Hu Zhang Attacks

"My lord, a letter from the Qiao Household!" Within Stone Manor, Lu Qianshan hurried over eagerly.

Yang Yi was practicing swordsmanship—the Pattering Night Rain Sword passed down through Shen Qian's family. Its sword forms were like rain in the night, fine and unbroken; in the soundless places, one heard startling thunder.

Yet he always felt something was off!

It was not that this sword art lacked killing power. It was simply too soft and yielding, somewhat at odds with his broad, unrestrained style. Still, it was ultimately an excellent sword art. Since he could not return to Qiao Family Fort for now, he practiced it to pass the time.

"Read it," Yang Yi said without raising his head.

These days, he sent a letter to the Qiao Household every day. Young Miss Qiao was an honest sort, so naturally she would reply.

Unfortunately, after several days in a row, he had yet to hear any news summoning him back to Qiao Family Fort, so he could not even be bothered to read them himself.

Lu Qianshan swiftly unfolded the letter and read aloud, "Hu Zhang has most likely gone to Falling Moon Market. Be careful to stay hidden!"

Once he finished reading, Lu Qianshan was greatly alarmed.

He looked up to see Yang Yi slowly sheathing his sword, even taking the leisure to pick up a towel beside him and wipe the sweat from his face.

Lu Qianshan was filled with admiration. As expected of his lord—such calm composure, his face unchanged even if mountains collapsed before him. That was something Lu Qianshan could never learn.

His own mood settled considerably as well. "My lord, the letter says Hu Zhang may have come. Where should we hide?"

"No need."

"Why is that?" Having asked, Lu Qianshan assumed a respectful posture, ready to listen to instruction.

"Because... he's already here!" Yang Yi's gaze turned profound as he looked behind him.

"Huh?" Lu Qianshan froze. Then the hairs all over his body stood on end as he felt an immense danger rushing in from behind. Before he could react, Yang Yi had already reached out and grabbed him.

The next instant, Lu Qianshan was sent flying.

Boom...

Only then, along with the tremendous crash, did the sound of something tearing through the air reach them.

Lu Qianshan rolled to the ground in a miserable heap, then looked up to see the main hall of Stone Manor's walls collapsed and roof caved in. A twelve-foot-long spear had stabbed into the rubble, its shaft-end trembling.

Judging from the spear's path and where he had been standing moments ago, if Yang Yi had not reacted so quickly, he would likely have met a grim fate by now.

His back was instantly drenched in cold sweat.

"Hahaha!" A booming laugh rang out. Then a burly figure strode in through the gates. The man had a square face and broad ears, a tiger's back and bear's waist, a leopard's head and round glaring eyes. Merely walking in, he was like a fierce tiger descending the mountain, carrying an irresistible air. "They said Fifth and Seventh died at the hands of a young man. I didn't quite believe it. But now that I see you, little brat, you really do have some skill."

He had been outside just now when he hurled his spear. That savage strike was not something an ordinary person could react to.

Yet the young man inside Stone Manor had not only reacted, but even saved Lu Qianshan. There was only one explanation for that—when Hu Zhang arrived, Yang Yi had already noticed him. Such alertness was no small matter.

"Hu... Hu Zhang!" Lu Qianshan recognized the newcomer at once, and inwardly let out a wail.

It was over!

Hu Zhang had come knocking.

This was True Blood!

He scrambled to one side, his heart caught between heaven and man. With True Blood standing before him, his instincts screamed at him to flee. Yet Yang Yi showed no intention of running whatsoever. How could Lu Qianshan leave, then?

Hu Zhang stopped in the courtyard and looked at the sword-wielding Yang Yi with great interest. "You're not afraid?"

He could not see the slightest trace of fear in Yang Yi's eyes. Instead, there was even a hint of... eagerness to try?

"Forget it. Avenging Fifth and Seventh comes first!" As Hu Zhang spoke, the flagstones beneath his feet suddenly shattered. The distance of over thirty yards vanished in an instant as he lunged at Yang Yi like a tiger descending the mountain.

