Vicious Dogs

Yang Xiao took the broken sword, his fingertips slowly brushing over the cold blade and its jagged break. The touch was icy.

He pondered for a moment, a complicated look flashing through his eyes before he finally sighed. "The sword patterns are like silk, its cold gleam concealed within. It truly is the Heavenly Sword! Abbess Miejue treasured it as dearly as her life, relying on this divine weapon to roam the realm unchecked, yet it was broken by your hand... Rest assured, sir. Though the Ming Cult is regarded by the world as a demonic sect, there are indeed extraordinary craftsmen within the cult skilled in forging, with methods passed down from ancient times."

Yang Xiao raised his eyes, his gaze sincere. "Leave this matter to me."

"Then I'll have to trouble Left Envoy Yang."

Zu Hao gave a slight nod.

He had handed the seeds of high-yield crops capable of saving countless lives to the Ming Cult, which had both the will to oppose the Yuan and the power to promote them. In return, he would use the Ming Cult's strength to reforge the Heavenly Sword and increase his own power. If both matters succeeded, the main goals of this trip to Sitting Forget Peak would be accomplished.

For the next few days, Zu Hao stayed at Sitting Forget Peak, the residence of the Left Envoy on Bright Summit.

At times, Zu Hao and Yang Xiao discussed martial arts; at others, they spoke of the state of the world.

Zu Hao could cut straight to the heart of the Mongol Yuan's corrupt policies, the suffering of the people, and even the hidden dangers the Ming Cult might face in the future. His profound insights often made Yang Xiao clap his hands in praise, and he gradually came to regard him as a lifelong confidant.

When Zu Hao showed Yang Xiao, one by one, a more efficient method for extracting refined salt, a controllable gunpowder formula, the process for making snow-white sugar, and even blueprints for an ingeniously designed flintlock, this widely experienced Left Envoy of Light could no longer conceal his shock. He stared at Zu Hao and sighed. "Your knowledge encompasses everything, sir. It is as though it were bestowed by heaven!"

"I dare say this: if you are willing to join the Ming Cult, I, Yang Xiao, will do everything in my power to support you as Cult Leader, and together we shall pursue the great cause of overthrowing the Yuan!"

Zu Hao naturally declined politely.

He had no interest in the position of Cult Leader. Instead, he took the opportunity to secretly visit the Ming Cult's forbidden grounds. Relying on his extraordinary senses, he found the Heaven and Earth Shift manual left behind by the former Cult Leader Yang Dingtian and committed all its mnemonics and diagrams to memory.

During his stay, Zu Hao did not forget to instruct Zhang Wuji, Yin Li, and Zhou Zhiruo in martial arts.

Zhang Wuji was innately kind and honest. The Muscle-Bone Forging Chapter of the Nine Yin Manual could subtly transform his physique, gradually revealing his talent for martial arts until he understood everything with a single explanation.

Yin Li possessed many ingenious ideas in the art of poison. With a little guidance from Zu Hao, she could verify them against the records in Hu Qingniu's Poison Manual, and her progress was remarkably swift.

Zhou Zhiruo, meanwhile, had a meticulous mind and comprehended changes in fighting techniques extremely quickly. Even the White Python Whip Technique displayed extraordinary power in her hands.

Several days later, a completely renewed Heavenly Sword and four flying knives were presented before Zu Hao.

The reforged section of the blade was seamless, and its cold gleam surpassed even its former brilliance. The swordsmith had clearly poured tremendous effort into it.

The flying knives were sharp at both ends and edged along both sides. They were not easy to grip, but they were suitable for controlling with telekinesis to kill enemies.

After confirming that there were no problems, Zu Hao took Zhang Wuji, Zhou Zhiruo, and Yin Li to bid Yang Xiao farewell.

Though Yang Buhui was reluctant to part with them and her eyes brimmed with tears, she knew separation was inevitable.

Yang Xiao personally saw them off at the foot of Sitting Forget Peak and solemnly thanked Zu Hao for the seeds and his guidance.

After leaving Sitting Forget Peak, the mountain wind brushed against his face, and Zu Hao's mind felt utterly clear.

Next, find the Nine Yang Divine Skill.

After learning the approximate location of Zhu Wu Linked Rings Manor from his knowledge of the plot and recent inquiries,

Zu Hao no longer delayed. With a slight movement of his telekinesis, an invisible force supported Zhang Wuji, Zhou Zhiruo, and Yin Li. His figure swept forward like drifting smoke, stepping on branches and brushing past leaves, moving several times faster than before.

