A Narrow Victory

The smell of blood stirred the ferocity in both men, and a ruthless glint shone in their eyes.

"Mountain-Breaking Blade!"

Lin Hu's eyes turned bloodshot. The vitality and blood of Bone Refining Late-Stage erupted with a roar, his muscles knotting like coiled dragons as veins bulged across his body.

He raised his blade with both arms, the weapon humming and trembling as it came crashing down with the savage force to split mountains and shatter stones.

This was the killing move of the Mountain-Breaking Blade Art, meant to decide victory in a single strike!

Before the blade even arrived, the piercing gale from it had already whipped Fang Han's robes into a frenzy. Dust on the ground exploded backward in a fan-shaped wave like raging surf, while shattered stones flew everywhere!

"Breeze Brushing Willow!"

A fierce gleam condensed in Fang Han's pupils. Yet in the face of this earthshaking slash, the aura around him was as still as the surface of a cold pond, terrifyingly calm.

The Azure Edge Sword suddenly hummed. Its tip traced a flawless, rounded arc, like a breeze winding around willows, like flowing water deflecting stone, clinging with incomparably precise timing to the side of the wildly descending blade.

With a single guiding sweep of sword force, he actually diverted the incomparably fierce Blade Intent by three inches—this was the ultimate display of using softness to overcome hardness at the Perfection Realm of the Breeze Sword Intent.

"Buzz!"

Drawn aside by that ingenious force, the blade edge veered slightly and slashed down past Fang Han's side, cleaving a deep trench into the ground.

And at the instant Lin Hu's old force had just run out while his new force had yet to arise, leaving his center wide open—

"Whoosh—"

Fang Han flicked his wrist. The Azure Edge Sword gave a clear, ringing cry, its Perfection Realm sword art condensing all its power into a single point.

A concentrated, nearly transparent force shot from the sword tip. Soundless and swift as lightning, it stabbed straight toward Lin Hu's exposed chest.

This was the killing move that combined sword art and Qi force, usable only at the Perfection Realm of the Breeze Sword Art—Breeze Qi Force!

"Danger!"

Lin Hu's pupils contracted sharply as he sensed bone-piercing danger. With a furious roar, he twisted aside with all his might and drew back his blade to block.

"Pfft!"

But he was ultimately a step too slow.

The Breeze Qi Force arrived first, drilling viciously into his right chest.

Blood burst forth!

"Urgh!"

Lin Hu let out a muffled groan of pain. His body shook violently, and he staggered back seven or eight steps before planting his blade against the ground and barely steadying himself.

A bloody hole gaped in his right chest. Blood streamed from it, instantly dyeing a large portion of his clothes red. He had clearly been seriously injured.

The outcome had been decided!

"Xiao Han won!"

Third Uncle Fang Ping could not stop himself from crying out excitedly.

Fang Zheng, Lin Wan, and the others all let out long breaths of relief, only then realizing that cold sweat had soaked their backs.

A massive uproar erupted from the crowd of spectators.

"Fang Han actually won!"

"A Bone Refining Mid-Stage warrior actually defeated Lin Hu, who's at Bone Refining Late-Stage, across a realm!"

"He actually brought a sword art to Perfection Realm! The Fang Clan's Qilin Child truly lives up to his name!"

All manner of astonished and incredulous discussions rose like crashing waves.

Lin Hu knelt on one knee, his face pale from blood loss and searing pain. Yet his eyes were filled with unwillingness and the furious flames of humiliation as he struggled to raise his blade and force himself into battle again.

"Enough, boy Hu. Haven't you embarrassed yourself enough?"

At that moment, an aged sigh rang out.

A figure in green appeared beside Lin Hu like a ghost and pressed a hand onto his shoulder. A gentle yet irresistible force instantly suppressed Lin Hu's agitated blood and vitality.

He was a gaunt-faced old man, presumably one of the Lin Family's elders.

He cast Fang Han a complicated look, one containing surprise, scrutiny, and a trace of imperceptible chill.

