Chen Jinyang Vomited Blood, Shen Changfeng Flew into a Rage!

"Senior Brother Lu summoned me. What are your instructions?"

In the courtyard, after Chen Jinyang left, Lu Ming asked Li Hu to fetch Wu San.

Wu San now stood in Lu Ming's courtyard with downcast brows and submissive eyes. Even his triangular eyes appeared far gentler than before.

Wu San was truly afraid. Now that Lu Ming had risen to prominence, if Lu Ming wished to take revenge on him, there was absolutely nowhere he could hide.

Even if Lu Ming was ultimately killed by Shen Changfeng, what good would that do? Wu San would still be finished.

Thus, after lunch, he had arrived even earlier than Chen Jinyang, coming to visit Lu Ming well in advance to apologize and make amends.

At the time, Lu Ming had said nothing, only that there might be something he needed Wu San to do.

He had not expected Lu Ming to summon him again so soon.

Lu Ming gently stroked the jade pendant in his hand. The jade was of excellent quality, warm and smooth. The front was engraved with the character "Chen," while the corner bore the tiny characters "Jinyang."

This was the jade pendant carried by every direct descendant of the Chen Family, a unique token of identity.

Chen Jinyang had given him this token to lure him away from the Military Service Bureau, never expecting that Lu Ming had no intention of keeping the appointment at all.

Seeing Wu San's meek appearance, Lu Ming placed the jade token into a letter he had prepared on the table beside him. He then sealed the envelope and handed it to Wu San.

"Help me deliver this letter to..."

Wu San accepted the letter and listened carefully. Then he respectfully said,

"Yes, this will be easy. I will certainly handle it properly. But after this matter is over...?"

Lu Ming smiled. "After this matter, the grudges between us will be wiped clean with a single stroke."

Wu San's spirits lifted, and he said happily, "Yes! Senior Brother Lu is broad-minded and magnanimous. I deeply admire you!"

With that, he turned and left.

Lu Ming watched his departing back and smiled faintly. So long as Wu San could withstand the Chen Family's retaliation afterward, letting him go was no great matter.

He shut the courtyard gate and resumed his cultivation.

He had not cultivated for long when he suddenly heard another knock at the door.

Knock, knock, knock.

Then Wei Jinlin's voice came from outside. "Lu Ming, there's a letter for you."

Lu Ming opened the door in puzzlement and accepted the letter. He found that it was an invitation. Upon opening it, surprise appeared in his eyes.

Evening.

On the most prosperous street in the south of the city stood the tall and splendid Red Sun Pavilion. Beneath the setting sun, most of the people entering and leaving through its doors carried themselves with impressive bearing, dressed in brocade robes and fine garments.

Inside a private room on the second floor, a table full of fine wine and dishes had already been served. The room was filled with exquisite delicacies, their fragrance wafting through the air.

This was the private room the Chen Family had arranged to receive Lu Ming. Yet the appointed time had already arrived, and not a single important figure from the Chen Family had appeared.

Chen Jinyang was the only person in the entire room.

After all, if one was putting on a show, one had to see it through to the end. Chen Jinyang feared that Lu Ming might detect something amiss, so he simply acted as though he were truly recruiting Lu Ming.

Other than the absence of any Chen Family bigwigs, he was certain that everything he had done was flawless.

He only needed to wait quietly here. Before nightfall, he would hear news of Lu Ming's death.

Then Chen Feng would secure a Lingyun Sect disciple slot in advance, and Chen Jinyang's own standing would soar as well!

Chen Jinyang was nearly immersed in visions of the future when he heard a rapid series of footsteps approaching his private room.

His heart stirred. Had the messenger arrived?

He could not help immediately rising to his feet. He hurried to the door and opened it.

"It really is you!"

To his surprise, a burly man with Sha Qi written all over his face stood outside. His eyes were bloodshot, rough breaths blasted from his nostrils, and he glared at Chen Jinyang with wide eyes before roaring,

"So it was you who wanted to mediate the conflict between me and Lu Ming? You yellow-mouthed brat, let me see how much you weigh!"

"Not good, it's that madman, Guo Zhengwei!"

The moment Chen Jinyang recognized the man, his expression changed drastically, and terror filled his heart.

Guo Zhengwei of the Wei Yuan Escort Agency had been frightened out of his wits by demons and monsters, then had his beloved son killed by them. Recently, his mind had become somewhat unstable, and he had come to hate everyone involved in that day's arena battle.

Lu Ming in particular had become the thorn in his flesh. Lu Ming had changed the course of the arena battle, and Guo Zhengwei hated him to the bone. He believed that if not for Lu Ming, his family would not have been the only one celebrating at the restaurant that day, and the outcome might have been different.

The forces that had participated that day, including the Red Snake Gang and disciples of the Blazing Flame Martial Hall, had recently suffered constant harassment from the Wei Yuan Escort Agency and were miserable beyond words.

Why had this madman come here? How did he know about the supposed mediation Chen Jinyang had mentioned to Lu Ming?

The problem was, Chen Jinyang had never even brought up Guo Zhengwei to Lu Ming!

Hah!

Chen Jinyang was thrown into utter confusion, unable to make heads or tails of it. Yet Guo Zhengwei had already charged forward without a care for anything else, the terrifying aura of Tendon Refining Grand Completion bearing down on him.

