Ren Qianxing

Ten-Thousand Horses Fort was festooned with lanterns and decorations today, with a steady stream of guests creating a lively scene.

To unite the various factions against the ever-growing Supreme Alliance, Wan Wuyun, lord of Ten-Thousand Horses Fort, had specially hosted a banquet for Pei Yong, lord of Pei Family Fort.

He had even spent heavily to invite Liu Yiyi of Food God Residence to oversee the feast, demonstrating his sincerity.

To begin the banquet on time and avoid tarnishing Food God Residence's prestigious reputation, the convoy hurried along at full speed and finally reached Ten-Thousand Horses Fort before the appointed hour.

Wan Wuyun himself greeted them at the entrance, giving Food God Residence the utmost respect.

Zu Hao studied the lord of Ten-Thousand Horses Fort from afar.

The man was broad and imposing, with resolute features, looking remarkably like Wu Song from the television series. Zu Hao could not help marveling inwardly at this strange coincidence.

"Lord Wan, it is truly an honor that you came personally to welcome us."

Madam Shi stepped forward and performed a proper martial-world salute.

Wan Wuyun laughed heartily. "You must be Madam Shi, the proprietor of Food God Residence. I have heard much of you."

"Everyone in the martial world has merely been kind to me. How could I deserve such courtesy from Lord Wan?"

Madam Shi replied modestly.

Wan Wuyun nodded. "Then today's banquet will be in your hands."

As he spoke, his gaze shifted to Zu Hao beside her. Seeing his extraordinary bearing, he immediately became wary. "And this young hero is?"

"My name is Zu Hao. I came with Miss Liu Yiyi. Greetings, Lord Wan."

Zu Hao gave a slight cupped-fist salute, calm and unhurried.

A trace of doubt flickered through Wan Wuyun's eyes, though his smile remained. "So you are Young Hero Zu. A pleasure."

After a few more pleasantries, Wan Wuyun said to the elderly man beside him, "Uncle Sun, take the people from Food God Residence to the front hall to prepare."

"Yes, Fort Lord."

Uncle Sun bowed in acknowledgment, then said to Madam Shi and the others, "Everyone, please follow me."

Led by Uncle Sun, the convoy from Food God Residence arrived at the open area outside the front hall.

Stoves and chopping boards had already been set up there.

To prevent their culinary secrets from leaking, the people from Food God Residence skillfully erected canvas screens and took out the various ingredients they had prepared in advance.

Liu Yiyi and several kitchen maids handling the side dishes worked their blades across the chopping boards at astonishing speed, their knife skills breathtakingly exquisite.

Colorful vegetables danced with Liu Yiyi's twin blades, forming a brilliant rainbow in the air. This was Food God Residence's peerless Rainbow Blade Technique.

Zu Hao stood outside the tent and watched silently with his psychic power.

Although this blade technique had been created for cooking and emphasized precision and control, it might yet evolve into a unique martial art if applied to combat.

It was like Diao Buyu of Dragon Gate Inn. With his masterful knife work, he could separate a person's flesh from their bones in an instant.

Still, Zu Hao knew that such skill would ultimately be inferior in a true duel between masters.

The top experts of the Demon Sword and Life-and-Death Chess world all struck to kill with a single move.

As the saying went, it was better to sever one of the enemy's fingers than wound all ten.

When masters fought, victory was often decided in an instant. They attacked vital points; who would waste time thinking about skinning and dismembering an opponent?

Moreover, those ultimate moves had extremely wide ranges and would never give an opponent the chance to get close enough to use knife skills.

Before long.

One exquisite dish after another was served at the banquet.

After tasting them, the two fort lords could not stop praising the food.

"As expected of the female Food God!"

Wan Wuyun raised his cup in admiration.

Pei Yong clapped and laughed. "Brother Wan, this table is filled with imperial-quality delicacies, with every delicacy under heaven gathered here. Once we take down Guan Yutian, would it not be splendid to host all the heroes of the martial world at the Supreme Alliance?"

"Hahaha..."

Wan Wuyun laughed loudly. "Lord Pei, rest assured. I have secretly contacted seven sects and twelve schools. Once the time is right, we will surely join forces and eliminate Guan Yutian."

"Come, let me toast you again, brother."

Pei Yong raised his cup. "May Lord Wan soon replace Guan Yutian and become leader of the martial world."

The two traded cups and chatted merrily.

After three rounds of wine, once they had eaten and drunk their fill, the two fort lords suddenly had an "inspiration" and set their sights on using Liu Yiyi.

"Someone, bring the female Food God here."

Pei Yong set down his wine cup, a crafty glint flashing in his eyes.

Once Liu Yiyi came before the banquet, Pei Yong began making things difficult for her at every turn. In the end, he openly demanded that she poison Guan Yutian's food.

Though Liu Yiyi was merely a cook, she had considerable integrity. She immediately retorted, "Lord Pei, I make my living through my craft. I am not a servant of Pei Family Fort. Forgive me, but I cannot comply with such despicable conduct!"

"Don't think you're so impressive just because you can cook! Die!"

