Joining Forces

"Give it to me!"

"If you promise not to kill me or cut off my right hand, I'll give it to you!"

I vouch for it!

I don't believe your guarantee!

Inside the Renhe Inn, Lei Bei a piece of animal hide covered with densely packed characters and patterns removed, making it difficult for Qing Lingzi to maintain her previous indifference.

But Lei Bei's response made him feel like he was vomiting blood.

Seeing the horizontal sword technique within reach, Qing Lingzi wanted to launch a rapid thrust with her longsword, but she was afraid of destroying the top-tier, first-class technique in this scroll of swordsmanship.

He had shown no fear when he killed Lei Bei, never expecting that the other party would wear the Horizontal Sword Technique on his body.

He kept shifting positions while wielding his sword, but Lei Bei shielded by the animal hide, almost completely blocking all his options of avoiding damage to the hide and killing his opponent.

This is indeed a swordsman who is extremely skilled in defense.

Even though Lei Bei's current level hasn't reached the Divine Ability Realm, it's difficult for the opponent to find fault with his swordsmanship.

While the Horizontal Sword Technique is not invincible, it is sufficient to defeat over 90% of opponents of the same type.

Qing Lingzi could sense that the Snow Mountain Sword Sect's swordsmanship was almost completely countered.

Qing Lingzi felt neither fear nor greed whenever his opponent used a sword, a spear, or Technique Method.

This is the one sword he cannot forgive.

"How can you make me believe me?" Qing Lingzi asked through gritted teeth.

"Go before the king and swear that you will not kill me or cut off my right hand," Lei Bei ordered.

"Change your request," Qing Lingzi frowned. "I can acquiesce to the ineffectiveness of the pursuit, but asking me to make such an oath before the King would surely make me despised by everyone."

"Then go and kill Tian Jiu," Lei Bei.

"I can't beat him!"

Qing Lingzi took a deep breath, feeling that Lei Bei's request was completely unreasonable.

He wore straw sandals and moved slowly through the inn, searching for any possible angle to strike with his sword.

You stepped on my foot!

It wasn't until a leg was placed in front of him that Qing Lingzi felt a chill run down his spine.

He squinted at the person blocking his way.

In other places, chasing someone in broad daylight might lead to a police report or a chivalrous hero coming to the rescue, but this is Shouchun City.

As long as he wears the attire of a top retainer of the King of Huainan's Household and carries the corresponding token, he becomes an enforcer of the Prince of King of Huainan's Household.

Many people are unaware of the rules, but those who are unaware of the rules also die.

In the area controlled by the King of Huainan, when encountering someone like him enforcing the law, not only would the shopkeepers dare not utter a sound, but even diners in the main hall would keep their distance.

Qing Lingzi looked at the thigh, then followed the thigh upwards to the other person's face.

"What do you want?" Qing Lingzi asked, frowning.

"You must apologize!"

What kind of gift do you want?

"Horizontal Sword Technique!"

Even in a brief exchange, the purpose was made no attempt to conceal it.

Jin Chang wore a mysterious smile, which made Qing Lingzi blink repeatedly.

He was afraid of damaging the animal hide used in the Horizontal Sword Technique, but he wasn't afraid of cutting off a leg.

"Brother, wouldn't it be wonderful if we joined forces to obtain the Horizontal Sword Technique and contribute it to the Wenying Pavilion, after which you, as a first-class guest elder, could enter and observe it!"

Just as he was about to grab his sword and strike, a middle-aged man dressed in the robes of an accountant spoke up with a suggestion.

Who do you think you are, daring to boss me around?

Qing Lingzi glanced around, and the sword in his hand slipped from his grasp.

He felt the sensation of hitting nothing, and looking at Jin Chang, who had instantly appeared on a table several meters away, he realized that he had encountered a formidable opponent today.

"Fighting and killing are not good. I'm just offering a suggestion that we can both accept," Dong Zhongshu said, moving closer.

"What do you mean? I haven't agreed yet!" Lei Bei shouted. "Who among you can guarantee that this madman won't kill me or cut off my right hand?"

"That's up to you," Dong Zhongshu said. "We can only help you keep this animal hide safe for now."

