Chen Ping's Sword-Chapter 35: All Efforts Lost at the Last Moment, Narrow Escape from Death

Chapter 35: Chapter 35: All Efforts Lost at the Last Moment, Narrow Escape from Death

The organization Seven-Colored Hall has become increasingly audacious in recent years.

It’s nothing like when it was first established, helping common folks, eliminating bandits, and supporting widows and orphans.

After its reputation declined, the government did consider taking action against them but found that the opposition had already grown too formidable.

With its seven branches combined, their influence spans throughout Xingqing Prefecture’s counties and towns. No one knows for sure how many subordinates they have.

Attempting to deal with them now.

Is like a mouse dragging a turtle, with no way to start.

Not to mention anything else, if pushed too hard, someone might raise their arms, potentially sparking a small rebellion.

At that point, no one would dare take responsibility for this.

However, as Gao Yue mentioned, it’s just targeting a mid-level leader of the branch, so it shouldn’t be too troubling.

Moreover, the cause is just.

...

Arriving at Shuangqiao Street.

Haitang Courtyard is easy to find.

At the street end, there is a large mansion surrounded by a grove of flowering trees, somewhat incongruous with the surrounding low-rise houses.

It has to be said, this is a kind of irony.

Cyan Hall originally came from vagrants and beggars, most of its subordinates are destitute and starving common people.

Yet, the Incense Master and Vice Incense Master of Cyan Hall live in luxury, enjoying flowers and the moon, leading a lavish life...

The weather has warmed, and the Southern Region’s crabapple trees are blooming early, with some trees already budding.

Chen Ping looked from afar, a faint scent was carried by the wind, invigorating his heart and spirit.

At this place, Chen Ping was even more cautious.

His posture is crooked, his footsteps staggered, slowly approaching the courtyard.

Just like any beggar you’d find along the street.

Slipped into an alley, reached out a hand, and lightly leaped over the courtyard wall.

Chen Ping hadn’t decided whether to capture a servant to inquire about Chang Sansi’s whereabouts... when his nose twitched slightly, smelling the aroma of dishes and the rich fragrance of aged wine.

Looking at the sky, it was already near noon.

’No need for more questions, just follow the scent of wine and food...’

Chen Ping’s eyes flickered, using the trees and corridor columns for cover, moved quietly, quickly approaching.

He had heard from Zuo Duanshou that Chang Sansi led quite a sophisticated life.

He adhered to the health principle "never tire of fine food and thorough cutting."

The aroma of wine and dishes was so strong, it would tempt anyone’s appetite; normal people simply couldn’t afford it...

It’s highly likely he’s there.

Just a sprint of over a hundred paces.

Chen Ping uttered a surprised sound.

Unexpectedly, he saw Zuo Duanshou.

’He’s entered the courtyard too, wasn’t he supposed to gather intelligence outside and then wait in the north of the city?’

Zuo Duanshou not only infiltrated Cyan Hall’s main courtyard but was also killing people.

His expression was icy, posture slightly lowered, his hand-held Black Iron Short Spike dripping with blood, resembling a lone hungry wolf on snowy ground.

Eyes bloodthirsty, pupils crimson.

Shhh...

He lunged, extended...

The short spike thrust forward, killing a knife-wielding man in cyan from behind.

His feet kept moving, stumbled half a step forward, and as another man in cyan was about to shout, pierced his throat diagonally into his brain.

’What’s he trying to do, acting so recklessly?’

Chen Ping thought inwardly, alarmed.

Zuo Duanshou’s strike was indeed quick and ferocious, most people could hardly see the shadow of the short spike being wielded.

Although his physical strength wasn’t particularly strong, nor was his Qi and Blood abundantly vigorous.

Yet, he forged a unique path, honing one thrusting sword technique to a shocking level.

It seemed he poured his life and soul entirely into that thrust...

In Chen Ping’s view, although that thrust was still immature in some aspects.

But if he continued, and further strengthened his body, it could eventually turn into a fiercely lethal killing sword.

The single arm appeared not as a disadvantage but rather became an advantage.

’However, he’s greatly underestimated Seven-Colored Hall.’

As Zuo Duanshou killed two and attempted to forge ahead, Chen Ping already sensed trouble.

The Inner Qi painstakingly accumulated at his Dantian was channeled into his legs, his entire Qi and Blood instantly ignited like fire.

The right leg visibly enlarged, the body turned agile.

Chen Ping moved swiftly, transforming into an arrow shot from a bowstring... whoosh, reached behind Zuo Duanshou.

Grasped his nape, the pinky pressing against the cervical vertebra to momentarily petrify the reckless fellow.

Simultaneously twisted his body, headed back the way he came without looking back.

Clothes cutting through wind, roaring loudly.

Leaving quickly was imperative, couldn’t bother masking their steps.

’Alerted the enemy, further attempts to kill Chang Sansi are impossible now.’

Chen Ping’s sensing power is extremely sharp now.

Had sensed long ago the clattering of tableware, two overwhelmingly intense Qi Mechanisms.

They were not Chang Sansi, far stronger in countenance than Chang Sansi many times over.

One was hot like fire, the other cold as ice.

As Zuo Duanshou started killing, these two Qi Mechanisms surged instantly, radiating murderous intent.

This is why Chen Ping immediately abandoned the initial plan, opting to save the person and leave.

"Who is there?"

