Chen Ping's Sword

"Boatman, go straight down the river, don’t dock, you will not be short of silver."

As he spoke, Chen Ping flicked his short sword a few times, parrying several powerful arrows shot from the shore.

"But..."

The old sailor received the silver, yet before responding, the scholar standing hesitantly beside him spoke up.

"Could it be possible to let my brother and me disembark first?"

"Are you sure you want to stop?"

Chen Ping looked at him with a half-smile.

By now, over a dozen strong bows and crossbows were aiming from the shore. Those people didn’t seem like any good Samaritans who wouldn’t kill the innocent.

Once the boat stops and docks, the two scholar brothers would only meet their death.

Although delaying the journey and dragging him into the whirlpool was somewhat unethical, at this critical juncture, compromise was the only option.

At most, he could compensate with some silver and let him disembark midway.

The scholar’s request was not granted, and he didn’t dare to say much more to Chen Ping.

After a round of slaughter, although Chen Ping wore short garments and carried a girl on his back, appearing somewhat down-and-out...

But the cold murderous intent emanating from his brows was enough to make people shudder and not dare to dispute his words too much.

The boat sped up and soon reached the center of the river.

Flowing straight downstream.

The sailor, having received the silver, was indeed afraid but had been in this business for too long, accustomed to Jianghu battles.

He knew he mustn’t, in any case, go against the wishes of the passengers on board.

Otherwise, who knows if someone might resort to murder first.

Chen Ping turned his head, seeing along the riverbank, amidst lush trees, a figure in moon-white clothes flitting like a swallow, dancing like a butterfly, intermittently disappearing and reappearing, trailing along.

His eyebrow twitched.

A Divine Eagle circled above, and the damn Flower Thief was trailing on the ground like a parasitic maggot, disgusting people.

If it weren’t for the current situation’s urgency.

He would have to go ashore and fight this guy to the death.

A toad clinging to your foot, even if it doesn’t bite, is irritating.

Farther away, large ships were slowly docking, and Hu People experts began their slow pursuit.

They seemed determined to chase relentlessly, pursuing straight to the ends of the earth.

This situation was tricky.

’Although I currently have enough Tribulation Points to upgrade my Cultivation Technique, the issue of insufficient Essence, Qi, and Blood after the upgrade is unavoidable.’

’When things are stable, upgrading my Realm, I can slowly seek out herbs... But now, with unexpected battles possible at any moment, I’m forced not to upgrade immediately.’

Chen Ping frowned slightly, pondering for a moment, and glanced at the moon-white figure on the shore, wondering if this elusive solution should include considering this guy.

As a renowned Flower Thief, his Lightweight Skill is enviably good, and being a figure on the Hidden Dragon List, it’s said he has some background in the Hundred Flowers Valley.

This guy usually dresses so flamboyantly, with clothes and a long sword all of exquisite quality.

Certainly, not a poor, down-and-out Jianghu wanderer, his wealth is considerable.

He might even have various good items in his possession, such as stimulant, blood-replenishing, or vitality-supplementing medicines.

This matter wasn’t urgent.

The urgency lay elsewhere.

The boat traveled to the center of the river for about an hour.

It was mealtime.

The old sailor steadied the boat, and with a short stout cook, prepared a few bowls of fish soup, offering them with a pleasing expression, "Please enjoy, honorable guests, these carp were caught fresh from the river, delicious and fresh.

My wife learned some cooking skills from the Drunken Moon Residence chef; she’s excellent at making fish... it’s a shame to miss out."

Chen Ping sat dryly at the stern, having already put Hua Lian’er down.

Smelling the fish aroma, he couldn’t help but nod...

Hua Lian’er had missed two meals, her stomach was empty, and the fragrance made it growl uncontrollably.

Her face flushed, pretending not to be hungry, she looked at Chen Ping.

The scholar beside them was already laughing heartily, forgetting the earlier unpleasantness, "Boatman, save a bowl for my brother and me."

He said, grabbing a bowl of red fish, eating with relish.

Even forgetting to share with the young scholar next to him.

The young scholar was peculiar, silently watching, somewhat anxious.

Swallowing his saliva, he didn’t speak.

The boatman’s basket was already in front.

Chen Ping sighed.

At the same time, he saw Hua Lian’er, who was smiling and ready to accept the fish, suddenly clutch her chest, having difficulty breathing.

"I intended to spare your lives, but you sought trouble, what a pity?"

The boat reached the river’s wide center where the current slowed, and the large ship behind gradually approached.

The boatman then brought fish again.

Although it was unclear what was in the fish, the scholar beside them ate gleefully with no discomfort.

Still, Chen Ping remained cautious.

At this critical moment, one must have nerves of steel to enjoy strangers’ offerings without worry.

"Into the water."

The boatman, holding the basket, suddenly tossed it, tossing several bowls of stewed carp towards Chen Ping, somersaulted backward like a hawk, flipping over the boat rail, diving straight into the water.

Where was the sluggish old man now?

