第5章:给我个面子

At this moment, Ren Qianxing had been forced back by Zu Hao's strike and fled in disgrace.

Yet the Supreme Alliance disciples assigned to besiege Ten-Thousand Horses Fort did not withdraw. Instead, like jackals scenting blood, they slaughtered the remaining people in the fort even more frantically.

Zu Hao, Liu Yiyi, Madam Shi, and the others had just reached the fort gate when they were met with a horrific sight.

The once sizable Ten-Thousand Horses Fort had now become a living hell.

Corpses lay everywhere amid the shattered walls and broken ruins, sprawled in pools of blood. The stench of blood was so thick it made one want to vomit.

The Supreme Alliance disciples in black were like emotionless killing machines. They moved in groups of three and squads of five, searching efficiently and coldly, finishing off the wounded to ensure that no one was left alive.

"Stop! Stop right now! Don't fight anymore!"

At the sight, Liu Yiyi's overflowing sympathy instantly overwhelmed her reason. Despite the vast disparity in strength, she rushed forward in a single stride and spread her arms before a group of Supreme Alliance disciples preparing to strike down several wounded people.

The leader of that group was a scar-faced man. His blood-dripping saber paused as his icy gaze swept over Liu Yiyi, carrying a trace of surprise and impatience. "Where did this woman come from? You dare meddle in the Supreme Alliance's business? Tired of living?"

Liu Yiyi planted her hands on her hips and tried to make herself look more imposing. Raising her chin, she said, "I'm Liu Yiyi of Food God Residence! You're massacring innocents like this—do you have no law or justice left?!"

"???"

The Supreme Alliance members stared at one another, then burst into uproarious laughter.

"Food God Residence? Isn't that just a place that cooks food?"

"I thought she had some grand background. Turns out she's just a cook!"

"This chick is pretty enough, but her brain doesn't work too well."

"Why waste words on her? She dares obstruct the Supreme Alliance—cut her down too!"

"What a waste that would be. Look at how tender she is. Take her back and offer her to the hall master, or... heh heh, let the brothers have some fun too..."

Obscene remarks filled the air as several minor leaders exchanged lecherous looks, clearly paying no heed to Liu Yiyi's identity.

Food God Residence might have some connections, but before a tyrannical behemoth like the Supreme Alliance, it was simply insignificant.

What they were thinking about now was how to devour this "delicacy" that had delivered itself to their door.

"Y-you... Don't come any closer!"

Only then did Liu Yiyi begin to feel afraid. Her face turned deathly pale as she staggered back again and again.

Usually, she could rely on Food God Residence's name, a little cleverness, and the affection of those around her to get whatever she wanted.

But now, facing truly vicious criminals, she finally understood just how laughable her little sources of support were.

Zu Hao frowned tightly as he watched from the side, his fists unconsciously clenching.

He was not worried about Liu Yiyi's safety. He was simply irritated by this woman's reckless, indiscriminate "saintly behavior."

With a personality like that, surviving in the perilous martial world was practically a death wish.

If Food God Residence one day brought disaster upon itself because of her temperament and was wiped out entirely, it would not be surprising at all.

Fine. I still need Liu Yiyi to find the Nine-Dragon Stone. I'll treat this as a chance to loosen up and get familiar with this world's fighting style.

Zu Hao sighed inwardly and decided to step in and clean up the mess.

"Clang!"

A clear sword cry rang out.

Zu Hao did not move, but the Three-Edged Sword at his waist had already flown from its sheath on its own, turning into a streak of cold light as it shot toward the scar-faced leader who had first insulted Liu Yiyi.

The scar-faced leader reacted quickly. Hearing the sound, he immediately swung his saber to block.

With a crisp clang, the Three-Edged Sword was knocked away, spinning as it embedded itself in the stone pillar beside the gate.

At almost the same instant, Zu Hao lightly tapped several stone pillars along the way with his toes to borrow momentum, his final step landing on the sword embedded in the pillar.

