Village Slaughter

Chapter 16: Village Annihilation

"How can you help?" Shili Changkong asked calmly, without questioning.

"I have the 'Yin Tian Sword Art' cultivated by Great Emperor Yin Tian, and the 'Three Talents Sword Formation' left behind by Great Emperor Three Talents," Xu Zimo said slowly.

Shili Changkong's current state was a lack of experience, with no path laid down by predecessors to follow.

Don't think that Xu Zimo could casually mention several Great Emperor Cultivation Methods; in reality, the preciousness of these methods was unimaginable.

At least for someone at Shili Changkong's level, they hadn't even encountered a Great Emperor Cultivation Method.

This was just like the old saying, ten years of effort are not as good as being born into a good family.

"What are the conditions?" Shili Changkong naturally knew there was no such thing as a free lunch in this world.

"I'm planning to establish a force and want to invite you to manage it," Xu Zimo said.

"Impossible, I will not be your subordinate," Shili Changkong shook his head resolutely. "My sword dao is one that charges forward relentlessly. If I were truly to live under someone else's roof, my heart would be unable to find peace, and how could I speak of the path of the sword?"

"A swordsman should possess the sharpness to be unyielding, but also the restraint to sheath their blade," Xu Zimo said with a smile. "It's like being a person; sometimes you need to stand tall, and sometimes you need to bow and smile."

Seeing the thoughtful look in Shili Changkong's eyes, Xu Zimo continued, "Perhaps some people's martial path is truly one of forging ahead bravely, never retreating.

Like the Three Blades Great Emperor of the past; he walked an extreme path. For him, there was no such thing as defense.

Even if he fell under someone else's blade, he would never retreat, and his blade never knew fear.

But you are definitely not an extreme person like the Three Blades Great Emperor, otherwise, you wouldn't be hiding in this small village, content to be a blacksmith.

Your sword should be able to advance and retreat freely. When unsheathed, it should possess the sharpness to shatter the heavens, and when sheathed, it should gather its strength and return to simplicity."

Hearing Xu Zimo's words, Shili Changkong's heart began to waver. He pondered for a long time.

He felt as if he had grasped something, but also as if he had become more lost.

"I will leave tomorrow. Seize the opportunity yourself. For me, a martial artist at the Venerable Meridian Realm is not overly scarce. I just happened to pass by and appreciate your talent," Xu Zimo stood up and slowly walked towards the house where he was staying.

"But for you, such an opportunity is not common.

Even if someone could produce a Great Emperor Cultivation Method, it might not be more suitable for you than these two."

Watching Xu Zimo's receding back, Shili Changkong's brow furrowed even deeper. He lowered his head and pondered for a long time.

In the dead of night, Shili Changkong stood up resolutely, picked up the iron sword he had just forged, and walked step by step into the village.

A strong wind kicked up dust, and his figure gradually disappeared into the wind. The Sword Venerable, who was once a household name, seemed to have returned.

The night passed without incident. Early the next morning, the sunlight shone down peacefully. Xu Zimo had cultivated all night and felt completely revitalized.

"That's strange, nothing happened last night," Feng Buyu said.

"Do you wish for us to encounter danger?" Xu Zimo replied with a smile.

He stretched, then walked out of the house with everyone else.

As soon as they stepped out of the house, everyone felt that something was wrong.

Silence. It was too quiet. The entire Baihuang Village was enveloped in deathly silence.

There was a faint smell of blood in the air.

Feng Buyu kicked open the doors of the houses lining the street, and a strong, choking smell of blood emanated from within.

All the villagers had been killed in their sleep last night. Even the village chief, Wang Tao, who had hosted them last night, was now lying in a pool of blood on his bed.

"Everyone is dead," Feng Buyu said after a moment of silence.

"I finally know what was wrong," Xiao Yu shouted from the side. "Since we arrived here last night, we haven't seen any elderly people, children, or women. All the villagers in this village were young, strong men."

Hearing Xiao Yu's words, everyone else also reacted.

"These people are definitely not ordinary villagers," Feng Buyu frowned, thinking. "But who killed them?"

"Shili Changkong, it seems you've made your choice," Xu Zimo said with a completely calm expression.

Even seeing the entire village slaughtered, he showed no surprise.

He went to the village well to fetch a bucket of water and washed his face as if nothing had happened.

"Junior Brother Zimo, do you know something?" Feng Buyu asked doubtfully.

He felt Xu Zimo was too calm, not even frowning upon seeing so many people dead.

"Why dwell on these things? They are unimportant and meaningless," Xu Zimo smiled and shook his head, then walked towards the outskirts of the village.

"Let's get on the road early and try to reach Tianjian City by noon."

Each of them lost in their own thoughts, they slowly rode their Desert Steeds out of the village.

As they neared the village entrance, a man suddenly ran out from a nearby house.

"Save, save me," the man was severely wounded, spitting blood from his mouth, on the verge of death.

Xu Zimo dismounted and slowly approached the man. Seeing the man's pleading eyes, he then picked up the scimitar behind him, Overlord Shadow.

With one slash, he separated the man's head from his body.

Even in death, the man's eyes held a pleading expression.

Feng Buyu, standing nearby, wanted to say something, but he opened his mouth and ultimately fell silent.

He felt Xu Zimo was too cold-blooded. If he had saved the man at this moment, perhaps they could have learned who massacred the village.

By killing the sole survivor, Xu Zimo had severed the clue.

Or could it be that Xu Zimo himself killed these villagers?

But Xu Zimo had been in his room all last night and hadn't gone out.

Xu Zimo looked at Overlord Shadow, which had drawn blood for the first time, and sheathed it.

Then, he mounted his Desert Steed and galloped out of the village.

Now, not only Feng Buyu was confused, but Xiao Yu and Tang Huaiyuan also wore expressions of bewilderment.

Hei Shisan quietly followed beside Xu Zimo, unconcerned with these matters.

His sole duty was to protect Xu Zimo's safety.

Lin Ruhu, as always, remained an onlooker. This guy had a big heart and absolute faith in Xu Zimo. In his opinion, whatever Xu Zimo did was for a reason.

If he wanted to say something, he would naturally tell him; if he didn't, he wouldn't ask.

As soon as they left Baihuang Village, they saw a man waiting for them ahead.

Shili Changkong, clad in white, rode a Chestnut Horse, a golden longsword hanging at his waist.

His black hair cascaded down his back, and his eyes were like sharp swords, their sharpness indomitable, making it difficult to look directly at him. From a distance, he exuded an air of elegant grace.

"Everyone in this village was a bandit," Shili Changkong explained indifferently.