Chu Feng said nothing more, waving a hand to indicate that Fang Han could leave.

His attitude was a stark contrast to True Disciple Wang Miao’s warmth, filled with the disdain a True Disciple held for an ordinary disciple.

Fang Han paid it no mind. After bowing once more, he turned and left the living room, following the servant out of the courtyard.

’It seems not all True Disciples are as kind as Wang Miao. People like him are probably in the minority!’

Fang Han remained unfazed, carefully placing the package and letter into a satchel he had prepared.

In a place with a strict hierarchy like the Qingxuan Sect, strength and status were everything.

It was only natural for a True Disciple, someone destined to become an Elder at the very least, to treat an unknown, ordinary disciple like him with cold indifference.

With the items in hand, he wasted no more time. He headed straight down the mountain and out the gates of the Qingxuan Sect.

He took out the map provided by the Sect, found the direction to Qinghe City, and used the Startled Swan Step, maintaining a normal pace as he sped along the main road.

...

About an hour after leaving the Sect’s territory, the scenery on both sides of the main road grew desolate, and the woods began to thicken.

Fang Han appeared relaxed on the surface, but inwardly he was already on high alert, his senses sharpened to their absolute limit.

The slightest rustle of grass or startled flutter of a bird did not escape his notice.

He deliberately slowed his pace slightly, just enough that any potential trackers wouldn’t lose his trail, yet still giving himself ample time to react.

An hour passed, then two...

The attack he anticipated never came.

The occasional carriage or pedestrian passed by on the main road without incident. All was quiet, save for the natural sounds of the wind and insects.

’Did Zhao Qianjun see through my plan? Or was my guess wrong from the start?’

A sliver of doubt crept into his mind.

But he quickly dismissed the thought. Based on Zhao Qianjun’s behavior the other day, the man had definitely targeted him and would most likely use this mission as an opportunity to strike.

His mind raced, but he didn’t let down his guard.

Suddenly.

SWISH!

A sharp, whistling sound erupted without warning from the dense woods to his left.

It was a focused gleam of sword light—fast, vicious, and precise—aimed straight for the vital point beneath Fang Han’s ribs.

The angle was cunning, the timing impeccable.

’He’s here, just as I thought!’

Fang Han was startled but not panicked.

The Startled Swan Step was already instinct. With a sudden shift of his feet, his body drifted three feet to the right like a willow catkin in the wind.

Simultaneously, the Cyan Blade Sword at his waist flew from its sheath, and he swept it upward in a backhand motion to meet the incoming attack.

CLANG!

The crisp sound of metal striking metal rang out.

Sparks flew!

A powerful force traveled up the blade, making Fang Han’s arm tingle with numbness.

The attacker was clearly powerful, no amateur.

WHOOSH—

Fang Han used the momentum of the blow to drift back several steps. He steadied himself and looked toward where the attacker had emerged.

A man slowly walked out of the woods. He was dressed in black, his face masked by a black cloth that revealed only a pair of sinister eyes. In his hand, he held a longsword that glinted with a cold light. 𝓯𝙧𝙚𝒆𝙬𝙚𝒃𝙣𝙤𝒗𝓮𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

Despite the man’s black clothes and mask, Fang Han recognized him at a glance. It was Zhao Qianjun.

Having observed Zhao Qianjun in secret so many times, there was no way he could be mistaken.

"Who are you? Why did you attack me?"

Fang Han put on a look of panic and anger. He made the hand holding his sword tremble slightly as he demanded sharply.

He was trying to bait the man into revealing his motive.

"You actually blocked it!"

A flash of surprise crossed Zhao Qianjun’s eyes. He hadn’t expected Fang Han to react so quickly and block an attack he was sure would succeed.

His voice was hoarse; he had clearly disguised it.

"Not bad, kid. Fast reflexes. If you know what’s good for you, hand over your valuables and that package. Maybe I’ll leave your corpse in one piece!"

He made no mention of his true purpose, framing it as a simple robbery.