Seeing Liu Yiyi refuse, Pei Yong flew into a rage out of humiliation. To prevent word from getting out, he suddenly flung the Golden Cymbals he carried with him, intending to kill her and silence her.

The Golden Cymbals spun toward Liu Yiyi at incredible speed, accompanied by a shrill sound of tearing air.

Zu Hao had long sensed the disturbance at the banquet, yet he did not act at once.

Within the range of his psychic perception, a figure was rushing toward the front hall.

It was Ren Qianxing, disciple of Guan Yutian, leader of the Supreme Alliance.

Not only was this man Guan Yutian's personal disciple, but he was also a direct descendant of the Demon Sword Remnant Clan.

And to forge the Frostfall Sword, Ren Qianxing's blood was required.

In that instant, Liu Yiyi was forced back again and again. Her foot caught on the threshold, and she lost her balance, falling backward.

Just as the Golden Cymbals were about to strike her in the face, Ren Qianxing appeared in the doorway and reached out to catch them.

In the original plot, Ren Qianxing should have firmly caught the Golden Cymbals, then caught Liu Yiyi in his arms, staging a classic hero-saves-the-beauty scene.

But how could Zu Hao let him have his way?

The instant Ren Qianxing reached out, Zu Hao secretly activated his telekinesis and gave the Golden Cymbals a second burst of acceleration.

Ren Qianxing had been turning to look at Liu Yiyi. Caught completely off guard, his right palm was sliced open by the Golden Cymbals, leaving a wound deep enough to expose bone. Blood immediately streamed down his hand.

"Hm?"

Ren Qianxing winced in pain. He had no time to help Liu Yiyi up and turned to glare furiously at Pei Yong, frowning inwardly.

Little did he know that the instant he turned, a spray of blood flew outside the door and was caught by Zu Hao in a jade bottle he had prepared beforehand.

Zu Hao calmly put away the jade bottle before strolling toward the front hall.

Meanwhile, Liu Yiyi fell hard across the threshold, baring her teeth in pain.

"Damn it!"

Having nearly lost his fingers, Ren Qianxing was beside himself with rage and immediately hurled the Golden Cymbals back.

The Golden Cymbals bounced off the ground and pierced through Pei Yong's chest at a bizarre angle, finally embedding themselves deep in the wooden pillar behind him.

Pei Yong died on the spot.

Wan Wuyun's expression changed drastically. "You are Guan Yutian's disciple, Ren Qianxing?"

"Sharp eyes. Too bad you won't live long."

Ren Qianxing had come with a mission, yet he had been unexpectedly injured. Rage burned within him, and he had no time to spare for Liu Yiyi.

He stared coldly at Wan Wuyun. "My master already knows about your plot to harm him. He ordered me to send you all to hell."

"Hmph! Let me see just how capable Guan Yutian's disciple is!"

Wan Wuyun shouted and struck at Ren Qianxing with his palm.

Although Wan Wuyun was no weakling and had reached the Ninth Stage of the Acquired Realm, there was still a considerable gap between him and Ren Qianxing, who had achieved Later-Heaven Great Perfection.

Even with his right hand injured, Ren Qianxing knocked Wan Wuyun to the ground with a punch after only three moves.

Just as Ren Qianxing was about to deliver the killing blow, Liu Yiyi suddenly rushed forward to stop him. "Don't kill him!"

"Get lost!"

The injured Ren Qianxing was in a foul mood. Without even looking at Liu Yiyi, he backhanded her out of the room.

Then he stomped hard on Wan Wuyun's throat, crushing him to death.

Only then did Zu Hao, who had been watching from outside, act and catch Liu Yiyi as she flew out of the hall.

"You actually dared to hit me?"

The moment Liu Yiyi landed, she came to her senses and covered her swollen, reddened cheek, looking utterly incredulous.

Zu Hao shook his head inwardly.

Where did this heroine get such confidence?

Didn't she see that Ren Qianxing killed without batting an eye?

It was already fortunate that he had not taken her life.

If not for the heroine's plot armor, Ren Qianxing would probably have killed her casually as well.

Hearing Liu Yiyi's words, Ren Qianxing turned around. Seeing her swollen cheek, his gaze turned icy and a trace of killing intent flashed through his eyes. He cursed inwardly that the woman did not know what was good for her.

His eyes then locked onto Zu Hao outside the hall, sharp as blades. "Are you from Ten-Thousand Horses Fort too?"

Zu Hao set Liu Yiyi down and replied calmly, "I'm merely a passing scholar. I have nothing to do with Ten-Thousand Horses Fort."

"Is that so? I don't believe you."

Seeing Zu Hao's exceptional bearing and appearance far superior to his own, while Zu Hao was also holding Liu Yiyi, Ren Qianxing felt an inexplicable surge of anger.

Besides, appearing in Ten-Thousand Horses Fort at such a critical moment, how could Zu Hao possibly have nothing to do with the fort?

Following the principle of killing by mistake rather than letting anyone go, Ren Qianxing immediately attacked Zu Hao.