Chaotic Sky Yaksha

Shen Yi's expression turned solemn. One hand rested on his saber hilt as he asked loudly, "Ji Chengkong's handiwork, wasn't it?"

"What I'm curious about, though, is this: all you elites came to block us. Then who is dealing with Qin Jianghe?"

"Hehehehe..." A silver-bell-like laugh rang out again. The burly, fierce woman danced her steel fork and said in a sweet voice, "No need for you to worry, little brother."

"Our branch master will naturally make his move."

Only then did Zhao Qiushan and the others finally realize.

Just as Shen Yi had said.

Qin Jianghe was in danger. Ji Chengkong was the mole within the hall!

The Long River Duo spun their simple sabers, sending them whirling through the air.

Like butterflies dancing.

The three men fixed their eyes on Shen Yi, murder rising in their gazes.

"Boy, today, you'll be buried with our fourth brother!"

White Rakshasa said:

"Little brother, you're quite a fine-looking fellow. What a pity—you touched people from our Yaksha Faction, so you'll have to pay with your life!"

Black Rakshasa was swift and decisive. His bamboo-pole-thin body raised its steel fork, and he spat out a single word:

"Kill!"

Shen Yi lowered his body slightly. Like a crouching leopard gathering strength, he bent forward with one hand gripping his saber hilt, holding back without striking.

Behind him, Zhao Qiushan also realized the gravity of the situation. His fan-sized hand pressed against his shoulder and twisted hard.

Crack.

He set his dislocated arm back into place.

Then he picked up the Xuanhua Axe from the ground, assumed a fighting stance, and stared at the shadowy figures all around him as he shouted sharply:

"Brothers, killing one means we break even."

"Kill two, and we profit."

"Charge out!"

Whoosh!

Zhao Qiushan's thunderous shout was like the signal that ignited a volcano. A sudden chorus of weapons being drawn erupted from the forest.

Then—

Cries of battle rose together.

Disciples of Broken Blade Hall and the Yaksha Faction clashed like ships coming alongside one another.

Broken Blade Hall.

Qin Jianghe returned to his small courtyard.

The empty courtyard was carpeted with fallen leaves, utterly deserted. Shen Yi's departure had somehow left Qin Jianghe with a trace of loneliness.

Qin Jianghe shook his head helplessly.

He gave a self-mocking snort. He had been overthinking things.

Before long.

A young servant in green robes, someone Qin Jianghe found rather unfamiliar, knocked on the courtyard gate and entered carrying a food box.

"Hall Master, it's time to take your medicine."

Qin Jianghe gave a grunt.

He casually pointed at the stone table in the courtyard.

"Put it there first."

The servant took a steaming bowl of medicinal soup from the food box and placed it on the table, then stepped back half a pace and stood still.

Qin Jianghe glanced at him casually and smiled.

"What? Are you going to watch me drink it?"

The servant bowed slightly and replied with a smile:

"The gang leader's injuries are important. Before, Young Hero Chen Yu was there to supervise you. Now that Young Hero Chen Yu isn't here..."

"I have to watch you finish the medicine."

Qin Jianghe paused and narrowed his eyes at the servant. He stared for several breaths, until the servant felt uncomfortable all over.

"Have I ever mentioned the little brother's name to any of you?"

In an instant, the servant seemed to feel a chill crawl from his ankles up to his neck. His eyes darted about.

"I heard Deputy Hall Master Ji mention it by accident."

Qin Jianghe gave an "Oh."

He raised the bowl of medicine.

Then he glanced again at the servant, whose expression had grown somewhat tense.

He grinned.

"Look at how much you're sweating. This medicinal soup promotes blood circulation and disperses bruising; it works wonders for weakness and night sweats. Why don't you drink it?"

"I'll have the kitchen brew another bowl."

With that, Qin Jianghe extended the medicine toward the servant and slowly brought it toward his mouth, seemingly intending to feed him personally.

The servant hurriedly backed away, waving his hands again and again.

"Hall Master, this medicine was specially brewed for you. How could I drink it? I mustn't, absolutely mustn't!"

The servant retreated repeatedly.

But Qin Jianghe's feet moved in a chain of steps, pressing closer with every stride.

Within a single breath, he closed in on the servant. The full bowl of medicine had not spilled a single drop as it was about to be shoved into the servant's mouth.