Under ordinary circumstances, he might have considered subduing Yang Yi. But Fifth and Seventh had died by Yang Yi's hand, and this grudge had to be avenged.

There seemed to be two more Lan Bloods at the stronghold, so he had to end this quickly. Kill these two, then head to the stronghold and kill those other two!

His transition from stillness to motion came without the slightest warning. Yang Yi had not even seen any sign of his blood and qi erupting.

But when that burly figure pounced toward him, he felt tremendous pressure.

This was True Blood. Unlike Lan Blood, which showed traces of blood and qi spilling outward when it erupted, True Blood was True Blood—the true blood within was tempered, and all strength was contained inside the body.

Under that crushing pressure, Yang Yi's fighting spirit boiled. He drew upon all the strength in his body, gathered it in his fist, and ruthlessly blasted it forward.

He wanted to see just how great the gap between himself and True Blood truly was!

Shatter Mountains and Rivers!

"Overestimating yourself!" Hu Zhang sneered and threw out a fist of his own.

Boom...

The two fists collided. The blood and qi around Yang Yi's fist edge shook into a mist of blood, and his body tipped slightly backward.

"Hm?" A look of surprise appeared on Hu Zhang's face.

Facing a Lan Blood, he naturally had not used his full strength. That casual punch had contained only seventy percent of his power.

Yet he had been certain that he could blast this brat, who did not know the height of heaven or depth of earth, into scattered fragments and teach him just how formidable he was.

But the result greatly exceeded his expectations. It would have been one thing if that punch had failed to achieve anything, but it had merely made his opponent's body sway slightly.

That was simply unbelievable.

"He... he blocked it!" Lu Qianshan's eyes widened even further from the side.

He was still caught in his inner struggle when Yang Yi had already exchanged blows with Hu Zhang. The crucial point was that Yang Yi, clearly only Lan Blood, had actually blocked Hu Zhang's punch!

This had been a direct clash, without the slightest trickery!

Did that not mean that, in sheer strength alone, Yang Yi could rival True Blood?

No, Hu Zhang probably had not used his full strength!

That thought had barely crossed his mind when Hu Zhang launched his second attack, shouting in a low voice, "Good brat, take another punch from me!"

Boom...

Yang Yi could not stop himself from retreating.

Then came the third punch!

Yang Yi was blasted backward, spraying out a mouthful of blood as he crashed into the ruins behind him.

Yet Hu Zhang was somewhat dissatisfied.

He had used eighty percent of his strength in the second punch, yet he had only forced Yang Yi back. In the third punch, he had erupted with his full power, and still had not achieved the result he expected.

This was Lan Blood?

He had never encountered such a Lan Blood. Even those veteran Lan Bloods on the verge of stepping into True Blood did not possess such strength, did they?

But... it did not matter.

Hu Zhang stepped forward and raised a hand to pull out his spear.

After taking one of Hu Zhang's full-power blows head-on, even if that brat was not dead, his internal organs were surely shattered. Now that his blood and qi were scattered, anyone could kill him with ease.

Within the rubble, Yang Yi slowly stood up. He raised a hand and wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth. Though he looked battered, the light in his eyes had not dimmed in the slightest.

Hu Zhang's eye twitched...

This physique—was he really that hard to put down?

"Come!" Yang Yi exhaled softly and casually flicked his sword into a flourish. "Let's fight again!"

After clashing head-on with Hu Zhang's three punches, he could basically determine that this fellow was somewhat stronger than him, with slightly greater strength as well.

After all, one was Lan Blood and the other True Blood. There was already a difference in their realms.

But just as Yang Yi had thought before, if this was all the strength Hu Zhang possessed, then even if Yang Yi could not defeat him, escaping would still not be a problem.

Naturally, though, he had no intention of simply running away.

Those three punches had only been a warm-up. The real fight began now!