Caught Off Guard, the Eagle Wolf Guard Fell to His Blade

"This is... the Eagle Wolf Guard!"

"The Eagle Wolf Guard has appeared here. Could it be that a fugitive wanted by the authorities has fled to Qiuye Town? Or has some force in Qiuye Town violated the law?"

"If some force in Qiuye Town had broken the law, the authorities would have issued a notice long ago. This lord of the Eagle Wolf Guard most likely came to hunt down a fugitive."

"I wonder which wanted criminal he is after."

"..."

The Eagle Wolf Guard's attire was far too conspicuous to go unnoticed. Once word spread, quite a few jianghu wanderers who loved a spectacle gathered around.

At this moment, Zhou Qing was on guard.

He had acted outside the Black Market in Anqing Prefecture. Someone had probably guessed his identity, so this Eagle Wolf Guard before him was most likely here for him.

However, Zhou Qing was not afraid.

So what if it was the Eagle Wolf Guard? If they wanted to seize him, there was only one answer: fight.

What was more, having cultivated the Hundred Refinements Golden Body Technique to the sixth level, he had become a Peak Second-rate Martial Artist. If the Eagle Wolf Guard wanted to capture him, they would have to pay a price.

"Zhou Qing, you have committed grave crimes. Why have you not surrendered?" Zhao Sheng stared coldly at Zhou Qing. "If you dare resist arrest, you will be executed on the spot."

"Zhou Qing—the fugitive who broke out of the Black Stone County prison."

"That's him. Not only did Zhou Qing escape from prison, he also killed Zhou Chen, the second young master of Zhou Manor, one of Black Stone County's great households, in broad daylight. Master Zhou has put up a reward of three thousand taels of silver."

"They say that before he was imprisoned, Zhou Qing was merely an ordinary physician. Who knows where he learned such martial arts?"

"He probably cultivated some wicked demonic art!"

"Even if Zhou Qing cultivated a wicked demonic art, it would have been impossible for him to gain such strength in a mere month while locked in prison."

"Who knows?"

"..."

The jianghu wanderers around them whispered among themselves.

"No matter who has come, I will not surrender without a fight." Zhou Qing's expression remained calm as he said lightly, "If you want to capture me, that will depend on your ability."

"Since you are courting death, I will grant your wish."

The moment he finished speaking, Zhao Sheng launched the first attack.

The longsword in his hand flashed from its sheath as he charged at Zhou Qing. With one thrust, dozens of sword shadows immediately appeared in the air.

"That is... the Shadowless Sword Technique."

"This man is Zhao Sheng, the Shadowless Sword of the Eagle Wolf Guard in Anqing Prefecture."

"When the Shadowless Sword Technique is unleashed, it produces countless sword shadows to confuse the opponent's vision, making it difficult to distinguish the true sword move. With this Shadowless Sword Technique, Zhao Sheng has killed more Second-rate Martial Artists than one could count on both hands."

"Zhou Qing excels in the Traceless Blade Technique, but that is only a third-rate blade technique. The Shadowless Sword cultivated by Zhao Sheng, however, is a second-rate sword technique. Inner force can empower the longsword and erupt into sword radiance, multiplying its killing power."

"In this battle, Zhou Qing is probably doomed."

The instant Zhao Sheng made his move, many martial artists nearby recognized the sword technique and immediately began discussing it. In their eyes, Zhou Qing had no chance of winning.

"Die!"

Facing Zhao Sheng's fierce assault, Zhou Qing advanced instead of retreating. The longsword at his waist instantly left its sheath, and he took the initiative to meet Zhao Sheng's sword shadows.

Moreover, the strike Zhou Qing unleashed was not defensive. Instead, it slashed directly at Zhao Sheng from an incomparably tricky angle, carrying the utterly desperate bearing of a life-for-life exchange.

"You think I fear you?"

Zhao Sheng snorted coldly.

As a member of the Eagle Wolf Guard, he had experienced many life-and-death battles. Naturally, Zhou Qing's posture would not frighten him.

In an instant, his inner force surged forth and infused the longsword in his hand, immediately extending more than a foot of sword radiance.

The sword radiance was sharp and solid as substance as it stabbed straight toward Zhou Qing.

