novelraw Chapter 374 - 223: Divine Fist Unmatched, Strongest in Three Counties
Chapter 374 - 223: Divine Fist Unmatched, Strongest in Three Counties
"Wicked creature..." Shangguan Qing paused, revealing a look of surprise, and instead of answering, she asked bluntly, "Is Mr. Li truly that formidable?"
Shangguan Qing and Shangguan Ke both hail from the North Province Donglin Shangguan Family. Ten years ago, Shangguan Qing’s father, Shangguan Miao, left the Shangguan Family with Shangguan Qing’s mother and daughter due to an internal power struggle within the clan. On their journey, Shangguan Qing’s family met the old master of the Changfeng County Hongmen Martial Arts Hall during his travels and were invited to settle in Changfeng County.
Since then, Shangguan Miao, originally an Alchemist of the Shangguan Family, refined numerous pills for the Hongmen Martial Arts Hall with his superb Alchemy Skill. Due to this favor and Shangguan Qing’s exceptional talent, she naturally became one of the Hall’s direct disciples.
However, not long ago, the Rebel Army attacked Changfeng City, and the Hongmen Martial Arts Hall faced disaster. The old master, along with many skilled martial artists from the hall, died in battle, leaving very few third-generation disciples like her.
Reflecting on the past, Shangguan Qing’s gaze fell on Shangguan Ke beside her. She still retained childhood memories and naturally knew that her cousin was one of the martial arts prodigies of the Shangguan Family from a young age, with quite an arrogant disposition.
Within the large Shangguan Family, few could catch her eye, yet now this cousin, who held high ideals and vision, unexpectedly praised Li Feiyu as a ’wicked creature’ from the heart.
"Indeed, truly formidable..." Shangguan Ke sighed, "Not only Li Feiyu, but also Wang Xuantian, who died at Li Feiyu’s hands, was a ’wicked creature’. To be honest, little Qing sister, there was another person named Zhou Qing who traveled with me, a newly appointed Golden Order Blade Catcher of the Demon Slayer Bureau. Despite me defeating Zhou Qing, it was only by a narrow margin."
"Yet, Zhou Qing died at Wang Xuantian’s hands. If Wang Xuantian had exerted his full strength from the start, I’m afraid both Zhou Qing and I wouldn’t withstand three... five rounds against him."
Shangguan Ke’s cheeks flushed slightly, thinking about the cousin she was reuniting with after more than ten years. The word ’three rounds’ that came to her lips changed to ’three to five rounds.’
"Sister Ke, are you joking?"
Shangguan Qing knew well of Li Feiyu’s strength; back during the Qi Peak Mountain Range hunt, it was Li Feiyu who repelled two of the Rebel Army’s Four Protectors alone.
Yet, the sister Ke before her was not from Cyan Cloud but from the Commandery City, hailed as one of the geniuses of the Shangguan Family from childhood, and someone she admired from a young age.
This caliber of a strong opponent could only withstand three to five rounds against the Black Mountain Celestial King, yet Mr. Li was able to fight and defeat such mighty adversary, slaying him.
All happened within less than a year, making it hard for her to believe, hard not to be horrified.
"Ahem..."
Shangguan Ke coughed a few times, her flushed face starting to redden. She immediately changed the subject, "No more talk of this person, little Qing sister. Introduce me to Uncle and Aunt; this time you should return with me, Grandpa is very worried about you, and the clan will surely give your family a satisfactory explanation."
...
Before leaving the city, Su Mu stopped at a certain spot.
Once one of the top four forces in Changfeng County, the Hongmen Martial Arts Hall of the Changfeng First Martial Arts Hall had become a scene of ruins, with its iron-painted silver-hook martial arts hall sign destroyed.
Su Mu had once observed the Hongmen sign outside the hall, gaining insight into a blade-drawing ’secret technique.’ If not for repaying a favor with the secret technique, this technique would have been lost, cutting off its legacy.
"In this world... only one’s own fists are the true measure; so-called great forces are but fleeting mirages, just like the Hongmen Martial Arts Hall and the Black Mountain Rebel Army..."
Seeing the destruction of the Hongmen Martial Arts Hall, a few sighs escaped Su Mu, but the resolve within his eyes concerning the Martial Dao grew firmer.
"Let’s leave."
The battle to kill Wang Xuantian was arduous; Su Mu battled nearly to exhaustion, sustaining considerable internal muscle and bone damage. Such injuries would end the Martial Dao path for ordinary martial artists.
However, with Su Mu possessing the Jiao Tendon Jade Bone and having experienced part of the Vajra Secret Realm’s mysteries, it was not a significant issue. With rest and recuperation, he could be completely healed, especially since Su Mu possessed profound perfection of practical medical skills.
Moreover, he had once already ’cut off’ his Martial Dao path. Though not a smooth journey this time, he had gained experience.
Meanwhile, within the Changfeng County Magistrate’s Office.
"It’s a pity, Wang Xuantian turned out to be a worthless fool, dying at Li Feiyu’s hands... I wonder if before his death, he revealed anything to Li Feiyu. Otherwise, why did Li Feiyu enter the city alone?"
Inside the grand hall, Tao Xingzheng looked at Wang Xuantian’s corpse, his eyes flashing with peculiar light. Li Feiyu eliminating Wang Xuantian and entering Changfeng City alone was indeed suspicious.
However, given the situation where all eyes were upon them, he couldn’t intervene, especially with Lin Xing from Canghe County present afterward.
"On the other hand, Li Feiyu has always been hostile to the Rebel Army, as is Wang Xuantian, with intense hatred between them. Perhaps I’m overthinking; Li Feiyu is naturally reclusive and prefers solitude."
Tao Xingzheng recalled the actions and expressions of Li Feiyu when they encountered each other in the city not long ago. The Lin Family Siblings felt no murderous intent from him; by all indications, Li Feiyu likely wasn’t aware of anything yet.
"Lord Tao, what is your view on how we should dispose of the Rebel Army captured today?"
At that moment, Lin Xing from Canghe County pondered and asked.
Upon hearing this, Tao Xingzheng’s face instinctively revealed a cold expression, speaking indifferently, "What use are they? Execute all those Rebel Army scoundrels for me!"