Chapter 360 - 343: Chaotic Situation
Meanwhile, Zhao Yuanhong had just barely escaped the old man with the abacus, retreating to a corner, his heart still pounding in terror.
Before he could even catch his breath, a cold glint of sword light clung to him like a festering sore, closing in fast.
It was the woman in the green skirt.
Seeing her master engaged with a powerful foe, she knew that capturing the Governor might help her master escape, or at the very least, provide a bargaining chip.
Zhao Yuanhong could see it clearly. This woman was also a Divine Hall Grandmaster. Though not as unfathomably powerful as the old man with the abacus, her Swordsmanship was exquisite and her aura condensed. She was by no means an easy opponent.
He was both shocked and furious. Shocked that these two who had appeared out of nowhere were both masters, and furious that he, the dignified Governor of a county, was being repeatedly attacked in an official Court residence. It was a monstrous humiliation.
"You think I’m afraid of you?!"
Zhao Yuanhong roared. ’I might not be able to beat that inscrutable old man, but am I supposed to be scared of a young woman like you?’
He clenched his fists, his knuckles cracking loudly. The Qi and blood in his body surged like a river, and the ferocious power of his fists erupted from him. He threw a punch like a cannonball, meeting the chilling sword light head-on.
The green-skirted woman’s expression remained cold. Faced with this ferocious punch, her footwork shifted lightly, as ethereal and unpredictable as willow catkins in the wind.
With a flick of her Autumn Water Longsword, the sword gleamed, transforming into a flurry of dense, agile, cyan sword shadows. They precisely met Zhao Yuanhong’s fists, their tips aimed at his vital points and joints.
BANG! CLANG! SCHRRIP!
The force of the fist and the Sword Gang collided, producing a mixed sound of dull thuds and sharp cracks.
Although Zhao Yuanhong’s punches were ferocious, the cyan sword shadows were like quicksilver, seeping into every opening. They would find a gap at the slightest opportunity, forcing him onto the defensive. He was using sixty to seventy percent of his Power just to protect himself, making the fight incredibly frustrating.
As they fought, the battle between the old man with the abacus and Zhou Bo’an not far away had already reached a fever pitch.
The destruction wrought by the two Grandmaster Guiyuans going all out was terrifying.
Gang Qi shot out in all directions, turning brick and stone to dust wherever it passed. Beams and pillars snapped and toppled, and large sections of the County Captain’s Mansion collapsed as if they were made of paper and mud.
The air was filled with an endless cacophony of booms and cracks. Dust and smoke billowed into the sky, nearly blotting out the moonlight.
Such a massive commotion had long since alerted the entire city.
Nearby residents shut their doors in terror, while the various factions within the city were drawn by the disturbance.
The sound of hooves and footsteps surged toward them like a tide.
Squad after squad of armored County Soldiers with drawn blades and spears arrived. They quickly formed ranks, surrounding the ruins of the County Captain’s Mansion layer by layer, their crossbows nocked and aimed at the heart of the battlefield.
But the faces of the ordinary Soldiers showed unconcealable fear. They only dared to encircle from a distance, not venturing any closer.
Farther away, on several higher rooftops, seven figures had silently appeared at some unknown point.
They watched the fierce battle inside the County Captain’s Mansion from afar, not communicating with one another, simply observing the sudden duel between Grandmasters.
The old man with the abacus, his senses taking in everything around him, saw the soldiers closing in and the masters Spying on them. He knew that if this dragged on, the situation would become increasingly unfavorable.
Especially this Zhou Bo’an. Although he was a notch below him, his Palm Technique was ferocious, making it difficult to shake him off quickly.
’I can’t stay here any longer!’
A fierce glint flashed in his eyes; he had made his decision.
Just as Zhou Bo’an struck again with a full-powered palm, the dark glow around the old man’s body suddenly flared. Instead of dodging, he met the attack head-on, gathering all his life’s Power into his left palm.
BOOM!
Their palms struck each other squarely.
This collision was far more powerful than any before. A violent shockwave erupted in a ring, leveling all the remaining crumbling walls and ruins in the vicinity.
Zhou Bo’an felt an irresistible force crash into him. A tightness constricted his chest, and he stumbled backward uncontrollably.
In the instant he was knocked back, the abacus that the old man had been holding tightly in his right hand trembled violently.
KLAK-DA-DA...
The seemingly solid frame of the abacus shattered at the sound. Over a hundred glossy black counting beads, made of a substance that was neither metal nor wood, shot out like projectiles from a powerful crossbow. They became a dense black stream of light that blasted toward Zhou Bo’an’s face.
Zhou Bo’an’s face fell in shock.
He had never imagined that his opponent’s abacus, which seemed to be just a weapon, concealed such a deadly move.
At this critical moment, he could only desperately channel his Protective Gang Qi, while his palms spun like wheels, creating layer after layer of barriers in front of him.
PUFF!
With a muffled sound, one of the counting beads finally pierced through the impenetrable barrier of his palm shadows and embedded itself deep in the base of Zhou Bo’an’s thigh.
A searing pain shot through him, and Zhou Bo’an’s movements faltered. Blood instantly gushed from his leg, staining the hem of his robe.
Seizing the opportunity, the old man with the abacus wasted no more time in battle. His figure drifted backward like a wisp of smoke, and his cold gaze swept over to Zhao Yuanhong, who was still fighting fiercely with the green-skirted woman.
Zhao Yuanhong suddenly felt a chilling killing intent lock onto him, as if he’d been plunged into an ice cellar. Out of the corner of his eye, he caught the old man’s emotionless gaze and his heart seized with terror. He no longer dared to continue the fight. He threw a feint punch and hastily retreated to create distance.
