The gong's peal was not crisp. Instead, it was unusually dull, making hearts clench as it reached the ears.
Zhang Yuan's expression shifted slightly. He whipped his head toward the window and saw the dense white mist in the courtyard shatter and disperse as the gong's peal spread.
Bang!
A burly man holding a gong had appeared in the courtyard at some unknown moment.
"Lei Jingbian, Night Watchman of Clear Harmony City, here to take the head of the Sword Immortal of the Ya East River." Lei Jingbian stared into the empty courtyard and spoke with a savage grin.
Since Zhang Yuan had killed the Fourth Prince of the Wu Kingdom, an investigation had naturally followed. They had uncovered some information about him, including his title as the Sword Immortal of the Ya East River.
In truth, if Zhang Yuan really were a Foundation Establishment Sword Immortal, Lei Jingbian would have been somewhat apprehensive. But according to what he knew, Zhang Yuan's most frequently used method was the Three-Colored Qi Light from just now. His supposed Sword Immortal title was merely an honorific earned by slaying a dragon with a single sword strike back when he was a Qi Refining Perfected Person.
Creak.
Hearing the door open, Lei Jingbian instinctively looked toward it.
The door opened, but no one emerged. Instead, a streak of three-colored light shot through the window, aimed straight at Lei Jingbian's head.
Lei Jingbian sneered, slowly raised his hand, and flicked a finger.
A clear metallic clang rang through the courtyard. The iron sword, wrapped in [Three Calamities Returning to Origin Divine Radiance] and [Fivefold Body-Rending Qi], crumbled into iron filings inch by inch, starting at its tip.
"You call yourself a Sword Immortal, yet resort to sneak attacks? Heh. Sword Immortal of the Ya East