"Buzz!"

The resilient blade bent beneath his weight, then snapped straight again.

Borrowing the force of that rebound, Zu Hao shot into the air like a great roc and brought down a powerful axe kick upon another Second-Rate expert approaching below with a sword.

The man hastily raised an arm to block. With a crack, his arm bone shattered on impact!

Before his scream had fully escaped, Zu Hao, still in midair, lashed out with his other leg like a striking viper and kicked him squarely in the chest.

The man flew backward as if struck by a charging wild bull, vomiting blood as he crashed into and knocked over several lackeys behind him.

Using the recoil from that kick, Zu Hao executed an elegant backflip and landed steadily before Liu Yiyi, raising a hand to catch the falling Three-Edged Sword with perfect precision.

The entire sequence flowed like water, graceful and unrestrained, brimming with the beauty of strength and skill.

Before Zu Hao stood hundreds of Supreme Alliance disciples who had just finished their slaughter, their sabers and swords still dripping with blood. Every one of them had fierce eyes and murderous intent.

Standing behind Zu Hao, Liu Yiyi watched his lone figure face hundreds of vicious enemies. Her heartbeat quickened, her cheeks grew warm, and her eyes shone brightly. The fear she had felt moments ago was replaced by an indescribable sense of security.

"Miss Liu."

Without turning his head, Zu Hao spoke calmly. "I didn't get to eat earlier, and I'm a little hungry. Could I trouble you to make something for me?"

He needed an excuse to send this saintly woman away, lest Liu Yiyi lose her mind again later and interfere with his fight.

"Ah? Oh... all right! I'll go right away!"

Liu Yiyi was surprisingly obedient toward Zu Hao. She immediately nodded, gave him a worried glance, then turned and hurried toward the relatively intact kitchen inside the fort.

Madam Shi and the other people from Food God Residence stood farther away watching, showing no intention of stepping forward to help.

Zu Hao swept his gaze over the sea of black-clad figures before him, his tone remaining calm. "Everyone, mercy should be shown when possible. Ten-Thousand Horses Fort has already fallen, so why insist on killing every last person?"

"Do me a favor. Take your men and leave. That will be best for everyone."

"A favor? Who the hell are you to demand that the Supreme Alliance show you respect?"

A burly man wielding a demon-headed broadsword grinned viciously. "You killed so many of our men and still think you can walk away? Brothers, chop him to pieces!"

"Kill!!!"

Hundreds of Supreme Alliance disciples shouted as one, their cries shaking the surrounding fields.

They were well trained and immediately spread out, forming an encirclement.

Among them, five Second-Rate experts whose auras were clearly far stronger than the rest advanced toward Zu Hao in a fan-shaped formation.

These five were all death warriors cultivated by the Demon Sword Remnant Clan. In the Heavenly Sword World, each of them was no weaker than Abbess Miejue. With their flawless coordination and the support of numerous Third-Rate fighters, even an ordinary Xiantian expert who fell into their midst could easily be worn to death.

The battle erupted in an instant.

The first to charge was a black-clad saber wielder. Fierce and fearless by nature, he leaped when still three zhang away from Zu Hao. Man and saber became one as he dove like a hunting hawk, the tip of his blade thrusting straight for Zu Hao's heart in a completely reckless, all-or-nothing attack!

He was not blindly throwing away his life. The four companions on either side of him had attacked at the same time, their blades and sword lights sealing off Zu Hao's room to evade. The moment Zu Hao dealt with the black-clad saber wielder, he would face a deadly blow.

Zu Hao's eyes narrowed. With a twist of his wrist, the Three-Edged Sword drew an arc and precisely knocked aside the black-clad saber wielder's thrust.

At the same time, his body spun rapidly like a top, dodging a sword from the left as the tip of his own sword shot like a venomous snake toward another saber wielder's chest.

Just as he was about to succeed, he suddenly sensed a fierce wind behind his head. The tip of a chain spear silently stabbed toward the back of Zu Hao's skull...