The Cannon's Fate Aside, Just Tell Me If My Shot Was Fast

The treatment process ended quickly, but the disciples of the Iron Sword Sect had all exhausted their Inner Force, as had the guards present.

Using Inner Force to expel poison was never an easy task, let alone doing it for others.

"Now that we're completely spent, shouldn't you show yourself?" Cui Xuan spoke up.

He had actually figured it out—this was a chain trap. If no one noticed the poison in the feast, they would all be helpless victims once it took effect.

And even if someone did notice, as one of the Five Veins Under Heaven and a prestigious sect, the Iron Sword Sect couldn't stand idly by and let the guests die from poison at the birthday banquet.

If they did, it would tarnish the Iron Sword Sect's reputation, branding them with the infamy of refusing to save lives.

Great sects wielded their reputation and righteousness as weapons, but that also bound them.

"Completely spent? You, the Breeze Swift Sword, seem to have plenty of Inner Force left." A voice dripping with sarcasm rang out.

Not far away, a servant tore off a human-skin mask from his face, ripped off his clothes, and revealed himself as another person.

Then, he drew a Black Scale Soft Sword from his waist. The hilt was unique—a black serpent with its mouth open, making the blade look like a snake flicking its tongue.

"Black Faced Snake Shi Jiang?" Cui Xuan couldn't recognize him at first, but once that distinctive soft sword was drawn, he knew.

In the martial world, people were mostly identified by their martial arts, weapons, and nicknames—otherwise, how could anyone keep track of so many?

Take Cui Xuan, for example. Known as the Breeze Swift Sword, he wielded a thin blade. The moment it left its sheath, it felt like a gentle breeze brushing your face, and by the time you came to your senses, it had already pierced your vital point.

He had a great reputation, but the Black Faced Snake was no small name either.

His Black Snake Tonguing Sword was specifically designed to counter swift swords, and he was also skilled in poison and disguise, earning him the "Black Faced" title.

"Hey, let me ask you something." Lu Xingshi cut in. "You're here for the Iron Sword Sect and the Shangguan Family, right? I have no grudge with you, so why drag me into this?"

Lu Xingshi just wanted to ask why before sending the man off.

"Interesting? A brat like you dares to ask that? Your Iron Sword Sect is getting worse and worse." Shi Jiang sneered in mockery.

He completely ignored Lu Xingshi. In his eyes, only Cui Xuan, the Breeze Swift Sword, was a threat in this room.

Lu Xingshi's face darkened. He had only asked a question, and the man dared to mock him.

"Friend Lu is not a member of the Iron Sword Sect." Cui Xuan said calmly, drawing his thin sword from his waist. "Since you've stooped to such vile deeds, you'll stay here today."

"Let me see just how much your Black Snake Tonguing Sword counters swift swords."

As he spoke, Cui Xuan closed in on Shi Jiang in a flash, thrusting his thin sword toward the man's throat.

Swift sword, swift sword—the essence was speed.

Not only was his lightness skill fast, but his footwork, technique, and swordsmanship were all incredibly quick.

Lu Xingshi could see it—Cui Xuan was a skill-based fighter. He wasn't naturally fast, but the stacking of various techniques made him so.

Shi Jiang, however, smiled unhurriedly. His soft sword lashed out like a snake, easily coiling around Cui Xuan's thin blade.

"This move of mine, Serpent Entanglement, can catch seven out of ten swift swords under heaven." Shi Jiang said, then yanked. Cui Xuan's thin sword flew out of his hand, trapped by the soft sword.

Cui Xuan immediately retreated. If he hadn't been quick, Shi Jiang's soft sword might have wrapped around his neck.

The exchange lasted only an instant, and the outcome was clear.

It was only thanks to Cui Xuan's skill that he wasn't decapitated by that Serpent Entanglement right then.

"As expected of the Black Faced Snake, a true counter to swift swords." Cui Xuan's expression soured. Without his sword, his offensive power was halved.

"To hire you and specifically target me—you were sent by the Saibei Left Path, weren't you?"

Cui Xuan didn't believe this was a coincidence. The Black Faced Snake wouldn't just happen to be waiting for him here.

Shi Jiang just smiled. "All you need to know is that someone wants your life."

He naturally wouldn't reveal the truth.

"Can I ask if I'm included in that?" Lu Xingshi chimed in.

"Hmm~ Not you. You just happened to run into me—tough luck." Shi Jiang looked at Lu Xingshi with a mocking tone, like a cat toying with a mouse.

"Go! Split up and run!" Cui Xuan shouted immediately. If even he couldn't win, the others stood no chance.

The Black Faced Snake was a long-established First-Rate Expert; his strength was not to be underestimated.

"Your soft sword counters swift swords—can it counter a quick gun?" Lu Xingshi spoke up after most people had fled.

Shi Jiang's target was Cui Xuan, the Breeze Swift Sword. Letting the others escape didn't matter, nor did the Iron Sword Sect disciples—they wouldn't get far anyway.

But Shi Jiang hadn't expected Lu Xingshi to stay and ask such a question.

"Of course I can. Never mind a quick sword or quick gun—even a quick blade is no problem." Shi Jiang said arrogantly, confident in his soft sword.

"Good. I have a gun, named Golden Crow."

As he said he'd switch weapons, Lu Xingshi pulled out his Hand Cannon, Golden Crow.

"This is a gun?" Shi Jiang didn't react in time before Lu Xingshi aimed the Hand Cannon at him.

Boom! A thunderous roar erupted as a pitch-black cannonball shot from Lu Xingshi's Hand Cannon.

"Break for me!" Shi Jiang roared, putting all his strength into his soft sword.

The Golden Crow's projectile was incredibly fast. Shi Jiang's soft sword couldn't block it at all. The cannonball slammed into his chest, then carried him through a mess of tables and chairs before smashing him into the wall.

"Run, or we won't make it." Lu Xingshi immediately warned Cui Xuan.

Though confused, Cui Xuan still followed Lu Xingshi as they dashed outside.

Shi Jiang struggled to his feet, having taken a heavy blow from the fall.

"Little thief, don't run!" he roared, lifting his leg to give chase—only to notice that the pitch-black iron ball that had struck him seemed a bit off.

The moment the words left his mouth, the iron ball exploded in an instant, flames bursting forth as a hail of iron fragments surged in all directions.

"Cannon!!!" He recognized what it was, of course—he'd seen them before—but no sooner had he shouted than he was engulfed by the blast, the firelight, and the shockwave.

Boom!!! The commotion was no small matter. Most of the house shattered along with it, and the hall where the birthday feast had been held collapsed outright.

Lucky there was no one inside, or even if they'd dodged the explosion, they'd have been crushed beneath the rubble.

"Lu... Lu Young Friend, you call this a Quick Gun?" Cui Xuan's speech came out stammering.

"Let's not argue about whether it's a gun or not—you tell me, was it quick or not?" Lu Xingshi indicated that his "gun" wasn't the cold-steel spear kind, but the firearm kind from heat weapons. Different varieties, but both were called "gun."