Chen Ping's Sword

"Did you sense which direction the danger is coming from?"

Chen Ping took off the blood-stained sapphire sword shirt from his body, used a short sword to cut it open, and turned it into a rope...

Then he let Hua Lian’er lie on his back and carefully tied her up.

He thought to himself that if Han Xiaoru knew how he messed with her clothes like this, she definitely would not be happy.

However, these are desperate times, and it was done for the sake of a speedy escape.

Carrying Hua Lian’er on his back was the best way, and it wouldn’t hinder his actions.

Thinking that for two days in a row, he’s been on the run, constantly hunted, Chen Ping felt a bit speechless.

He thought to himself that maybe he’s just had a streak of bad luck recently.

"No, just feeling very uncomfortable, not wanting to stay in the same place.

Before, when I mentioned this to my mother, she’d say I was sick and would call for a doctor to prescribe some very bitter medicine for me. Said it was to calm the mind and nourish the brain..."

Hua Lian’er whispered in Chen Ping’s ear, unhurriedly.

Being carried on his back felt comfortable and reassuring.

She even slightly closed her eyes and let out a long sigh.

Chen Ping chuckled, extended his little finger to scratch his ear, feeling ticklish because of her, "Your mother probably did believe it, maybe she wanted you to understand in that way. Some secrets can only be known by oneself, not shouted about indiscriminately. Otherwise, who knows what kind of trouble it might bring next time."

If she really believed she was sick, it wouldn’t have been calming medicine, but medication for palpitations or colic.

It’s just that Master Qiuye had unconventional methods, his ways were quirky, even tricked his own daughter, quite interesting.

"Hmm."

Hua Lian’er acknowledged softly.

She did not argue back.

Instead watched as Chen Ping quietly removed the thick wooden board at the entrance to the tunnel, then cleared away the rubble and bricks.

Suddenly, they heard faint knocks from outside.

"There’s someone guarding here, choosing this sensitive time to excavate, could it be Dong Jinzhong?"

Chen Ping’s eyes turned cold.

Originally, he had no personal grudge against Incense Master Dong.

In fact, he hadn’t even met him.

It’s just that because of Chang Sansi’s death, they became entangled.

Being the Incense Master, Dong Jinzhong might feel embarrassed or perhaps intolerant of Chen Ping’s framing and ultimately decided on his demise.

This is typical behavior of those in power.

Though after he thwarted Chizi Hall’s plots, ascended the Hidden Dragon List, and killed Zhuang Hongyi, resisting Hu nobles’ warriors, Dong still chose to act in such a manner, it was hard to understand.

There is only one truth.

"They’ve teamed up."

Chen Ping turned his head, noticing Hua Lian’er also flashing her gaze at him.

Clearly, Dong Jinzhong as the Incense Master managed the Cyan Hall Incense Hall to flourish over the years, even surpassing the old fox Chang Sansi who couldn’t get promoted, it’s evident he isn’t a fool.

Behind every decision lies deep rationale.

For Dong Jinzhong to dare dig three feet deep to find the potential tunnel, such action speaks of confidence and considerable benefits.

Then, in Xingqing Prefecture, who could offer him such benefits?

The answer is self-explanatory.

"Besides Dong Jinzhong, Tan Sihai must also be involved; this is just a faction searching for our whereabouts."

Chen Ping listened carefully, discovering voices all around, the knocking grew from sparse to dense, methodically pinpointing towards their location.

Meanwhile, they could sense two massive, hot Qi and Blood Essence Qi clusters, about seven to eight yards in front, not far.

"Since they rush here to court death, I won’t be polite with their lives."

Chen Ping chuckled lightly, turning back he said, "Hold tight."

As the words left his mouth, his left leg suddenly stomped, as the tunnel’s soil and stones collapsed, he soared backwards, his palms clashing loudly.

With killing intent in his heart, the Inner Qi within his Dantian Qi Sea transformed into scorching profound light.

His muscles and bones clanged, Qi and blood boiled, turning blood into strength.

As the palm technique was executed.

The soil and stones splashed upwards, amidst roaring airflows, erupting like a volcano rising to the sky.

Several Cyan Hall disciples wielding long knives and iron rods felt an emptiness under their rods, and one had just started to cheer, ready to claim credit.

Just then, bricks and wood blocks, carried by a powerful air wave, wrapped around them, their bones instantly shattered, bodies flung.

Still in mid-air, blood spewed from their mouths, bodies going limp.

Clearly they had been killed on the spot.

Without landing, Chen Ping passed through the flying debris, a "Cyan Snake" appeared from his sleeve, swirling into a dazzling dark shadow, stabbing in all directions.

Suddenly, sword shadows filled the air, flickering illusions, wood, stones, and dirt falling were swept by a whirlwind, spraying everywhere.

"There."

"Strike..."

Two loud shouts echoed.

One was coarse, the other clear.

It was Dong Jinzhong and Tan Sihai.

Both showed excitement on their faces.

On the night of the Lantern Festival, they had led people to attack here, but it was futile.

At the time, they felt quite dejected.

Especially Tan Sihai, feeling exceptionally rebuffed.

