"Lu Ming, how dare you show your face!"
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On the main street, as the two powerful men charged toward them, the many passersby scattered backward. Only Lu Ming remained in the open.
A trace of murderous intent appeared in Shen Changfeng's eyes. This man had tricked him and still dared to show up. Was he here to enjoy Shen Changfeng's humiliation?
Was this kid really so bold and arrogant?
Or did Lu Ming have some other trick up his sleeve, like reporting him to the authorities?
A mocking smile flickered in Shen Changfeng's eyes. The authorities weren't all that useful against the Shen Family!
In this world, martial strength ruled!
Since Lu Ming dared to show his face, whatever the reason, nothing could save him from death.
Shen Jue, your older brother will avenge you today!
"Die!" Shen Changfeng and the furious Guo Zhengwei reached Lu Ming together. Their sword and blade were already raised, about to come down.
Just then,
a figure flashed over like a ghost and stood in front of Lu Ming, shouting,
"You're committing violence in broad daylight. What do you think you're doing?"
The words rang like a great bell in Shen Changfeng and Guo Zhengwei's ears. Both men shuddered, their weapons frozen in midair.
"Which puny—" Guo Zhengwei instinctively began to curse. But when he took a good look, his soul nearly fled his body. He came to his senses, fear showing on his face as he spoke with great caution:
"Pavilion Master Qin! What are you doing here?"
Shen Changfeng's pupils also contracted. The man standing in front of Lu Ming looked ordinary, yet his presence was immense, his aura as deep as an abyss, completely overpowering Shen Changfeng.
This man was none other than Qin Zhonghai, deputy pavilion master of the Heavenly Secret Pavilion!
"Pavilion Master Qin! What do you mean by this?" Shen Changfeng glanced past Qin Zhonghai at Lu Ming, who stood behind him with an unruffled expression. Confusion and unwillingness showed on his face.
Of all the forces in the city, there were some he couldn't afford to provoke—not even the Shen Family could. Wei Jinlin of the Military Service Bureau was one.
Besides him, there was the Heavenly Secret Pavilion!
People in the city often spoke of the "Two Gangs, Three Halls, and Three Great Families" as the county's top-tier forces.
In truth, besides them, the Red Cloud Chamber of Commerce and the City Lord's Mansion were also top-tier forces of the same rank.
It was just that one was in the business of commerce, while the other was responsible for maintaining order. Since neither often used force to fight over territory in the city, they weren't counted among them.
Then there were two more forces, the Military Service Bureau and the Heavenly Secret Pavilion. They stood above even those, and no top-tier force would dare provoke them lightly.
An ordinary top-tier force had only one Bone Forging Realm martial artist, its leader.
But the Heavenly Secret Pavilion's deputy pavilion master alone, Qin Zhonghai, was a Bone Forging Realm martial artist—and a powerful one at that.
With Qin Zhonghai stepping in, Shen Changfeng had no choice but to lower his sword. He was seething inside.
Everything had gone wrong today.
"Lu Ming is now a secret agent of the Heavenly Secret Pavilion's Outer Pavilion."
Qin Zhonghai spoke calmly. His commanding gaze swept over Shen Changfeng and Guo Zhengwei, making their expressions change and their breaths catch.
"Lu Ming? A secret agent of the Heavenly Secret Pavilion?" Shen Changfeng stared at Lu Ming in disbelief. "How is that possible? When did this happen?"
"Why should the Heavenly Secret Pavilion explain its affairs to you?" Qin Zhonghai replied.
Shen Changfeng's face darkened. "I wouldn't dare ask. It's just that... my fourth brother's death had something to do with Lu Ming. This is a blood feud!"
"I went to that loft and looked into it," Qin Zhonghai said coldly.
"Shen Jue clearly died after the ground suddenly split open and he fell. There were no signs of foul play.
"You may take your anger out on others over this, if you like. I don't care. But Lu Ming? He's a secret agent of the Heavenly Secret Pavilion. Are you trying to provoke my pavilion?"
Shen Changfeng's expression shifted. "I wouldn't dare."
Qin Zhonghai continued slowly, "From now on, anyone who goes after Lu Ming over these baseless claims will be severely punished by the Heavenly Secret Pavilion!"
A trace of humiliation and resentment appeared in Shen Changfeng's eyes. He clenched his fists and forced out a single word through gritted teeth: "Understood."