Yet the cook’s eyes turned sharp.

Suddenly raising her head, both hands waving.

Countless bluish needles shot towards Chen Ping and Hua Lian’er.

The older scholar enjoying the fish beside them, smacking his lips, no longer had his previous timid and angry demeanor.

A gleam of malevolence flickered in his eyes, and with a flick of his wrist, a sleek black Water-Splitting Needle appeared.

Silently, as the needles illuminated the air, he aimed for Chen Ping’s side.

’Did you think you could fool me?’

Chen Ping sneered in his heart.

Two fingers, at some unknown moment, were already waiting at his waist.

The Water-Splitting Needle just barely touched the clothes before it was caught, as if trapped in steel and rock, completely unable to move.

Thin as cow hair, countless fine needles.

Had already shot towards his face.

Chen Ping didn’t dodge; in a flash, he had already drawn a breath to his chest and abdomen.

Suddenly, a deep shout.

Qi waves surged out from his throat, white air like clouds.

This was a move Chen Ping felt inspired to mimic after witnessing Han Xiaoru from Primordial Martial Arts Hall use it in an absolute adverse situation.

Although this move of his couldn’t be called a "Primordial Array-Breaking Cone," the power lacked the cohesive true intent, and the lethality wasn’t strong.

However, by mistake... the blast of air, like a fierce wind, was like a city wall three feet in front of him.

No wind could pass, no rain could penetrate.

The cow hair-like fine needles had just shot towards him.

They were immediately reflected back by the powerful Qi.

Faster by three times than when they came.

Thwack...

Countless needle lights turned into a sound, piercing the tough-faced cook just when she hadn’t had time to retract the fierce expression on her face.

"Ah..."

The cook clutched her face in pain; where the flesh was pierced by the needles, it was sizzling with white smoke.

It’s unknown what kind of drug was applied to the poison needles, but upon touching flesh, it quickly rotted, causing extreme pain.

Chen Ping didn’t even glance at the tough-faced cook, his left hand released the Water-Splitting Needle, shooting it out electric-fast.

Whew...

The remaining sound whistled.

Realizing the situation was not good, the young scholar trying to jump into the water quickly released the Water-Splitting Needle to retreat.

His body just soared into the air when the Water-Splitting Needle pierced through his heart.

He stiffened in mid-air.

Paused, then fell into the water, splashing large waves.

At this moment, the ripples from the old sailor jumping into the water had just settled...

"Not good, that person must be trying to scuttle the ship."

Hua Lian’er just calmed down her panic, took a breath, and quickly shouted.

"It’s fine, he has no chance now."

Chen Ping laughed carefreely.

With a swift step, he grabbed the long pole at the bow of the boat.

Without looking at the murky river’s wave direction, he casually thrust it diagonally into the water.

The long pole, like a great spear, vibrated and spun as it pierced the water, buzzing and trembling...

The waves rolled...

A plume of bloody water emerged on the surface and was washed away by the river, disappearing in an instant.

"Perhaps I can’t accurately distinguish if a racing heartbeat means someone has a guilty conscience or is afraid. But in this river, I can clearly see the flow of the water patterns."

Since stepping into the Organ Cultivation Realm, Chen Ping’s five senses had improved rapidly.

He didn’t know if everyone would experience this transformation.

Or if it was just him.

The old sailor and the others clearly couldn’t deceive his senses.

The reason he hadn’t acted earlier.

Or revealed anything with words.

Was simply because he wanted a few more laborers to row the boat forward.

If he had killed them prematurely.

Would the boat still move?

Just like now.

With the boat reaching the center of the river, it had begun to spin.

Swaying left and right, it wasn’t that they weren’t moving, but they were moving very slowly.

Each trade has its expertise.

Although Chen Ping knew how to operate a ship, he had never practiced it, so his methods were quite unfamiliar.

Several large boats behind had already formed a triangular formation and were drawing close. In a moment of urgency, he had little time to proficiently practice the skills of steering a ship.

"There’s no escape."

Hua Lian’er’s little face was clean, reflecting a brilliance under the sunlight, seemingly without much fear, instead having a bit more tranquility.

She saw that on those large boats, each had several dozen people holding torches, lighting arrowheads.

There were also several robust figures, with imposing auras, shirtless, brandishing swords and spears.

What was most terrifying were the three large boats, where people occasionally jumped into the water... like dumplings, each wearing diving suits, with short swords and long spears in their mouths.

The fire arrows might not be too terrifying; they couldn’t shoot the two of them to death.

Before the ship caught fire, they could also draw water to extinguish it.

The experts on the opposite side weren’t too terrifying either.

Although they were numerous, there weren’t many genuine experts.

However, those Water Ghosts jumping into the water were hard to deal with...

One or two could be intercepted, but over ten getting into the water simultaneously, slyly trying to puncture the hull...

In the midst of this vast river, how could the two of them escape?

Would Seventh Brother know how to swim?

Hua Lian’er didn’t know...

As for herself, she definitely couldn’t swim.