Whoosh!

A cold gleam flashed.

A glittering dagger suddenly appeared in the servant's hand.

It slashed diagonally upward toward Qin Jianghe's chest.

Heh.

Qin Jianghe abruptly halted.

With a flick of his wrist, the bowl in his hand shot toward the servant.

Whoosh!

The porcelain bowl was cleaved in two.

The medicine splashed all over the ground.

Before the servant could rejoice, he discovered that Qin Jianghe had vanished from his sight.

In an instant, a fierce gust howled beside his ear.

The servant's vision spun as heaven and earth turned upside down.

After rolling across the ground once, he saw Qin Jianghe holding a blood-dripping broken saber—and the headless corpse before him.

"Tsk, tsk. Worthy indeed of Hall Master Qin."

"Meticulous as a hair, sharp-witted beyond compare."

A clear voice came from outside the courtyard. Then a tall, broad-shouldered figure appeared at the gate.

The man wore a black robe and a hair crown, with refined and elegant features. Yet in his hand, he held a mixed-iron steel fork.

The sight was rather incongruous.

Qin Jianghe looked toward the newcomer, someone he knew all too well. A sharp gleam burst from his eyes.

"Chaotic Sky Yaksha, Fang Yu."

"So it truly was your Yaksha Faction."

Fang Yu spun the iron fork around his arm, smoothly flourishing it several times like a spear.

"What a pity, Qin Jianghe."

"Now that you've figured it out, isn't it a little too late?"

Qin Jianghe swept his gaze around.

He let out a long breath, his tone easing slightly. "I suppose that no matter how I call out now, no one will come to my aid."

"Using the Whale Gang's expansion as an excuse, you dispatched all the core elders. Then, by making an issue of Little River Village, you lured Qiushan and Brother Chen Yu away."

"Finally, you secretly brought this Yaksha Branch master into the hall. Chengkong, all of this was your handiwork. How could you not be nearby?"

After Qin Jianghe's words fell, a long while passed.

Ji Chengkong's figure emerged on the other side of the courtyard. Holding a folding fan, he remained as courteous as ever and bowed slightly.

"Hall Master, Chengkong greets you."

Qin Jianghe's expression was strange and unreadable.

"I have only one question. You already held a position beneath only one man in Broken Blade Hall. Why would you still conspire with the enemy?"

With a snap, Ji Chengkong opened his folding fan and fanned it.

He nodded slightly and smiled.

"I also have only one question."

"Why should I remain beneath one man? Why can't I stand above everyone?"

"Hahahaha..." Fang Yu laughed wildly. "Qin Jianghe, Qin Jianghe, you didn't even know what your own brother wanted. You deserved to meet such an end today."

"Die!"

Fang Yu wasted no more words.

His body stiffened for a beat, then a cloud of dust violently exploded from the ground amid a piercing howl.

Fang Yu shot forward like lightning, thrusting his fork at Qin Jianghe!

Deep in the forest.

Figures were scattered in chaotic disarray, filling every corner of the woods.

The raging tide and giant whale forces had descended into a tangled melee.

Shen Yi did not recklessly strike first. Instead, he gathered strength and observed the situation.

Waiting only to strike later and seize control.

Several figures wielding steel forks pounced from all sides.

Clang!

Cold Night left its sheath. Several Yaksha Faction members felt darkness fall before their eyes, as though Nightveil had suddenly descended beneath the bright blue sky.

Then—

Saber light flashed.

Like an aurora flickering through eternal night before vanishing.

Their pupils froze forever upon that instant. Blood sprayed through the air like blooming crimson plum blossoms.

Slain an Entry Realm martial artist. Gained secluded cultivation time: four months.

Slain...

Shen Yi swept forward like the wind, his saber light joining into a sheet of radiance and raising trails of bloody mist.

The system notifications rang out one after another.

He later muted them.

Any Yaksha Faction member who tried to approach Shen Yi could not withstand even a single strike before head and body parted ways.

Very quickly.

A vacuum formed around Shen Yi.

Zhao Qiushan wielded twin axes and cut through the crowd without resistance. He shouted toward Shen Yi:

"Brother Chen Yu."

"Don't worry about us. Break out first."

"Go back to the hall and save Big Brother!"