Chapter 116: Chapter 115: Nurturing the Sword

The arrival of Zhao Xuanqi and Yang Zhongliang seemed to go unnoticed by this man. He maintained a meditative posture, his gaze cast downward, like an old monk deep in a trance. He always stayed within five steps of the middle-aged man, just like a shadow.

The old butler started to step forward and announce them, but Yang Zhongliang stopped him. Only after the middle-aged man had finished a set of wellness exercises did Yang Zhongliang finally speak up with a smile, "Mr. Yan, my apologies for the intrusion."

"Haha, Boss Yang is here! My apologies, I was completely absorbed just now. I hope you’ll forgive my neglect."

Hearing the voice, Yan Shuntao turned and greeted Yang Zhongliang with a hearty laugh.

Then, Yang Zhongliang, smiling, led Zhao Xuanqi over to Yan Shuntao.

However, just as Zhao Xuanqi and Yang Zhongliang came within five steps of the man who seemed to be in a trance...

SWOOSH!!

The young man’s half-closed eyes snapped open, a sharp light exploding from within his dim pupils. His entire aura underwent an earth-shattering transformation, becoming like a newly unsheathed sword. His Essence, Qi, and Spirit flared in an instant, and his intense presence felt as if it could pierce the night sky.

THUMP!

In that instant, the man’s skin pulled taut and every hair on his body stood on end, like a cat raising its hackles. His entire spine, from tailbone to neck, shuddered violently. His heart let out a muffled thump like a war drum. In a flash, his figure shifted from stillness to motion. As if teleporting like a phantom, he appeared between Yan Shuntao and the other two, blocking Zhao Xuanqi and Yang Zhongliang from getting any closer.

The incredibly sharp aura felt as if it could slit a man’s throat in an instant. As an ordinary person, Yang Zhongliang couldn’t help but feel a sense of suffocation. It was as if his heart had stopped for a moment. The color drained slightly from his face, and his body instinctively took a step back.

However, Yang Zhongliang soon realized that the young man’s gaze and hostility weren’t directed at him; he was merely caught in the crossfire. The man’s eyes and full attention were fixed on Zhao Xuanqi, who stood behind him.

Stimulated by the man’s intense aura, Zhao Xuanqi’s eyes remained perfectly calm. In fact, a hint of interest appeared in them as he met the man’s gaze, which was as sharp as the glint of a sword.

"Dao’an! These two are our guests. Do not be rude!"

Seeing this, a flicker of surprise also crossed Yan Shuntao’s face, and he immediately called out to Ning Dao’an.

To be honest, Ning Dao’an had been with him for several months, and this was the first time Yan Shuntao had ever seen him display such a stance.

Ning Dao’an remained silent, his eyes locked on Zhao Xuanqi, his expression incredibly grave. What he saw was entirely different from what Yan Shuntao and Yang Zhongliang perceived.

He saw a terrifying shadow emanating from behind Zhao Xuanqi, accompanied by a thick stench of blood and an intense, oppressive aura. Behind that shadow, there seemed to be a pair of eyes, scrutinizing him and everything around them. It was like a predator looking down upon lambs in a pen—the gaze of one who sees only prey.

’This man is extremely dangerous.’

"This man is dangerous. If he gets within five steps of you, I’m afraid I can’t guarantee your safety. Think it over. I promised to protect you, and I keep my word. That’s why I’m warning you of the danger now."

Just then, Ning Dao’an spoke. His voice, much like his personality, was like the clang of steel—sharp and resonant.

Hearing Ning Dao’an’s words, the surprise in Yan Shuntao’s eyes deepened. He was well aware of Ning Dao’an’s strength. Although his School had few disciples, it was famous. It passed down a top-tier Secret Transmission, and Ning Dao’an’s power was comparable to that of a core member of a major school.

Especially within a five-step radius. A single flicker of insight allowed him to perceive even Ghost Gods; with the speed of lightning, he could pass judgment on life and death. For this reason, his School’s Secret Transmission is also known as the "Five-Step Yama."