Qin Zhonghai turned to Guo Zhengwei.
Guo Zhengwei hurriedly said, "Of course I wouldn't go after young Master Lu either. Heh heh, young Master Lu, I offended you earlier. Come visit us sometime."
His eyes were bloodshot as he spoke. Then he prepared to take his leave.
"Chief Escort Guo, you're mentally unwell. You should stay at the Heavenly Secret Pavilion for treatment for a while!"
Qin Zhonghai's expression remained blank. His figure suddenly flickered, and he was already in front of Guo Zhengwei.
Guo Zhengwei's expression changed drastically. "Pavilion Master Qin..."
Before he could finish, Qin Zhonghai struck him on the neck.
Guo Zhengwei had just lifted the Nine-Ring Blade when his eyes rolled back and he crumpled into unconsciousness.
Clang! The Nine-Ring Blade hit the ground.
Heavenly Secret Pavilion members rushed forward, hoisted the unconscious Guo Zhengwei onto their shoulders, and picked up the blade.
Shen Changfeng's pupils shrank. One move—just one—and Qin Zhonghai had taken down Guo Zhengwei, who had reached Tendon Refining Grand Completion!
Sure, Guo Zhengwei was mentally unwell and caught off guard. Qin Zhonghai was also skilled in lightness techniques, and they had been standing very close...
But no matter how many excuses there were, Guo Zhengwei was still a Tendon Refining Grand Completion martial artist. Qin Zhonghai had knocked him unconscious with a single palm as if he were an ordinary man.
He was killing the chicken to scare the monkeys!
Guo Zhengwei was a local strongman in Red Cloud County, yet Qin Zhonghai had subdued him with ease. This blatant display was a warning to everyone: he meant what he said.
Anyone who went after Lu Ming would pay the price.
By comparison, Shen Changfeng had escaped Qin Zhonghai's wrath for going after Lu Ming over a blood feud. That was practically good fortune.
Shen Changfeng clenched his teeth. His face burned with shame, and he felt deeply humiliated.
He had to break through—soon. He roared inwardly as he watched Qin Zhonghai escort Lu Ming into a carriage and head toward the Heavenly Secret Pavilion.
Before getting into the carriage, Lu Ming glanced back at Chen Jinyang, who lay in a pool of blood in the street. Even if Chen Jinyang survived, he would probably be crippled.
That was what happened to people who schemed against him.
Lu Ming felt rather pleased. Then he looked at Qin Zhonghai and couldn't help feeling secretly startled by the strength the man had just displayed.
No wonder even Zhu Lie, the master of the top-tier Blazing Flame Martial Hall, had been so deferential toward Qin Zhonghai during the tournament.
Zhu Lie was a Bone Forging Realm martial artist too, but his strength was probably no match for Qin Zhonghai.
It seemed that even within the Bone Forging Realm, strength varied. Qin Zhonghai was clearly among the more gifted martial artists of that realm.
Lu Ming sighed inwardly, then spoke earnestly:
"Thank you for your help, Pavilion Master."
He had dared to leave the Military Service Bureau today because he had received an invitation from Qin Zhonghai, who had asked him to visit the Heavenly Secret Pavilion.
He had already seen the Heavenly Secret Pavilion's prestige at the tournament. Since he could tell Qin Zhonghai wanted to recruit him, he naturally couldn't pass up the opportunity.
After the tournament, the leaders of many forces had asked Qin Zhonghai to look after their younger generations. Qin Zhonghai had agreed to none of them.
Back then, Qin Zhonghai had exchanged lightness techniques with Lu Ming and no one else. Now he had come in person to recruit him.
As expected, a pearl would always shine. No matter how much Lu Ming tried to hide it, the light of his uncut jade couldn't be concealed.
Lu Ming was secretly pleased, and a weight lifted from his heart.
After what Qin Zhonghai had done today, Shen Changfeng probably wouldn't dare make trouble again for some time.
At last, Lu Ming no longer had to worry about being assassinated the moment he stepped outside. From now on, he had powerful backing.
Just as he was congratulating himself, Qin Zhonghai suddenly said:
"I heard you placed third in the Military Service Bureau's test. I wanted to ask: how much progress have you made with your Water Gliding lightness technique?"
The second-rate Water Gliding technique?
Lu Ming froze, then felt a growing sense of guilt.
That lightness technique... he hadn't had time to learn it yet!
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