Yet even so, Zhou Qing neither dodged nor evaded. A ruthless glint flashed through his eyes as he circulated the Hundred Refinements Golden Body Technique with all his strength. The vigorous Blood Qi within his body surged forth, transforming into Blood Qi Wolf Smoke that enveloped his entire body.

Boom!!!

With the enhancement of the Blood Qi Wolf Smoke, the aura Zhou Qing erupted with instantly rose severalfold. The formerly invisible edge of his blade also gleamed with an incomparably vivid blood-red light, like a streak of crimson lightning slashing across the sky.

Swish!

Zhou Qing and Zhao Sheng passed by one another.

At that moment,

Dozens of sword wounds appeared across Zhou Qing's body, blood streaming down him. Though he looked rather miserable, every wound was merely flesh-deep and not fatal.

With the Hundred Refinements Golden Body Technique at the sixth level and the enhancement of Blood Qi Wolf Smoke, even taking Zhao Sheng's sword radiance head-on had only left Zhou Qing with superficial wounds. It had not harmed his foundation.

After resting for some time, he would recover completely.

That was where Zhou Qing's confidence in taking Zhao Sheng's attack head-on came from.

But Zhao Sheng could not do the same.

Although Zhao Sheng was a Peak Second-rate Martial Artist at the sixth level of the Acquired Realm, he had not cultivated a body-tempering technique and did not possess a physique as powerful as Zhou Qing's.

Zhou Qing had suffered only superficial wounds by taking Zhao Sheng's attack head-on, but Zhao Sheng could not withstand Zhou Qing's blade.

"Blood Qi Wolf Smoke. You cultivated a body-tempering technique to the sixth level of the Acquired Realm. It is not unjust for me to die beneath your blade."

As his words fell, the light gradually faded from Zhao Sheng's eyes, leaving them hollow. Then, with a thud, his body collapsed to the ground.

As the saying went,

Only by knowing yourself and knowing your enemy could you win a hundred battles without defeat.

Yet Zhao Sheng's intelligence on Zhou Qing had been gravely mistaken. He knew only that Zhou Qing had cultivated the Traceless Blade Technique and Swallow Dips Water to perfection, and that he was a Second-rate Martial Artist. He did not know that Zhou Qing had also cultivated a body-tempering technique.

It was precisely this missing intelligence that led to Zhao Sheng dying at Zhou Qing's hands.

Had he known that Zhou Qing cultivated a body-tempering technique and had even reached the level of Blood Qi Wolf Smoke, then when faced with Zhou Qing's life-for-life style of attack, Zhao Sheng would not have foolishly met force with force. He would have chosen more flexible and varied tactics.

Unfortunately, there were no ifs in this world.

What Zhou Qing had relied on was catching him off guard.

But such a trick could only be used once.

After this battle, the Eagle Wolf Guard would know that he cultivated a body-tempering technique. Though they would not know exactly which one, the next time he faced the Eagle Wolf Guard, they would certainly be prepared.

Silence!

The entire scene fell silent.

After recognizing the Eagle Wolf Guard before them as Zhao Sheng, the Shadowless Sword, they had all been discussing how Zhou Qing was surely no match for Zhao Sheng. Yet they had not expected Zhao Sheng to die after the two exchanged only a single move.

Zhao Sheng was no Third-rate Martial Artist.

He was a Peak Second-rate Martial Artist at the sixth level of the Acquired Realm, a member of the Eagle Wolf Guard in Anqing Prefecture, and he had killed more Second-rate Martial Artists than one could count on both hands.

Yet against Zhou Qing, he could not even withstand one move?

"Blood Qi Wolf Smoke—that was Blood Qi Wolf Smoke."

"Who would have thought that Zhou Qing had not only cultivated his blade technique and movement technique to perfection, but had also attained such profound mastery in a body-tempering technique, reaching the realm of Blood Qi Wolf Smoke?"

"It was precisely because Blood Qi Wolf Smoke protected his body that Zhou Qing could withstand the sword radiance Zhao Sheng erupted with head-on. Otherwise, Zhou Qing would surely have been torn to pieces by it."

"Zhou Qing killed Zhao Sheng. The Eagle Wolf Guard certainly will not let the matter rest. Zhou Qing's ranking on the imperial wanted list will likely rise several levels."

"..."

While everyone was still discussing it, Zhou Qing had already left.