He had heard of the Fang Clan's Qilin Child and knew that this Qilin Child possessed considerable talent. But now that he had seen him in person, he realized he had still underestimated him.

Once Fang Han grew in the future, the Lin Family would likely have no one capable of suppressing him.

"..."

Fang Han's heart tightened. An unimaginably immense pressure bore down on him, as though he had been targeted by a savage beast. Large beads of cold sweat slid down his forehead despite himself.

With his Perfection Realm sword art, he could defeat Lin Hu across a realm, but he could never defeat an elder at the Inner Qi Realm across a realm.

If the other man wished to kill him, he would likely find it difficult to survive.

He held his sword in guard, while his blood and vitality surged in secret within his body, ready to evade at any moment.

"Elder Lin Xian, sparring between juniors naturally involves wins and losses. Why must you become angry?"

A gentle voice sounded beside Fang Han.

An old man in brown robes bearing the Fang Clan's attire appeared in the center of the scene at some unknown moment, a smile on his face.

He stood precisely between Fang Han and the Lin Family elder in green.

Though he appeared casual, he had completely blocked the other man's faintly hostile aura toward Fang Han.

"Seventh Elder!"

Fang Han recognized him as one of the Lineage's relatively low-profile elders. His heart immediately settled, and he hurriedly bowed in greeting.

So the Lineage had always had an elder secretly protecting him.

Seventh Elder Fang Kai gave Fang Han a slight nod, his eyes filled with approval, before looking once more toward Elder Lin Xian of the Lin Family.

Lin Xian's expression shifted several times. He looked at the heavily wounded Lin Hu, then cast Fang Han another deep look before finally snorting coldly.

"Hmph, the Fang Clan has produced a fine seedling indeed. We're leaving!"

With that, he said no more. He helped up Lin Hu, whose face was filled with unwillingness but who could not resist, and with a flicker of his figure, vanished like green smoke at the end of the street.

Only after the other party had left did Fang Kai turn around and ask Fang Han kindly, "Are you all right?"

"Thank you for your aid, Seventh Elder. This disciple is unharmed, only suffering a few superficial injuries."

Fang Han replied respectfully, his heart full of gratitude.

"Good. You did very well."

The Seventh Elder stroked his beard and smiled.

"You were in the right in this matter, and your cultivation did the Lineage proud. The Lineage will naturally stand behind you. Today is your family's joyous day, so do not let such matters spoil your mood. Hurry back."

"Yes! This disciple bids the elder farewell!" Fang Han bowed again.

The Seventh Elder nodded. His figure quietly faded away, as though he had never appeared.

A disturbance was finally quelled under the intervention of the elders from both families.

Fang Han sheathed his sword, calmed his surging blood and vitality, and walked over to his family.

"Xiao Han, your injury..."

Lin Wan hurried forward, looking painfully at the bloodstains on her son's shoulder.

"Mother, it's nothing. Just a small wound. A little medicine when we get back will do."

Fang Han smiled to reassure her.

"It's good that you're all right, good that you're all right! Get in the carriage and go home first!"

Fang Zheng forcefully patted the uninjured side of his son's shoulder, his face filled with the complicated emotions of pride and lingering fear.

The family boarded the three carriages again. Under the many gazes of the onlookers, the carriages slowly began moving, heading toward Rain-Listening Pavilion deep within Fang Mansion.

Inside the carriage, Fang Ying asked softly:

"Big Brother, did that bad man get beaten away?"

Fang Han rubbed his sister's head and smiled. "Yes, he was beaten away. Don't be afraid, Xiao Ying."

He looked out at the passing nightscape beyond the carriage, his gaze gradually deepening. After this battle, he had gained a clear understanding of the strength of Bone Refining Late-Stage warriors.

"This battle could only be considered a narrow victory!"

He quietly clenched his fist.

Although he had won today's battle, it had not been an easy victory. It could be said to have been an extraordinarily perilous narrow victory.

If he fought Lin Hu again, he might not necessarily be able to win. And judging from Lin Hu's expression, he likely would not let the matter rest.

If he did not want something like today to happen again, he needed to become stronger!