He was merely obliged to save face for Zhuang Hongyi and help with the task.

Thinking that the target wasn’t a significant figure nor particularly formidable, and considering his clandestine collaboration with the Seven-Colored Hall was nothing new, and with the backing of the Changhe Gang...

With the strong joining forces, killing such a small character of the Jianghu posed no lasting consequences.

However, he never expected that not only would this time fail to kill this "small character," but also remained oblivious to how the other party escaped early on.

Especially, when he woke up early the next morning, learning the news of the Hidden Dragon List being updated, his mood significantly soured.

Hidden Dragon List three hundred and five, sixteen years old, broke Zhuang Hongyi’s Chizi Hall, defeated the Clear Wind Shadowless Sword.

Every single achievement made him regret so much that his intestines turned green.

His regret was not about whether or not he should have joined forces with Dong Jinzhong.

But regretting not immediately launching a full-scale hunt across the city to get rid of those few individuals in advance.

The Hidden Dragon List doesn’t necessarily mean extremely high combat strength, especially when ranked outside the top three hundred.

The issue is that the list measures potential.

The younger the person is on this list, the more terrifying it is.

It proves that those on the list can elevate themselves to a height that is highly admired in a very short time.

Since he became enemies with the other party, if he doesn’t find a chance to eliminate the future threat, he will surely eat and sleep restlessly.

Tan Sihai thought this way, and Dong Jinzhong was naturally no exception.

Especially after hearing about a bloody battle in Fireworks Alley near noon, they became even more restless.

When someone approached, promising gold and silver, and future prospects, the two agreed without a second thought.

They didn’t care much about wealth.

They just didn’t want to live in fear in the future.

Thus, after careful consideration, they felt they couldn’t miss any suspicious locations.

Immediately gathered people, prepared to dig three feet into the ground to find the channel that the five escaped from that night.

To this end, they didn’t hesitate to send a large number of people to clear the rubble from collapsed houses, probe and inspect piece by piece.

Why confirm there is a channel?

Quite simple.

When the two attacked with their men that day, they had sealed the surrounding main roads, found no suspicious persons passing through from any road junctions.

Surely, they couldn’t have flown away in the sky.

Even if flying in the sky, the bright lights of the night illuminating the sky could surely be seen.

At this moment, hearing cheers from the subordinates and seeing earth and stones shooting skyward with a human figure appearing,

Dong Jinzhong and Tan Sihai felt both shocked and ecstatic.

This was a great achievement.

Nowadays, the Beizhou is strong, the Great Li Dynasty is already faltering, with the world seeming to soon change hands.

If they seize the opportunity first, establish a merit, make a pledge, no matter how the situation changes in the future, they will have a head start, set a foundation.

Moreover, this opportunistic endeavor costs little, with the other side having only one person with combat power, themselves bringing so many hands, having prepared early with crossbows and hidden weapons, swords, spears, and halberds; how could it fail?

With the two’s command,

arrows rained down like a storm.

Whistling towards the silhouette in the midair.

Furthermore, many roared crazily, throwing hidden weapons, poisonous water, lime, and such items in the first instant.

Enveloping the area within several square meters, turning it into a lifeless zone.

This is the advantage of powerful forces.

With one command, tens or hundreds of people respond.

Each person throwing a stone could pile up an artificial mountain.

Moreover, this time, Dong Jinzhong and Tan Sihai, due to urgency, even brought out some hidden banned strong crossbows.

And gave free rein to everyone’s strengths, using all sorts of shady tactics.

Thinking, even if it was a top-notch expert of the Jianghu who opened the Eight Extraordinary Meridians, suddenly encountering such circumstances would find it hard to avoid grieving.

Hidden Dragon List three hundred and five, after all, is too far back.

Can only be considered an emerging talent.

The combat power isn’t strong enough to disregard the siege of ordinary gang members.

If ranked in the top ten of the Hidden Dragon List, the two would definitely avoid any attempts, naturally choosing to flee as far as possible.

Now, just watch for the opponent getting caught; if there’s still a breath, capture and offer as a tribute.

If luck isn’t great and the opponent dies at the scene directly, that’s okay, simply chop off the head for merit.

Dong Jinzhong grinned widely, laughter already showing in his eyes.

A few meters around the channel exit, no longer could see a silhouette, all turned gray, and faintly, light sounds of sharp blades piercing flesh could be heard.

Just when he thought the situation was settled.

Suddenly, his eyes seemed unclear.

’Is the midday sunlight too dazzling?’

Dong Jinzhong suddenly wanted to take a look at the sun; for some reason, he felt his body slightly chilled.

Seeing those Incense Hall disciples and Changhe Gang members loudly shouting to shoot arrows and throw hidden weapons.

On the innermost circle, beside everyone, appeared an additional silhouette.

Each silhouette either charged forward, diagonally stabbed, slashed with a sword, or crumbled with a fist.

A string of miserable screams sounded almost simultaneously.

So much so that Dong Jinzhong couldn’t distinguish which silhouette was real and which was not.

Or perhaps, because the speed was so extreme, every spot was real.