Zhang Wuji only felt the wind howl past his ears and the mountains and rivers race backward beneath his feet. His admiration for this immensely capable "Brother Zu" deepened even further.

Zhou Zhiruo and Yin Li experienced this nearly flying method of travel once more. Beyond their astonishment, both felt a growing longing for it.

The following afternoon.

The four of them were leaping over a dense mountain forest when they suddenly heard a burst of frantic barking from the northwest. There seemed to be more than ten dogs, their barks vicious and mixed with shrill cries for help.

Zu Hao's gaze sharpened as he looked into the distance. Beside the mountain path below, a pack of enormous hunting dogs was surrounding a raggedly dressed farmer, barking wildly and lunging to bite him.

Those hunting dogs had clearly undergone strict training. Their advances and retreats were orderly, their fangs white and menacing, their expressions ferocious as they targeted vital points.

"Help... Ah—!"

The farmer panicked and waved the firewood stick in his hand, trying to drive them away, but how could he possibly fend off such a pack of vicious dogs?

In a moment of carelessness, his calf was clamped tightly in the jaws of an especially powerful hunting dog. Blood immediately poured out, and he screamed as he fell to the ground.

Then another black dog suddenly bit down on his throat. The rest of the vicious dogs swarmed over him as well, tearing him into a bloody mess.

Zu Hao descended with the other three, landing gracefully in the middle of the scene.

Without anyone seeing how Zu Hao moved, the Three-Edged Sword at his waist had already left its sheath. Its blade instantly separated into three streaks of light and whirled through the field like a fierce wind sweeping away fallen leaves.

A series of brief whimpers rang out. The dozen or more hunting dogs that had been so savage moments ago all dropped dead in an instant, each with a thin bloody line across its throat.

"Wuji, go check on that uncle. See if he can still be saved."

Zu Hao ordered.

Zhang Wuji responded and stepped forward. After crouching down to examine the man carefully, he helplessly shook his head. "Brother Zu, his throat has been torn open. He can't be saved!"

Seeing the bloody scene, Zhou Zhiruo could not bear it. "That uncle was so pitiful. He was actually bitten to death by those hunting dogs!"

Yin Li said coldly, "In my opinion, whoever raised these vicious dogs can't be a good person either."

Just then, hurried hoofbeats sounded from around the bend ahead. Dust rose into the air as three riders galloped toward them.

The riders were two girls and a young man, all around sixteen or seventeen years old. They were dressed richly, and their saddles and bridles were lavishly decorated.

The leading girl wore silks and satins that glittered in the sunlight. A gold bracelet hung from her wrist, and her oval face was somewhat pretty, though the arrogance between her brows greatly diminished it.

At a glance, she saw the dog corpses scattered all over the ground, especially the dead "lead dog," the largest and strongest among them. Her willow brows immediately rose as she shrieked, "You filthy commoners dared to kill my dogs? I'll make you pay with your lives!"

Before her words had even faded, she leaped from her horse, drew the sword at her waist, and stabbed at Zu Hao's back without another word.

Zu Hao turned at the sound, his cold gaze sweeping over her.

The instant Zhu Jiuzhen saw Zu Hao's face, she froze. The momentum of her sword slowed at once.

This man... he is so handsome! Compared with him, Cousin Wei Bi isn't even worthy of carrying his shoes!

Her heart wavered, and she unconsciously withdrew her sword.

Yet Zu Hao felt no ripple in his heart, much less any urge to cherish a beautiful woman.

In his eyes, someone who set vicious dogs upon people and treated human lives as worthless was no different from the beasts at her feet.

His figure shifted slightly, and he casually threw a flying knife. It became a streak of cold light that shot straight for Zhu Jiuzhen's throat.

Zhu Jiuzhen only felt a chill at her throat. Her stunned expression froze on her face, the longsword in her hand clanged to the ground, and her delicate body crumpled after it. In an instant, her life was extinguished.

"Cousin!"

"Jiuzhen!"

Wei Bi and Wu Qingying, who arrived just afterward, witnessed the scene and were terrified out of their wits.

Seeing Zhu Jiuzhen die miserably, Wei Bi's eyes instantly turned bloodshot. A sinister fire of fury and fear surged to his head as he shouted, "You vile bastard! You dared to kill my cousin? Give me your life!"

Though he feared the ruthlessness and speed of Zu Hao's attack, he was used to throwing his weight around in the Kunlun region. On top of that, he wanted to play the hero before Wu Qingying. He immediately drew his sword and used Immortal Points the Way, thrusting straight toward Zu Hao's heart.