A metallic scraping cold voice reverberated from the hall into the ear.

A streak of golden light roared like a meteoric hammer through the air.

Although Chen Ping’s movement was fast, that golden light was even faster.

It seemed to have eyes, attacking from behind, reaching first even after being sent later...

His heart raced wildly, and a sense of alertness surged in his mind.

Amidst the chaos, he twisted his body at an angle and struck with a palm.

"Bang..."

Chen Ping’s whole body shook violently, his left hand’s five fingers slightly retracted, and his palm felt sore and numb.

His body also felt slightly weak for half a second due to this shock force.

At the same time, the last trace of Inner Qi in his Dantian was exhausted, and his figure accelerated again.

Swoosh...

He leaped over the courtyard wall and passed through the alley.

Turning left and right, he disappeared into the crowd.

After a good while, Chen Ping finally stopped his body.

Hiding in the shadows of a residential building, he put down Zuo Duanshou.

He raised his palm to look.

He discovered that an exquisite, small golden cup had deeply embedded into his hand’s bone, with blood oozing out.

By this time, there was still a slight numbness in his left arm.

It must be that his muscles and bones were also injured by the fierce force on the cup.

"Just using a not-too-hard cup and chasing me from dozens of feet away, what kind of person is capable of injuring my hand with such force?"

"It’s Dong Jinzhong, his voice is very distinctive."

At this time, Zuo Duanshou hung his head low, not daring to look up at Chen Ping, though his voice was calm.

However, his eyes were still bloodshot, and his complexion looked very bad.

"Incense Master Dong?"

Normally, on the streets, Chen Ping had already heard quite a lot about the Incense Master of Seven-Colored Hall’s Cyan Hall.

Rumor has it that his skill is extremely formidable, likely reaching the realm of Marrow Cleansing and Blood Exchange.

Feeling the Golden Cup’s strike now, Chen Ping was speechless.

Street rumors are often unreliable.

But it turns out that the difference from hearsay could be so huge.

As they say, "lost by an inch, mistaken by a thousand miles."

Incense Master Dong is actually not one to follow the path of Qi Blood Martial Arts.

The Qi Force attached to the cup was extremely strong... just touching it was enough to have a sharp penetrating force, going through the hand, the arm, and heading for the heart.

If Chen Ping hadn’t been extremely resilient, with strength far surpassing ordinary people, and promptly used the Marrow Cleansing Technique to dissipate the Qi force.

Who knows, he might have had his heart shattered directly by this strike, dying on the spot. 𝐟𝐫𝕖𝗲𝘄𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝕧𝐞𝚕.𝕔𝕠𝐦

’This force feels much stronger than the power Jiang Teng attached to his sword.

It surely isn’t just the Qi Cultivation Stage, possibly the Meridian Passage Realm, though I don’t know if he has already connected the Twelve Main Meridians?

He probably hasn’t; if he were a master with connected Twelve Main Meridians, he wouldn’t likely be staying at Seven-Colored Hall as an Incense Master... he’d be making a small gang his own.’

A cloud loomed over Chen Ping’s heart.

This doesn’t bode well.

He thought, relying on his current strength, in Xingqing Prefecture, he wouldn’t say he could walk unchallenged, but cautiously keeping safe would be no problem.

However, Dong Jinzhong’s strike made him realize.

Even in this small Xingqing Prefecture, he is still a rookie.

He cannot be careless.

"Speak, why did you go to Haitang Courtyard to kill, didn’t I tell you to hide first?"

Chen Ping was a bit puzzled.

And a bit troubled.

He initially planned to silently assassinate Chang Sansi, that old fox, and cover up his killing entirely.

As long as it dragged on, he could flee far away, assume a new identity, and hide to slowly develop.

But what happened?

Attempting to deal with that old fox again was now out of the question.

Big trouble loomed.

"Xiaoyuang was taken by them... I saw Meigu and Black Panther."

Murderous intent rose in Zuo Duanshou’s eyes.

"Who’s Meigu?"

"A middle-aged woman whose eyebrow is half broken, her body thin and fierce... I once saw her whip those girls. Previously, hearing someone call her by that name, she should be a subordinate of Zhuang Hongyi from Chizi Hall Incense Hall..."

Perhaps feeling guilty for messing up Chen Ping’s plan, Zuo Duanshou no longer concealed anything, revealing the story he had kept hidden in his heart.

That day in the snow plains, after killing bandit vagabonds, he asked around for his sister’s whereabouts.

He learned there was such a caravan, carrying little girls picked from the vagabond heap, slowly heading south.

He traced the wagon tracks all the way...

Soon, he spotted those two horse carriages.

He wasn’t the only one chasing, some quickly died rushing ahead.

Some lingered behind without daring to make a move, just looking for a chance.

Most were counterattacked by Meigu and Black Panther, killed off.

Zuo Duanshou was vigilant...

Knowing he couldn’t beat them, he never made a move.

He was unwilling to let his sister out of sight, hiding along for three days, until following them into Xingqing Prefecture City.

By this time, exhausted and hungry, he collapsed.

Then, he met Chen Ping’s former self, a young man fond of doing good deeds.

Saved him, made him a beggar...

The events after that, Chen Ping had experienced himself.

He also knew Zuo Duanshou had kept searching, never finding his sister’s traces.

Because he didn’t even know who those people were, or to which faction they belonged.

He couldn’t even ask.