"Qinglingzi, don't even think about trying to monopolize the Horizontal Sword Technique. You should know you still have Tianjiu above you," Jin Chang interjected. "Maybe if you take the Horizontal Sword Technique home, Tianjiu will be waiting for you there!"

"Qing's actions... are despicable! You actually gave him a longsword!"

Jin Chang interrupted, Dong Zhongshu stepped forward, and the animal skin clothing concealed the view. By the time Qing Lingzi turned his angle, his gaze had already swept over a sword that did not belong to Lei Bei.

Lei Bei with a sword and Lei Bei without a sword are two different concepts.

He touched the bloodstain on his face. The confidence he had had in control of the chase had faded, replaced by a solemn expression.

With a thrust of his longsword, Qing Lingzi swept his sword toward Dong Zhongshu had handed over the sword.

But then a series of clanging sounds quickly rang out.

It's unclear what Dong Zhongshu and Lei Bei discussed, but the animal hide ended up in Dong Zhongshu's hands, while Lei Bei used his sword to completely block his attacks.

"Hey!"

With a loud shout, Qing Lingzi wielded his longsword, which spun rapidly, the blade rotating continuously.

For Qing Lingzi, wrapping Lei Bei's sword with his longsword and then knocking the sword out of his hand or breaking it is one of the few ways he can deal with horizontal sword techniques.

When he uttered his rebuke, his Qi and Blood aura and energy were simultaneously unleashed.

The absolute difference in their cultivation levels caused Lei Bei pause slightly, his body momentarily stunned.

Although martial arts practitioners are far less powerful than magic Technique Method in terms of imposing aura, in close combat, the opportunities created by this intimidation are more than enough.

The blades clashed, a piercing collision and sparks flew as Qing Lingzi's attack interrupted Lei Bei's longsword, a sense of crisis rising within him.

When the power of his Qi and Blood and qi surged from all directions, he noticed several transparent, thin threads beneath his feet.

Unbeknownst to him, his legs had become so numb that he could not move them, making it difficult to coordinate his swordplay with his body.

"Sword Qi Slash!"

Lei Bei's voice, wielding a broken sword, rang out, and Qing Lingzi's heart tightened.

Transparent waves swept through the air.

The wind and waves were so fast that Qing Lingzi could feel them hitting her in the blink of an eye.

The moment he raised his longsword, the ear-piercing clang almost made his right hand, which was holding the sword, go numb.

"It's a top-tier wind blade technique!"

A thought crossed Qing Lingzi's mind.

But what he felt most was a tremendous sense of crisis.

He clearly misjudged the situation.

In that short period of time, he was attacked from the flanks by two equally skilled opponents.

Qing Lingzi even guessed the identity of one of them in an instant.

"Jin..."

As he shouted out his identity Jin Chang, his numb right hand forcibly wielded the sword wildly.

A series of clashing sounds rang out, and Qing Lingzi saw Lei Bei him by the broken sword in his hand.

He had just dodged the broken sword by tilting his head when a sharp, numbing pain surged through his chest.

The broken blade of the sword was now embedded neatly in his chest; he hadn't even seen when it had come from.

"If you die, that guarantees you won't kill me or cut off my right hand!"

Lei Bei glanced at Qing Lingzi, whose heart meridian was severed, before looking back at his right foot, which was stained with blood from kicking the sword.

When the excruciating pain in his toes reached his heart, he could no longer hold back and cried out for help.

"Congratulations! You are now the second most important guest minister in the King of Huainan's Household!"

Dong Zhongshu accepted the animal hide, and it took him several attempts to suppress the flush on his face.

His gaze swept over the thin lines that were rapidly retracting behind Qing Lingzi's legs, and Dong Zhongshu had already guessed Jin Chang's true identity.

"The wind blade technique that made Qing Lingzi's hand go numb?"

Sitting at the dining table, Jin Chang retracted the puppet's strings, his face turning slightly green.

If he wasn't mistaken, Dong Zhongshu, who had previously been spying on him in Lingnan, had arrived.

Few people in the Han Dynasty used the Wind Blade Technique, and even fewer could wield it with power surpassing that of a sharp sword.

However, compared to the rumors told by some Confucian School scholars, the Dong Zhongshu in front of him seemed to be much more formidable.

With his feet restricted and his hands restrained by Dong Zhongshu, Qing Lingzi died swiftly and decisively under their combined attack.