"You... You’re after my money? I... I can give you everything! Just please, let me go..."

’Cunning bastard,’ Fang Han cursed inwardly, his expression growing even more panicked.

"You’re about to die and you’re still trying to bargain? Die!"

A murderous glint filled Zhao Qianjun’s eyes. Wasting no more words, he let out a low growl.

Before the words left his mouth, he lunged forward. The longsword in his hand erupted with a vicious light, striking at Fang Han once more like a viper from its hole.

His Swordsmanship was vicious and swift, every move aimed at a vital point—sinister and deadly.

’It seems I can’t bait him into revealing his motive!’

Seeing that he couldn’t get the real reason out of him, Fang Han knew there was no need to keep up the act.

All traces of panic vanished from his face, replaced by an icy calm.

A sharp glint flashed in his eyes as he unleashed his Perfection Realm Xunfeng Swordsmanship.

HUM!

The Cyan Blade Sword let out a joyful hum. A pale cyan aura flowed along the blade, accompanied by the faint sound of a rushing wind.

With a flick of his wrist, he fully activated the Wind Momentum he’d grasped from his Perfection Realm Xunfeng Swordsmanship. His Sword Techniques suddenly became swift and ferocious, meeting Zhao Qianjun’s attack head-on like a raging tempest.

"What?!"

Zhao Qianjun’s pupils contracted in horror.

The power of Fang Han’s Swordsmanship was a world apart from the "panic" he had just displayed; it was like he was a completely different person.

The fierce aura sent a chill through him.

CLANG! CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!

A rapid-fire series of clashes rang out like popping firecrackers.

The two figures blurred together in an open area by the road. Sword light flashed and Qi Force radiated, kicking up dead branches and fallen leaves.

Fang Han unleashed his Sword Momentum. Like Wind Rolls Up the Clouds, it brought the agile, swift, and tearing characteristics of his Wind Momentum to their fullest expression.

Using the Startled Swan Step, his movements were erratic and unpredictable. He repeatedly dodged Zhao Qianjun’s killing blows by a hair’s breadth, while his own sword always found the most cunning angles to attack, forcing Zhao Qianjun to defend.

SLICE! SLICE—

The longer Zhao Qianjun fought, the more horrified he became. He realized he was being completely overwhelmed.

Fang Han’s Swordsmanship wasn’t just fast and ruthless; it carried a Momentum that felt like it could tear through anything, restricting his movements and putting him in constant peril.

Soon, several cuts appeared on his black clothes, blood seeping through the fabric.

"Impossible! You’re just a new disciple! How can you be this strong?!"

Zhao Qianjun roared, his voice a mixture of shock and fury.

He simply couldn’t comprehend how a new disciple from a minor family in Liangshui City, one who’d only gotten into the Sect by a stroke of luck, could possess such terrifying strength.

At that moment, he was consumed by regret.

If he had known Fang Han was such a monster, he never would have gotten involved in this mess—not for the reward Lin Yaotian offered, not even for double the price.

This was suicide!

Fear spread through him like a fast-acting poison.

Realizing he was outmatched, Zhao Qianjun made a feint, forcing Fang Han back half a step. He then turned to use his Body Technique and flee into the dense woods.

"I seem to have overestimated you. Trying to run? Too late!"

Fang Han barked coldly as he fully unleashed the speed of his Startled Swan Step at the Great Success Realm.

With a single push off the ground, he shot forward like an arrow from a bow. Despite starting second, he instantly appeared behind Zhao Qianjun.

A flash of sword light stabbed toward his back.

Sensing the lethal sharpness at his back, Zhao Qianjun was scared out of his wits and desperately twisted to parry.

SHLICK!

Although he protected his vitals, the sword tip still carved a gash deep enough to reveal bone on his shoulder blade.

"Aargh!" Zhao Qianjun screamed. He stumbled, his speed dropping dramatically.

Fang Han pressed his advantage, his Sword Techniques flowing one after another, sticking to Zhao Qianjun like a shadow.