Terror gripped Chen Jinyang's heart. "A misunderstanding, this is all a misunderstanding!!!"

He hurriedly retreated behind the dining table.

Boom-crack!

With a deafening crash, Guo Zhengwei shattered the dining table into four pieces with a single kick. Cups and plates crashed to the floor in a clattering uproar, while sauces and juices flowed everywhere.

Taking another step, he crossed the distance to Chen Jinyang and struck out with his palm, hitting Chen Jinyang squarely in the abdomen.

Pfft! Chen Jinyang spat out a mouthful of blood and flew backward. With a bang, he smashed through the window lattice and fell onto the street below.

He tried to struggle to his feet, only to see Guo Zhengwei remove the Nine-Ring Blade from his back. With his eyes wide open, Guo Zhengwei leaped down from the second floor of the Red Sun Pavilion, his great blade slashing down!

Overwhelmed by misery and terror, Chen Jinyang's eyes rolled back, and he fainted dead away.

Blood slowly seeped out beneath him.

"What happened?!"

"That's a direct descendant of the Chen Family, Chen Jinyang! Who was bold enough to beat him?"

"Not good, run! It's Madman Guo!"

When Chen Jinyang came flying out and crashed onto the street, the crowd was still buzzing with discussion. But when Guo Zhengwei leaped out after him, everyone was horrified and scattered in all directions.

Guo Zhengwei possessed Tendon Refining Grand Completion. Unless the Bone Forging Realm leaders of the city's first-rate factions took action, there were hardly any who could contend with him.

For such a man to lose his mind and attack people at random—if one stood too close, would that not be courting death?

"Die!" Guo Zhengwei roared in midair. His blade traced a crescent arc as it slashed toward Chen Jinyang on the ground.

Clang~ At the critical moment, a sword cry pierced the air and struck the back of the Nine-Ring Blade with perfect precision.

Clang! Blade and sword collided. Guo Zhengwei's body swayed, and he was actually knocked slightly backward in midair, his blade failing to fall.

"Who?! Who dares ruin this escort chief's business?" Guo Zhengwei landed with his blade in hand and looked over.

He saw a young man holding a treasured sword, his gaze sharp as a blade. At this moment, he glared at Guo Zhengwei in towering fury.

"Chief Escort Guo, why are you ruining my plans for no reason at all?"

"You are... Shen Changfeng?" Guo Zhengwei recognized him. His expression seemed to regain a few traces of clarity as he frowned deeply.

"I received word that this man wanted to mediate the conflict between Lu Ming and me. Hmph, he overestimated himself!"

Shen Changfeng said angrily, "Mediate the conflict? What utter nonsense! Chen Jinyang is Chen Feng's man. He was helping me lure Lu Ming out so that I could kill him and avenge my hatred!"

Guo Zhengwei suddenly produced a jade pendant and tossed it to Shen Changfeng, shouting,

"This jade pendant is proof! If he was not sincerely trying to mediate, why would he give away his personal token?"

Shen Changfeng caught the jade pendant, and his gaze sharpened.

"It is indeed the jade pendant of a direct descendant of the Chen Family. I understand now! He gave the jade pendant to put Lu Ming at ease.

"Yet since the jade pendant ended up in your hands, it proves that Lu Ming was behind this!

"He never intended to keep the appointment. Instead, he sent the jade token into your hands to kill with a borrowed blade. He was toying with us!"

By the end, Shen Changfeng's face had turned incomparably dark, faintly burning with humiliation.

After going to such lengths, he had actually been played by Lu Ming.

A trace of savagery surfaced in Guo Zhengwei's eyes as he roared, "Lu Ming won the arena battle. The Blazing Flame Martial Hall and Red Snake Gang lost the arena battle. You all caused my son's death. You are all sinners, sinners!!"

With a roar, he charged at Shen Changfeng.

Sensing the terrifying vitality and blood emanating from Guo Zhengwei, Shen Changfeng's expression changed slightly. He had yet to break through and was only at Tendon Refining, while Guo Zhengwei was at Tendon Refining Grand Completion.

"This madman!" Seeing Guo Zhengwei rush at him regardless of everything, Shen Changfeng cursed inwardly. He was incomparably frustrated as he hastily retreated.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

Guo Zhengwei's Six Harmonies Blade Technique was broad and powerful. Although Shen Changfeng's swordsmanship was exquisite and he could spot many openings, the gap in cultivation meant he could not seize any of them. He could only receive the attacks passively.

After taking several consecutive blows, Shen Changfeng felt a jolt travel from his wrist to his heart. His stomach churned, and he nearly vomited blood.

Guo Zhengwei had been famous for a long time. He was in the prime of his life, and his might was simply too overwhelming!

Shen Changfeng had no desire to fight this madman for long and was about to seek an opportunity to pull away when his gaze suddenly sharpened. Killing intent immediately overflowed from his eyes.

"Lu Ming?! You actually dared to show yourself!"

"Hm?" Upon hearing the words "Lu Ming," Guo Zhengwei regained a little clarity. Turning his head, he truly saw that familiar face appear at the street corner.

Whoosh! Whoosh!

In an instant, the two martial arts experts who had just been trading blade and sword both charged toward Lu Ming.

Meanwhile, Lu Ming stood calmly at the street corner, neither dodging nor evading.

He carried no weapon. The only thing in his hand was an invitation, crimson red and embossed with gold.