to pursue.

"What exquisite swordsmanship..."

He let out a long breath, sword light still seeming to flicker before his eyes, and he couldn't help but exclaim in admiration.

This strike had fulfilled all his imaginings of martial arts.

This is what a truly powerful sword technique should be like. My Lu family's inherited Primal Spirit Swordplay always felt off, constantly posing. It's handsome, it's beautiful, but it lacks any killing intent and is far from agile.

If not for the fact that his family's Primal Spirit Swordplay was so difficult to discern its true power when practicing, Lu Wu-bing wouldn't have thought of imitating characters like A Fei or Jing Wu-ming from stories and practicing a thrusting sword style.

"Are you saying my Yaoguang Swordplay looks good?" The sword-wielding woman's eyebrows were like painted ink, her large, flickering eyes filled with joy. The corners of her mouth curved up slightly, revealing two small dimples on her cheeks, exuding an aura of pure charm.

"Yes... come back."

As Lu Wu-bing spoke, he saw the Little Black Cat that had followed him out leap into the swordswoman's arms.

This lecherous cat dares to jump into a stranger's embrace? Is it asking for death?

Unexpectedly, the sword-wielding girl, even as her bun was smushed out of shape, merely blushed slightly. Not the least bit angry, she affectionately reached out and scratched the Little Black Cat's chin, giggling.

"Is this your cat? It's very cute."

As the maiden returned the cat, she paused and added, "I saw earlier you wanted to protect everyone. Your Qinggong might be lacking, but your heart is good."

I've never learned Qinggong.

Lu Wu-bing felt a slight awkwardness.

Without waiting for his reply, a hint of pity flashed in the girl's eyes. She turned her head and lowered her voice, "Run. Save who you can. Gu Dongting wants your family's sword manual; he won't stop."

With that, she brushed past him, covering over ten feet in a single step, and disappeared into the distance in the blink of an eye.

Sword manual?

What sword manual?

His family only ran a medical clinic and pharmacy. Although his father, Lu Changfeng, was praised, it was merely local acclaim. They weren't truly formidable experts. As for swordsmanship, don't even mention it...

Wait, something's wrong.

A deeply ingrained memory resurfaced in his mind.

His family always said his grandfather, Lu Chengyun, possessed unfathomable Primal Spirit Swordplay, undefeated throughout the Southern Sky, earning him the title "Southern Sky Sword."

That was quite a boast. He had never believed it.

After all, in this era, anyone with even a modicum of skill, regardless of their martial arts or swordsmanship prowess, had to have a resounding title and a grand tale. No one took it seriously.

Now, thinking back, could it be that his grandfather's reputation wasn't an exaggeration but a factual account?

Lu Wu-bing's heart trembled violently. The experiences of the past few days flashed through his mind like a film. No wonder he always felt a damned sense of familiarity.

Damn it, could it be the Evil-warding Swordplay Manual?