Within a few more moves, fresh wounds appeared on Zhao Qianjun’s legs and arms. Dripping with blood, he completely lost any ability to escape.

THUD!

Seizing the opportunity, Fang Han kicked Zhao Qianjun squarely in the chest.

Zhao Qianjun flew backward like a broken kite, slamming hard against a large tree before sliding to the ground. He coughed up a mouthful of blood as his longsword flew from his grasp.

In a flash, Fang Han was before him. The cold tip of his Cyan Blade Sword sliced away Zhao Qianjun’s mask, then came to rest at his throat.

"Your goal wasn’t just robbery, was it, Senior Brother Zhao Qianjun?"

Fang Han asked, his voice like ice.

"You recognize me?"

Zhao Qianjun’s voice was filled with horror. Fang Han had only joined the Qingxuan Sect a short while ago, and they were from different courtyards. He never imagined Fang Han would recognize him.

"After you’ve been stalking me for so long, it would be hard not to."

Fang Han said coldly.

"No wonder... No wonder those last two missions you took were what they were. You took this mission specifically to lure me out?!"

It all clicked for Zhao Qianjun, and a cold dread washed over him.

So Fang Han had been aware of his surveillance all along. Everything had been part of his plan. Just what kind of monster had he provoked?

"Speak. Why did you come after me?"

Fang Han demanded.

Zhao Qianjun’s face was ashen. Feeling the aura of death coming from the sword tip, his will to resist completely crumbled.

His hatred for Lin Yaotian instantly peaked. If it weren’t for that old bastard, how could he have ended up like this?

"It... it was Lin Yaotian of the Lin Family from Liangshui City!"

Zhao Qianjun hissed, his voice filled with venom.

"He paid me a hefty price to find a chance to kill you! I... I was just overcome with greed! Junior Brother Fang, spare me! Please, spare my life!"

"I’ll give you all my Contribution Points! I swear I won’t hold a grudge! From now on, I’ll stay far away from you and never appear in your sight again!"

Tears streamed down his face as he pleaded desperately.

Fang Han’s gaze was cold. He would never show mercy to someone who wanted him dead.

"In your next life, be more discerning."

Before the words faded, his sword flashed.

Zhao Qianjun’s pleas cut off abruptly. A thin red line appeared on his throat, and the light in his eyes faded, filled with terror and bitter regret.

Fang Han withdrew his Cyan Blade Sword, his face devoid of expression.

He crouched and searched Zhao Qianjun’s body. In addition to an Identity Token, he found thirteen thousand taels in silver notes and some loose silver.

’So much money?’

Fang Han was shocked. He hadn’t expected Zhao Qianjun to be carrying so many silver notes.

With this money, he could immediately activate the Level 4 Amplification for his Swordsmanship Talent, increasing its effect to sixteen times the normal rate.

"Murderers and arsonists wear belts of gold," as the saying went. How true those words were.

’Too bad about the Contribution Points, though.’

Fang Han looked at Zhao Qianjun’s Identity Token with a hint of regret.

Zhao Qianjun was dead, and without him to operate the Identity Token, the Contribution Points couldn’t be transferred.

Besides, Fang Han worried that the Qingxuan Sect might have a way to trace the transfer records.

He stuffed the Identity Token back onto the body and carefully inspected the corpse. He then used the tip of his sword to completely mangle any wounds that might betray the style of his Xunfeng Swordsmanship.

He carefully cleaned up all traces of the fight, including his own footprints. Then, he picked up the corpse, used his Body Technique, and ventured several miles deep into the forest.

He found a remote, treacherous gully frequented by wild beasts and tossed the body in.

Back on the main road, Fang Han steadied his breathing and adjusted his pack. As if nothing had happened, he continued on his way toward Qinghe City.

Sunlight filtered through the gaps in the leaves, casting dappled shadows across his calm face.

Having eliminated the threat of Zhao Qianjun, he felt a weight lift from his shoulders. But the thought that the Lin Family was behind it all meant he couldn’t truly relax.