Speaking of Rules

Iron Horse Manor covered several hundred acres. Inside, there were pavilions and towers, artificial hills and flowing waters—everything one could want. There was even a dedicated training ground.

Zhao Zhi, Luo Dashan, and Wang Cuihua followed behind the chief steward, Yuan Suwang, passing through corridors and alleyways.

Outside the training ground, Zhao Zhi slowed slightly and turned his head to look.

At that moment.

Two martial artists were exchanging blows at high speed in the training ground. Every fist and palm carried terrifying force, their collisions producing dull, heavy impacts.

It looked less like a sparring match than a fight to the death.

A group of guards stood on either side of the fighting platform. Their expressions were cold, their gazes icy. They showed little reaction to the battle above, merely watching in silence.

As though sensing someone watching them, the guards all turned their heads in unison. Deep within their dark brown eyes, faint blood-red light stirred.

Zhao Zhi frowned but said nothing, continuing after Yuan Suwang.

Before long.

The group arrived at the main hall.

There were not many people in the hall: two men in charge and four servants.

"Manor Lord."

Yuan Suwang bowed slightly toward the middle-aged man seated in the place of honor, then slowly explained the circumstances surrounding Zhao Zhi and the other two.

"This is Lord Zhao Zhi, and this is Lord Luo Dashan..."

Iron Horse Manor's lord, Lu Yuanshan, was a heavily bearded man with prominent brow bones and deep-set eyes.

As he listened to Yuan Suwang, his attention settled on Zhao Zhi. Light flickered in his eyes as he scrutinized him closely.

He had naturally heard Zhao Zhi's name before.

Especially since Zhao Zhi had actually dared to move against the Fan Family of Qingfeng County.

Lu Yuanshan did not care about the Fan Family as it stood now, but he had to care about the person behind the Fan Family's eldest young master. He had heard that person had ties to that place.

That was a place that devoured people without even spitting out the bones.

After hearing Yuan Suwang out, Lu Yuanshan did not rush to speak. He lifted the teacup beside him, took a light sip to moisten his throat, and said, "Lord Zhao believes there is something suspicious about the deaths of these people at Iron Horse Manor?"

"Yes," Zhao Zhi answered without hesitation.

Lu Yuanshan remained calm, without the slightest hint of anger. "Then what does Lord Zhao intend to do?"

"Investigate." Zhao Zhi's gaze rested on Lu Yuanshan, utterly calm. "Investigate Iron Horse Manor inside and out, every speck of earth and every inch of ground, until everything is laid bare."

The corners of Lu Yuanshan's mouth rose. "Does Lord Zhao have a warrant to search?"

"No."

Lu Yuanshan said, "In that case, I fear Lord Zhao is neither qualified nor capable of investigating Iron Horse Manor."

Tap. Tap.

Steady, distinct footsteps rang out.

Outside the main hall, a group of Iron Horse Manor guards gradually gathered. Every one of them was powerfully built, with vicious gleams in their eyes.

"Zhao Zhi."

Luo Dashan's expression changed abruptly.

All color drained from Wang Cuihua's face. Her legs trembled, and she nearly collapsed.

Zhao Zhi's expression barely changed. He asked mildly, "Manor Lord Lu, what are you planning to do?"

Lu Yuanshan stroked the armrest of his chair. "A mere blue-clad constable dares come to Iron Horse Manor and demand answers, showing Iron Horse Manor no respect at all. Today, I will take all of you down and let the people of Qingfeng County know that not just anyone can come knocking at Iron Horse Manor's door."

Having said that, he waved his hand.

The guards outside entered one after another, and the spacious main hall gradually became heavy and oppressive.

"Brother Luo, protect Wang Cuihua."

Zhao Zhi gave Luo Dashan an instruction. He paid no attention to the many guards entering the hall, instead continuing to look at Lu Yuanshan. He rolled his neck, his voice calm and not loud, yet clear enough for all to hear. "I had intended to do things by the rules, but it seems none of you have any regard for them. Had I known, I would have acted directly from the start."

As soon as the words fell.

Clang.

Zhao Zhi's palm swept across the saber at his waist, swiftly gripping it in his hand. Without even turning his head, he slashed backward.

Rip.

A guard who had drawn near was cleaved in two from the crown of his head to his lower body.

As though tugged by an invisible force, the two halves of the corpse flew to either side. Blood and organs spilled across the floor, and the stench of blood swiftly spread, gradually filling the main hall.

Manor Lord Lu Yuanshan, Second Manor Lord Lu Yuanqing, and chief steward Yuan Suwang all had their pupils contract as they stared at Zhao Zhi in astonishment.

[You have slain an inhuman guard. Merit +22.]

Zhao Zhi slowly turned around, his eyes brimming with cold light as they swept over the guards.

The next instant.

His feet moved abruptly, and his figure vanished from where he stood. He shot forward at astonishing speed, like a tiger charging into a flock of sheep, crashing into the dozens of guards.

Saber light rose, and a wild wind raged.

With every swing, with every slash, scarlet blood sprayed forth and another life was taken.

Having pushed the Xiantian martial art Innate Unity Qi Technique to Innate Perfection, Zhao Zhi already possessed the strength to crush Iron Horse Manor's guards, whose strongest were merely at Initial Xiantian. With the perfected Wild Wind Saber Technique and perfected Moon-Treading Step added to the mix, his strength had reached a level these guards could only watch from afar.

They could not even touch Zhao Zhi, much less injure him.

Blood sprayed everywhere. A severed arm flying high through the air had only just fallen into the pooled blood on the ground, splashing clusters of bloody droplets.

Zhao Zhi stopped. The constable's saber slowly lowered. The blood staining it swiftly gathered, squeezing toward the tip in streams of crimson before turning into dense, round droplets that fell to the ground.

Drip. Drip. Drip.

The sound of blood droplets falling was startlingly clear in the deathly silent main hall.

[You have slain an inhuman guard. Merit +18.]

[You have slain an inhuman guard. Merit +13.]

[You have slain...]

Messages flashed rapidly across the Merit Panel. Only after Zhao Zhi slew the final guard did the notifications stop.

His Merit, which had been reduced to just two digits, quickly broke into three digits and continued to accumulate.

Zhao Zhi turned around.

At that very instant.

Iron Horse Manor's second master, Lu Yuanqing—a martial artist at Innate Minor Achievement—struck without warning. Under his high-speed charge, his lean body stretched into a long black-gold shadow as he rushed at Zhao Zhi with incomparably terrifying speed.

Qi surged madly through his clenched fist, faintly forming an ash-gray radiance.

His fist smashed toward Zhao Zhi's back, carrying fearsome force sufficient to split steles and shatter stone, far beyond ordinary means.

Bang.

Lu Yuanqing's fist struck Zhao Zhi's back heavily. Boundless force poured down like a vast lake bursting through its dam, surging with overwhelming momentum.

A smile had just appeared on Lu Yuanqing's face when it swiftly turned to shock and horror.

When his punch landed, it did not feel as though he had struck flesh and blood. Instead, it was as though he had struck a thick iron plate—and within that iron plate lurked a strange rebounding force. His own power rebounded at him with even greater speed and fierceness, racing through his arm and striking his body.

Pfft.

Lu Yuanqing flew backward, spraying a mouthful of blood. His face turned deathly pale.