Chen Ping's Sword

"Alright, I definitely won’t peek. Plus, in this pitch-black night, what can I even see clearly?"

Seeing Hua Lian’er’s shy expression, Chen Ping couldn’t help but silently admire her in his heart.

Eyebrows like distant mountains adorned with jade, eyes resembling the flowing waves of autumn waters...

Though he knew the little girl was acting to fish for a reaction, he couldn’t resist feeling a slight ripple in his heart.

This isn’t even her fully matured state; what charm will she possess when she does grow up?

A few days ago, she painted her face all dirty, and admittedly, that showed some foresight.

Otherwise, not to mention disguising as a little beggar, she would attract unnecessary trouble just by walking down the street.

"Hmm."

Hua Lian’er lowered her head with a response and tiptoed towards the nearby bushes.

Chen Ping, from afar, didn’t forget to remind her.

"If you notice anything amiss, call out immediately; I can reach you within one breath...

No need to be overly alarmed; I reckon that Jiangh Yudie wouldn’t dare harbor any ill thoughts."

He raised an eyebrow, exuding faint self-confidence.

It seemed that the flower thief sneaking around in the woods, looking for the chance to strike, was nothing but a worthless creature.

Chen Ping was true to his word; if he said he wouldn’t peek, he wouldn’t.

He didn’t even feign concern with any close-up gesture.

He simply sat upright in the temporary "tent," legs crossed in meditation, his silhouette flickering in the firelight, indistinct.

...

Hua Lian’er was truly in urgent need.

Yet, she wasn’t foolish enough to knowingly leave her protector’s side, despite enemies nearby, and venture into the bushes on her own.

You’d have to be really senseless to do such a mindless thing.

She looked at the bushes with a conflicted expression until she felt the breeze beside her with abnormal disturbances. Only then did she look back towards the "tent," and with a smile, she squatted in the bushes first to prevent exposure, then fumbled around to loosen her undergarment.

After a while, a sound of trickling water emerged.

The "Seventh Brother" in the "tent" sat there honestly, his silhouette swaying with the night breeze, his clothes made slight rustling sounds.

"Just the right moment."

Not far away, on a red maple tree, Jiangh Yudie forcibly suppressed his breath’s rapid pace, keeping himself from getting too excited and revealing his position.

As the saying goes, "A beauty under the lamp grows more enchanting on closer look."

In the forest, under the glow of the campfire, the little beauty had the same unique wild charm and allure.

Especially when thinking about lifting up the noble lady later, who might still be bare-bottomed, this mere thought was enough to make one’s blood boil.

Those high-spirited women, at first, were always indifferent to him, yet eventually, they would become docile and obedient, just like pets.

However, they would never understand.

What he enjoyed was merely the thrill of conquest. He never remembered anyone.

In the world, the most beautiful and precious things are only most moving at the moment of destruction, done by one’s own hands.

Jiangh Yudie’s form rose, all inner qi within the Twelve Main Meridians and Eight Extraordinary Meridians now dormant...

Yet, his actions were unaffected.

Like a sprite in the night, he flicked once and was at the spot where Hua Lian’er squatted.

The body technique of "Hundred Flowers Valley" was supreme in agility and maneuver.

As a sect composed entirely of unfortunate women, it took merely thirty years to ascend to a first-class sect in Jianghu... This body technique indeed had irreplaceable merit.

The "Swallow Returning Butterfly Dance Technique" had four layers of realm, the First Layer Butterfly Dance focuses on change; the Second Layer Swallow Returning, emphasizes speed; the Third Layer Hidden Shadow, marvels in concealment...

The Fourth Layer "Unsettled," Jiangh Yudie hadn’t mastered yet.

But he believed that even with his mastery of three layers of the "Swallow Returning Butterfly Dance Technique", the world was his to take.

Even when faced with Jianghu veterans overflowing with chivalrous hearts, there was no need for undue panic.

If he couldn’t win, he could at least escape.

Jiangh Yudie wielded the technique; his moon-white figure moved in the night like teleportation. One moment, he was on the treetop, the next, he was in the bushes.

It wasn’t the time for assassination yet.

Certainly not with the Frost Condensation Sword behind his back.

Before cherishing the beauty, staining the sword with blood seemed inauspicious.

He was well aware of this truth.

But even without the sword, there were other ways to subdue this noble lady.

For instance, the Furong Needle Technique.

It’s a needle technique, a sword technique, and also a finger technique.

Acupoint striking, blood cutting, its wondrous uses are limitless, with techniques so complex that they can dazzle anyone, and it’s the second famous skill set of the Hundred Flowers Valley.

Though two tiers below the "Swallow Returning Butterfly Dance" body technique, this sword technique isn’t bad either. Its advantage lies in its nimble execution and endless transformation, combined with the superb technique, rendering it not weak in combat power.

Moreover, in his memory, this Princess Mingyue supposedly possessed no martial arts skills at all.

What a pity for the celestial family bloodline.

Still, she was within his grasp.

’Needs a breath’s time, huh?’

At this moment, Jiangh Yudie even found it amusing.

The savage brat who’s only good at brute fights, by the time he arrives within a breath, he would be far gone.

Wonder what his face would look like when he sees the little beauty being taken away and hears her screams?

