Chen Ping's Sword-Chapter 57: Divergent Paths Cannot Lead to Collaboration
"Boom..."
It was as if a thunderstorm crashed in his ears, the reverberations echoing far away.
Black Wolf’s wrists, swirling with blade frenzy, were out of control, dislocated and shattered...
The Tusk Dual Sabers spun away with a whoosh, flying away by his side.
One of them embedded itself in a tree trunk, while the other buried itself in the soil, the handles almost invisible.
Despair filled his eyes as he looked at the steel spear’s tail, which bent like noodles into an eerie arc and then rebounded, carrying a fierce wind as it struck down.
His body was so weak and limp that he couldn’t muster the strength to dodge.
Crack!
It was like smashing a rotten watermelon.
Chen Ping casually retrieved his spear, glancing at the red and white residue staining the handle, and disdainfully discarded the Leopard Assault Spear.
Taking a few steps forward, he picked up the Tusk Dual Sabers that had been knocked away.
Compared to using staffs or spears, his skills with blades were still superior.
Back then, after mastering the Fist Technique, he followed his grandfather to practice the Meridian Mandarin Duck...
That technique, resembling a scythe, was exquisite in execution, and combined with body and footwork, it was extremely formidable.
Later, during battles in treacherous foreign lands, he specifically crafted two uniquely shaped short sabers, using them over the years.
Now, upon seeing Black Wolf’s double-edged Tusk Curved Sabers, he couldn’t help but feel a sense of familiarness.
"The quality of these sabers is pretty good; despite my intense beating, they haven’t developed a single crack or chip."
Chen Ping picked up the dual sabers, holding them in reverse grip, and felt the attribute column in his mind increase by 4 points of Tribulation and 4 points of Fortune, causing his eyes to narrow slightly.
Then, he looked again at the five stationary horse carriages, and inexplicably, hints of golden light appeared to him.
"Excellent, the more experts, the better; more Tribulation, more Fortune... I’m still worried that my five viscera aren’t complete yet."
To reach Great Success in the next realm of Silk Thread Puppetry requires 8 points of Tribulation, and I’ve already accumulated it.
Without any surprises, to reach Perfection Realm in Silk Thread Puppetry and fully cultivate the five viscera, it might need 16 points of Tribulation.
Still quite a long way to go.
...
Zuo Duanshou was frozen in place.
After killing the crossbowman, he still intended to help.
Even if he couldn’t provide much assistance, he could at least create some distraction.
Yet, unexpectedly.
Before he could take a few steps.
The renowned Black Wolf and Leopard.
One was pierced through the back and died a terrible death in mid-air.
The other had his head exploded, dying tragically on the spot.
"This..."
It seems bringing me along was just to show the way.
Even showing the way didn’t seem necessary.
Zuo Duanshou couldn’t help but question his usefulness.
The next moment, he understood.
"Search their bodies, see if there’s anything valuable. The battle ahead isn’t over; don’t get too close."
Chen Ping left those words and advanced slowly.
His pace quickened, his breathing lightened, and the murderous aura around him intensified.
He saw a person.
A figure dressed in red, standing majestically atop the carriage shaft, akin to a queen.
That person stared intently; even witnessing the crossbowmen being taken down one by one, and Black Wolf and Leopard dying miserably, her eyebrows didn’t twitch.
Yet, her gaze, as icy and tangible as substance, was fixed tightly on him.
Though the moonlight was dim, and the lighting wasn’t favorable.
Chen Ping still saw the sarcastic, murderous curve of her lips.
It was as if he could hear her inner voice.
"Want to save someone? I’ll be waiting for you."
Of course, Chen Ping wouldn’t give up halfway, nor was there a need to hide.
Everything was already laid bare.
Who is strong and who is weak, who lives and who dies?
It would soon be clear.
From the interrogation of the captured Cyan Hall Incense Hall disciple, it was learned that Zhuang Hongyi, the hall master of the Chizi Hall Incense Hall, was even more formidable than Dong Jinzhong,
walking the path of Qi Refining cultivation.