With the north in turmoil, the situation in Jinmen had grown tense. Yan Shuntao had faced danger many times in recent months. The last time, he was ambushed in the city by a competitor; three guns fired on him simultaneously from the shadows, yet Ning Dao’an had saved him without so much as a scratch. As for would-be assassins, none could even survive a single move against him.

And yet today, facing Zhao Xuanqi, he was actually saying he couldn’t protect him within five steps. One could only imagine how terrifying the man Yang Zhongliang had brought must be.

Initially, when Yang Zhongliang had approached him to recommend a Martial Arts Expert, he hadn’t paid it much mind. It wasn’t the first or second time he’d handled such a matter, after all. Especially now, with all sorts of Martial Artists converging on Jinmen, he had personally arranged positions for at least six or seven Martial Artists in the last month alone. He had assumed this was just a routine exchange of favors, never expecting the recommended person to be so formidably skilled.

"It’s alright," Yan Shuntao said quickly. "They pose no threat to my safety."

"Your Intent is the sword, your body the sheath. Once your killing intent is roused, it sunders Yin and Yang, reversing dusk and dawn. You practice the Sword Nurturing Technique. From your display just now, I can tell you’ve reached the realm of Five Qi Tongxuan and have at least cultivated Heart Fire Qi. What do you say? Interested in a little spar?"

Just then, Zhao Xuanqi spoke up as well, asking Ning Dao’an with a look of great interest.

’One of the main reasons I came to Jinmen was to meet a wide range of experts, to hone my skills and advance quickly. This man is worth a fight.’

’Judging by his performance, his realm is at least Five Qi Tongxuan, making him stronger than Sun Yunyong. What’s more, he cultivates the Sword Nurturing Technique. Once he strikes, he’s likely an even greater threat than Feng Zheng was.’

’And one must remember, Feng Zheng was no simple character. Out of the hundreds of thousands of soldiers in the Giant Spirit Army, only a few dozen could become core members. In the provinces, such an individual would qualify as a Garrison Envoy, with enough power to suppress the martial experts of several prefectures—a position of immense authority and strength.’

And now, having just arrived in Jinmen, he had already seen a comparable expert at the side of the third-in-command of the Zhen Nan Chamber of Commerce. A flicker of surprise couldn’t help but stir in Zhao Xuanqi’s heart.

’Jinmen truly is a gathering place for experts.’

"Since you know I cultivate the Sword Nurturing Technique, you should also know my sword is not for sparring," Ning Dao’an said. "You are guests, so my actions just now were discourteous. My apologies to you both."

As Ning Dao’an finished speaking, his piercing aura receded. His taut muscles relaxed, and the presence that seemed to pierce the very heavens was drawn back as his body went slack, as if a sharp sword had been returned to its sheath.

Then, with a light step, he retreated like a phantom once more. He resumed his meditative posture, as if he had entered a trance again. However, Zhao Xuanqi could sense that the man’s awareness remained locked onto him, whether consciously or not.

The Sword Nurturing Technique was an extremely radical form of the Martial Dao. The sword is unsheathed for but a single instant, in which one’s Essence, Qi, and Spirit are focused into one explosive burst. The first strike is the strongest, leaving no room to hold back. It was originally a Martial Dao practiced by assassins.

Seeing that the man was unwilling to fight, a hint of regret appeared in Zhao Xuanqi’s eyes, but he didn’t press the issue. After all, he was a guest and couldn’t very well do anything too drastic.

"Gentlemen, I am terribly sorry. Dao’an is the disciple of an old friend. He grew up practicing martial arts in the mountains and only came down to join me a few months ago. He has a very rigid personality and doesn’t understand the ways of the world. Please, I hope you can forgive his behavior."

Yan Shuntao shot a helpless glance at Ning Dao’an before apologizing profusely to both Yang Zhongliang and Zhao Xuanqi. He showed none of the airs one might expect from a major tycoon.