Invincible Under Heaven

Deadly Weapon

The four guards from the Dingfeng Marquis Residence, carrying the corpses of Liu Feng and the others, did not head directly to the preferectual office.

When they left Qingmo Lane, one of them immediately ran straight toward the marquis' residence at full speed.

When their lives were at stake, they naturally prioritized saving themselves.

However, owing much to the Dingfeng Marquis Residence, they would not simply stand by during its crisis.

Not to mention, the marquis' residence had not fallen yet.

Between Li Xian—a Tendon-Transformation Stage martial artist—and the colossus that was the Dingfeng Marquis Residence, their loyalty leaned firmly toward the marquis' house.

Soon, the guard arrived inside the residence.

"Something terrible has happened! Madam, a disaster has occurred!"

The guard immediately found the First Lady, Mo Caiying, and dramatically reported the events that had transpired at the small courtyard in Qingmo Lane.

At the end, his tone grew even heavier: "That Li Xian, who knows what demonic art he's cultivated, is no longer the tame fool he once was. Relying on his formidable strength, not only did he injure three guards, but he also caused Captain Liu Feng's death—his ferocity is truly terrifying! Right now, he's heading straight for our marquis' residence! Madam, I urge you to gather all the guards at once and take every precaution!"

"Outrageous! Outrageous! A mere scholar dares to kill one of our Dingfeng Marquis Residence's men, and even has the audacity to come to our home to make trouble! This is rebellion!"

Mo Caiying was furious.

"Someone! Tell Commander Fang Xin to gather all the men! Where is Liu Fu!? Have him come immediately! Also, send a letter at once to invite Martial Master Zhao from the Tianlong Garden! Our Dingfeng Marquis Residence has been established in Lijiang for nearly a century with deep foundations—are we to let a humble lackey step all over us!?"

At this point, questions of gratitude or blame no longer mattered.

For the dignity of Dingfeng Marquis Residence, the First Lady could not afford to back down.

Soon, the entire residence sprang into action.

Guards—whether training, on patrol, or off duty—were summoned in full armor, gathering at the front courtyard.

Some guards swiftly left the compound to track Li Xian's movements.

When Li Xian, "escorted" by several guards, arrived at the front courtyard of the residence, he saw a scene as if facing a formidable enemy.

Twenty guards drew their swords, eyes icy cold.

The four corpses that should have been taken to the preferectual office had also been brought to the marquis' residence.

On the corridor before the second gate threshold, maids had even carried out chairs covered in sable fur.

The First Lady, Mo Caiying, sat upright, flanked by the chief steward Liu Fu and her personal maid.

Her gaze shifted directly onto Li Xian, who had just stepped through the main gate.

"Li Xian, do you know your crime?!"

A scolding shout erupted from the First Lady's mouth, landing like a hammer on Li Xian.

However, Li Xian paid no mind to her.

Instead, he simply stated, as if expected: "The arrogance in people's hearts blinds them to the truth, making them believe only what they want to believe."

He seemed to be speaking to Tan Zhang, or perhaps just to himself.

After a moment, his gaze swept over the assembled guards: "Are you sure you don't want to hear my reasoning? If you don't, once the fight begins, blades know no mercy... Many will die today!"

"Reasoning!? From you!? What qualifications do you have to reason with me!?"

The First Lady sat authoritatively, her voice sonorous: "Let me tell you, my words are reason, my orders are law!"

"You deserve a lesson."

Li Xian shook his head.

"Close the doors."

He spoke again.

This time, the words were a direct order to Tan Zhang.

But Tan Zhang did not move.

Now that they were in the residence, he had to make his stance clear.

At this moment, Mo Caiying's voice sounded: "Our Dingfeng Marquis Residence is about to enforce house rules; how could we let an outsider see us as a joke!"

With a wave of her hand: "Close the gates! Today, I will teach this ignorant son-in-law a lesson—what it means for the wife to obey the husband, and for the household to follow my family's rules!"

"You're quite bold."

Li Xian looked at Mo Caiying.

"What makes you think you can dispose of me at will? My month of hard work and compliance? Or the way your servants tolerate your every order?"

The First Lady gave a cold laugh: "I'm also quite curious: how arrogant and ignorant must a meek, low-born scholar become to speak to a marquis' wife like this?"

"It's not arrogance or ignorance; it's because I have a deadly weapon."

Li Xian replied.

There were no firearms or guns in this world.

Even with martial artists...

Bone Forging and Tendon-Transformation Stage martial artists were far weaker than gunmen armed with modern weapons.

"With just a few meters between us, a man can threaten a nation. Within these thirty-three meters between us—guarded as you are—these guards can't stop me. I can break through, come before you, and behead you in a flash! Since I can so easily determine your life or death, why shouldn't I face you without fear?"

At these words, Mo Caiying, who had just been sneering, changed her expression.

Her gaze involuntarily flickered toward Liu Fu beside her.

Liu Fu had been watching Li Xian since he entered the gate.

Noticing the First Lady's hint of unease, he immediately said, "Don't worry, madam. I see that this young man, while diligent in martial arts and composed, has not yet fully tempered his bones and tendons, let alone achieved Internal Viscera Refinement."