The Red Silk Sword Dance she practiced, was of profound intricacy... those who opposed her often died inexplicable and mysterious deaths, unable to gauge her depths.
Most famously, was Zhuang Hongyi’s reputation itself.
On the surface, she appeared charming and alluring, yet deep down, she was as cold as frost.
Especially being in charge of the Chizi Hall for many years, it was unheard of for her underlings to make the slightest mistake.
Even the women abducted and taken away, regardless of their reluctance, would eventually become obedient and respectful.
This was a woman of considerable means.
Also an extremely ruthless woman.
Thus, even with Chen Ping’s current confident prowess, he unprecedentedly took up weapons.
Besides keeping the "Cyan Snake" short sword as a trump card,
he openly picked up Black Wolf’s Tusk Dual Sabers.
The two red silks on that woman opposite, at a glance, were far from ordinary, surely firm and unyielding. Being bound by them would be quite unpleasant.
Without a knife or blade in hand, he felt insecure.
"Just a mere Qi Blood Second Tier Outer Sect Martial Dao practitioner, I wonder where you found the courage to come here and kill?"
Interestingly.
Zhuang Hongyi waited until Chen Ping approached to within five feet, still not making a move.
Still standing on the shaft, speaking casually.
Moreover, as she spoke, the strong men in black standing before and behind the five carriages remained silent, holding their blades and swords, waiting quietly; none of them acted in advance.
Even the women inside the carriages, regardless of age, sat obediently, with timid eyes, making no sound.
This was getting interesting.
Chen Ping chuckled.
Whether the other party was bluffing or truly confident, mere posture and aura could not frighten him to death.
He paused briefly, then continued forward.
What makes the Qi Blood Martial Arts powerful?
In Chen Ping’s view, it was indeed about being up close.
On the day he battled Jiang Teng of Changkong Martial Arts Hall, the opponent maintained distance with a display of splendid swordsmanship, forcing him to employ evasive maneuvers, avoiding direct confrontation.
Ultimately, seizing a moment when the opponent relaxed, he lethally shot him with a Sleeve Crossbow Arrow.
This lesson taught him that when dealing with someone like Zhuang Hongyi, whose cultivation realm far surpassed Jiang Teng’s, he must never allow her to create distance...
He must close the gap whenever possible, fight desperately if necessary.
Her body wasn’t as strong as one might imagine.
"Hold on."
In fact, the other party wasn’t a fool.
"Isn’t it for these women that you came here? Seeing that you have potential, why not join our Seven-Colored Hall, and I promise you’ll enjoy wealth and prosperity. And if you fancy any girl here, I’ll give her to you; how about it?"
While speaking, Zhuang Hongyi’s waist red silk lifted softly like a Spirit Snake, and the dual swords in front seemed to be held aloft, ready to strike.
"Incense Master Zhuang, I must admit, your eye for talent surpasses even Chang Sansi’s and Dong Jinzhong’s, and your guts aren’t ordinary at all." Chen Ping couldn’t help but shake his head with a laugh.
Even at this moment, she still considered recruiting him.
Moreover, she didn’t mind him having killed until reaching her front.
This woman, at least at this moment, was quite a character.
Deserving of being called a hero in nature.
However, differing principles make cooperation impossible.
If the female classmate from my past life knew I sided with a black organization that abducted and sold women, surely she’d die of shock, come back to life only to strangle me.
"Big brother, save me."
Just as Chen Ping was about to sternly refuse and leap into action.
The girl, who had been standing quietly by Meigu’s side, suddenly dashed out crying, "Big brother, save me."
Amidst the stand-off ready to explode any moment, the little girl found an opening.
Whether she possessed an especially astute mind or whether she was muddled, she somehow believed Chen Ping could save her.
Despite her short legs, the girl ran swiftly due to the element of surprise.
In confusion, Meigu swung her knife-wielding hand but neither grabbed nor struck her,
allowing the girl to escape three to four feet closer to Chen Ping.
