Meanwhile, Shen Chu, the one who had started it all, stood in the shadows and slowly sheathed his saber.
He glanced at the fleeing figures scattering in every direction. He did not pursue them, instead turning his gaze back toward the center of the courtyard.
There, Xu Zhibao's battle with the black-masked leader was still underway.
By now, it had reached a fever pitch!
The two traded blows in the center of the courtyard, saber flashes intertwining. The earth beneath their feet had been trampled into pockmarked hollows, while the air was thick with the scent of blood.
Relying on his greater stamina and treacherous saber techniques, the black-masked leader had gradually gained the upper hand.
Xu Zhibao was forced back again and again, narrowly avoiding a fatal strike several times.
"Xu Family brat! Surrender without a fight!" Seeing Xu Zhibao's clear decline, the black-masked leader let out a savage laugh, his long saber growing ever fiercer.
"Bullshit!"
After blocking a blow, Xu Zhibao took a deep breath. A completely different aura immediately erupted from his body!
His eyes suddenly reddened with blood, veins bulging across the arm gripping his saber. An invisible current of air seemed to surge from within him, billowing his robes until they snapped in the wind.
"Your mouth is foul, brat. Once I take you down, I'll cut out your tongue first!"
The black-masked leader raised his saber and charged.
Xu Zhibao suddenly slashed at the black-masked leader!
Clang!!
This strike was nearly twice as fast and powerful as before!
The black-masked leader was horrified and hurriedly raised his saber to block, but the immense force numbed the web of his hand.
His entire body slid several feet backward, his feet plowing two deep furrows into the ground!
After steadying himself, the black-masked leader looked