His words brimmed with confidence: "Perhaps he was lucky enough to learn some secret technique or knife art, and fights well in practice, even capable of defeating stronger foes, but his physical strength is evident here. With my years of mastery in Internal Viscera Refinement, it won't be difficult to capture and kill him."

Mo Caiying relaxed upon hearing Liu Fu's words.

Unfortunately, martial Master Zhao, to whom the residence owed much, had gone to Mount Canglang for some sword conference a few days ago.

Otherwise, with his strength, subduing Li Xian would be a simple matter.

"Very well!"

She turned her head toward Li Xian.

"Did you hear that? If you surrender now, considering you're still of some use, I may spare you! Otherwise... you'll beg to live but be unable to die!"

"Nevermind whether Liu Fu can capture me or not... What's his is always his. In a battle of life and death, he'll struggle to save himself; how can he protect others?"

Li Xian replied calmly: "Even if you're fully prepared today, what if I were to turn and leave now, then infiltrate your residence under the cover of night—what would you do? You wouldn't sleep with Liu Fu just for your own safety, would you? To kill you would be no harder than slaughtering a chicken!"

"Li Xian, how dare you!"

Liu Fu shouted angrily.

But Mo Caiying turned pale with fright at Li Xian's words.

She couldn't help but imagine...

If he really left today and attacked at night, how could she defend herself!?

"You know the danger, and yet dare speak so wildly? Impressive courage!"

Li Xian raised his saber, body leaning forward: "However, I enjoy difficult fights! Watch closely—your life is incredibly fragile."

"Don't listen to his nonsense! Take him down!"

Liu Fu waved his hand sharply.

Following his command, the guard captain Fang Xin led a dozen guards to charge forward from all sides, surrounding Li Xian.

Almost as they drew their blades, Li Xian, leaning forward, exploded into motion.

Back in those days, when he challenged the world with his fists, he had experienced countless times when masters lost and their disciples, unable to stomach defeat, would rush all at once, leading to chaotic melees.

Thus, he knew well: in chaotic group fights, though it might seem like fighting many at once, by using angles and positioning, he rarely had to deal with more than three foes at a time.

He never faced more than three sources of attacks at once.

So, facing the formation of ten-odd guards, Li Xian strode boldly into their midst.

Wherever his saber pointed, he directly split apart the three blades slashing at him.

As sparks flew, his high-speed charge allowed him to evade two other sword streaks, before smashing into a guard's chest.

With force from muscles and bones, the seventy-kilogram guard was sent flying, smashing open a breach in the thin defensive line.

Li Xian strode forward through this opening, his war saber lifting high as he leaped at the next guard.

"Crash!"

Sparks flew!

The guard hurriedly tried to parry.

But facing Li Xian's fierce, forceful charge, his hurried block could not dull the momentum and edge in Li Xian's strike.

The saber pressed down, dragging the defender's own blade to chop into his own shoulder.

"Stop him!"

Fang Xin roared.

By now, Li Xian had been completely surrounded by over a dozen guards, blades flashing everywhere—at a glance, every direction was full of cold steel.

A single misstep, and he'd be shredded from all sides.

But...

Li Xian didn't pause.

After breaking the guard's defense with a single slash, he kicked out with his right foot, his muscles and bones ringing.

The guard, whose saber was still buried in his shoulder, was stamped down hard onto the ground, sliding several meters and tripping up two more approaching guards.

They tumbled messily to the floor.

Seizing the moment as the way ahead cleared, Li Xian paused only to accelerate again, leaping several meters forward with his saber poised horizontally, targeting—

The guards covering the flanks!

"Whoosh!"

As he charged, three sword flashes simultaneously swept through where he'd just stood.

The sword winds were sharp enough to shred his jacket.

Had Li Xian been a fraction of a second slower, those three strikes would have sliced him.

At best, he'd have scars; at worst, he'd have died on the spot.

But with such a slim margin, Li Xian crashed into the center of those flanking guards, employing the same devastating tactics to tear open their defense.

In an instant, the thirty-three meter distance between him and the First Lady was reduced to less than ten meters.

At this, it seemed Mo Caiying could no longer sit still.

"Liu Fu!"

"Fear not, madam. I am here!"

Liu Fu responded.

His eyes remained fixed on Li Xian.

In truth, ever since Li Xian started fighting, Liu Fu hadn't looked away once.

He was waiting!

Waiting for a chance to strike!

When Li Xian again charged perilously through a gap in the encircling guards, about to pierce through the last defense, this master of Internal Viscera Refinement finally saw his opening.

He leaped into action.

Like an eagle striking from the sky, he shot forward in a flash, fingers curled, the air tearing with a shrill cry, aiming straight at Li Xian's crown as he burst out of the encirclement.

This strike came at the very moment Li Xian's previous momentum had faded and before he could gather new strength; the timing, angle, and force were all absolutely perfect.

Even a lion spares no effort to hunt a hare!

This master of Internal Viscera Refinement understood fully: despise the enemy in strategy, but take them seriously in tactics.

If he struck, it would be like thunder!