"Eh..."

Jiangh Yudie’s right hand curved into five fingers, two fingers snapping, needle-shaped qi force pierced through the bone, three fingers hooked, aiming to grab Hua Lian’er by the neck... Next, naturally, it would be Swallow Returning far and wide, and escape into the vastness.

He had considered many scenarios, but never imagined that...

The little beauty beneath his palm unexpectedly turned into a fleeting shadow, her figure moved sideways over ten feet.

So much so that his falling palm grasped only air.

"Seven Stars Illusion, this is bad."

A sudden warning appeared in Jiangh Yudie’s heart.

How could a little girl who clearly knew not a bit of martial arts possess such an exquisite stepping technique?

And she could avoid the one move of Furong Needle Technique he executed with intent, something was definitely amiss.

All past events were just illusions.

This person was mentally distorted, with a terrible reputation, but he was not without his merits; he never lost his sense of vigilance.

Because he understood better than anyone else.

If caught off guard, being caught by someone would result in a horrible death.

Clearly Hua Lian’er’s figure was right by his side, not far away.

To strike again, already prepared for her martial arts, would surely result in capture.

However, Jiangh Yudie no longer held any wishful thoughts.

Within his meridians, inner qi flowed like a torrent, swiftly circulating, the Swallow Returning Body Technique unleashed.

His figure swayed, ready to transform into an arc of light, rushing straight towards the high skies.

One failed strike, escape a thousand miles...

In a certain respect, Jiangh Yudie reached proficiency in the flower picking profession, achieving great heights.

But, frequent walks by the river, how can shoes not be wet?

High skills equating to courage often mark the beginning of a downfall.

Just as his figure soared into the air.

From the grass, beside the dried tree, a sharp wind sliced through the pitch darkness.

Where clearly there was nothing, nor a hint of murderous intent, a sword shot through the air.

The sword body pitch black without light, its sword momentum blended with the wind, invisible and shapeless.

Thrusting upwards, directly stabbing towards Jiangh Yudie’s dantian belly, he only then reacted.

"Ah..."

Jiangh Yudie was terrified, forcefully gathered qi for a light body, his body technique speeding up by threefold.

He dared to assure, this time, even if the Hundred Flowers Valley Lord personally struck, within a short time frame, it wouldn’t be certain he could catch up.

He wouldn’t catch up.

Chen Ping wasn’t aiming to catch up either.

The Shadowless Sword blending into the gentle breeze, the sword forms grew faster.

Whoosh...

This sword asked not for severity, nor weight, only for speed.

In his hand, the Cyan Snake Short Sword was like a rusted needle, completely without weight.

The arm swung so quickly that even he couldn’t see clearly.

As the sword light passed, blood sprayed.

In midair, the figures of the two crossed.

One drew a beautiful arc, fast like a flash of lightning.

But this flash of lightning, after rushing a certain distance, wavered, spinning midair in a skewed manner.

One cast heavy illusions, changing positions, turning and chasing rapidly.

At the point where the two crossed, a bundle, along with tattered cloth, fell into the grass, making a faint sound.

Seeing this scene, Hua Lian’er held her mouth, blushing as she walked towards the fire; she knew well what Seventh Brother’s sudden sword had stabbed and cut.

By judging the "Flower-Loving Young Master" Jiangh Yudie’s intense cries, it was clear that he would never again love flowers and pity jade; his best job now was to work at the palace.

Of course, suffering such a grave injury, and chased by Chen Ping.

It’s likely Jiangh Yudie’s final job opportunity was unattainable.

"Why aren’t you flying, dancing, why not escape?"

Watching Jiangh Yudie fall crookedly onto the grass, his face twisting grimly, drawing out a gleaming long sword reflecting the cold moonlight, Chen Ping’s eyes smiled, yet devoid of any warmth.

Ever since Jiangh Yudie caught up at the city gate.

He hadn’t intended to let this guy live.

Even apart from his disgust and killing intent towards flower thieves.

Relying merely on the opponent’s excessively strong body technique, deep understanding of jungle survival, and ability to tail him steadfastly in the dark, meant he absolutely couldn’t let him leave.

When dusk fell, Chen Ping exchanged a glance with Hua Lian’er, without a word between them, a surekill tactic was determined.

From long-term association.

Some of Chen Ping’s abilities weren’t hidden from Hua Lian’er, and Hua Lian’er’s deepest secrets were all known to Chen Ping.

In others’ eyes, Hua Lian’er’s urgent needs seemed quite normal; every person has bodily functions, eating, drinking, relieving oneself, nothing unusual.

Out of a girl’s shyness, she couldn’t let a grown man stand nearby while she relieved herself, if at all decently, the tension would make it impossible to urinate.

Thus, the two necessarily separated.

Jiangh Yudie was indeed very cautious and wary.

Yet he never expected, the impression of the little white rabbit could kick, harboring advanced stepping techniques.

And the threatening man wasn’t truly sitting in the tent... there were only a few branches, with a piece of clothing hanging over them.

Even within the dim night, blending into the gentle breeze, concealing breath and form, hidden shadowlessly right beside Hua Lian’er.

Just waiting for the butterfly to land, that was the perfect moment to strike.