"Go!"
The old man with the abacus barked the order.
The green-skirted woman tapped her slender foot, her body leaping gracefully backward to join the old man.
Without a moment’s hesitation, the two figures vanished behind the layered rooftops in just a few leaps, leaving behind a scene of utter ruin and a crowd of stunned onlookers.
Seeing the powerful enemies retreat, Zhao Yuanhong let out a long sigh of relief. But he immediately remembered Zhou Bo’an and rushed toward where he had landed.
"Governor... Governor Zhou, are you alright?"
Zhao Yuanhong hurried to his side and saw Zhou Bo’an standing alone amidst the ruins. His face was a little pale, but his posture was still ramrod straight. The pant leg of his left leg was soaked in blood.
Zhou Bo’an’s face was grim. He glanced at Zhao Yuanhong and said flatly, "It’s nothing. Just a flesh wound."
Zhao Yuanhong was about to breathe a sigh of relief when Zhou Bo’an suddenly looked up. His gaze shot like cold lightning toward the distant rooftops, and his voice was bone-chillingly icy. "You seven, have you seen enough of the show? If you’re not yet satisfied, why don’t you come down? I will be happy to spar with you!"
On the rooftops, the seven dark figures stood motionless.
A slightly hoarse voice spoke up: "Governor Zhou, you jest. How could we dare to impose? Farewell."
As the voice faded, that figure flickered and vanished into the night.
Seeing this, the other six also retreated silently, one after another, as if they had never been there at all.
Only after confirming that the seven had left did Zhou Bo’an’s tense body finally relax.
He gritted his teeth, a vein throbbing on his temple. He glared at the still-dazed Zhao Yuanhong and growled, "What are you standing there for? Help me back."
Zhao Yuanhong quickly went to support him, while shouting to the nearby government constables and Soldiers, "Quick! Escort Governor Zhou back to the mansion! Tighten the security!"
The group surrounded Zhou Bo’an and quickly left the ruined courtyard of the County Captain’s Mansion. They returned to the Governor’s Mansion, to the quiet little courtyard where Zhou Bo’an was temporarily staying.
After dismissing his attendants and leaving only Zhao Yuanhong, the imposing aura Zhou Bo’an had been forcing himself to maintain instantly vanished.
He grunted, staggered over to a couch, and sat down. The color drained from his face, leaving it deathly pale.
He formed a hand seal, and Primordial Qi surged around him as he channeled his Cultivation Technique with all his might.
The muscles around the wound on his left leg spasmed violently. With a soft SQUELCH, a blood-soaked counting bead was forced out. It landed on the clean floor with a crisp clatter and rolled a few times.
After expelling the Hidden Weapon, Zhou Bo’an’s aura did not stabilize. Instead, it fluctuated violently. A sweet taste rose in his throat, and a trickle of blood escaped the corner of his mouth. It was clear his internal organs had also suffered a significant shock.
He quickly took out a Jade Bottle, tipped out two fragrant Elixirs, and swallowed them. Then he poured out some Golden Sore Medicine to dress the wound. Only after a good while did a little color return to his pale face.
Zhao Yuanhong watched from the side, his heart pounding with fear. Only now did he truly realize how terrifyingly strong that old man with the abacus was.
To think he could injure Governor Zhou Bo’an to such a degree.
"Governor Zhou..."
Zhao Yuanhong carefully picked up the counting bead from the floor and held it out to Zhou Bo’an. He asked hesitantly, "Who in the world is that man? How can he be so horrifyingly powerful?"
"I don’t know, but it doesn’t matter. With this level of Cultivation and an abacus as his weapon, he can’t possibly be a nobody. Once we report this to the Court, we will surely be able to trace his origins."
Zhou Bo’an pinched the counting bead, his expression dark. "My injuries are not light. I need to return to Jiangzhou to recuperate as soon as possible."
He paused, then continued, "Tonight, gather a thousand troops. Escort me back to Jiangzhou first thing tomorrow morning. As for the matters here, make no move. Everything will have to wait until I’ve reported to the provincial Governor. He will make the final decision."
"Yes, this subordinate will arrange it at once."
Zhao Yuanhong quickly bowed, gave a hurried salute, and left the room.
Only Zhou Bo’an remained in the small courtyard.
His face was so dark it looked as if water could drip from it. He forcefully suppressed the surging Qi and blood within him, along with the rage from the consecutive setbacks he had suffered tonight.
Concentrating and Calming the Mind, he circulated his Primordial Qi, first to suppress the injury at the base of his thigh and then to expel the Powerful Qi that had invaded his meridians.
Just as he began circulating his Primordial Qi to heal himself...
An indescribable tremor of fear, originating from the depths of his Divine Soul, suddenly gripped his heart.
"Who?!"
Zhou Bo’an’s very soul cried out in terror. The mental fortitude he had honed through years of Cultivation shattered in an instant.
His eyes flew open, his expression changing drastically.
In the chamber, a speck of golden light appeared without any warning in the empty air.
The golden light swiftly stretched and condensed, forming a Primordial Spirit about two feet tall, glowing with a faint golden halo.
It had the appearance of an ordinary-looking middle-aged man. It hovered silently in mid-air, hands clasped behind its back, looking down dispassionately at him on the couch.
Primordial Spirit Emergence!
A Grandmaster Guiyuan!
Zhou Bo’an’s heart sank to the depths, submerged in absurdity and cold despair.
’It’s not the old man with the abacus?!’
’It’s another Grandmaster, completely unfamiliar and with an even more inscrutable aura!’
’Since when... have Grandmasters become so common?’
’In this tiny Liyang County, two have appeared one after another in a single night!’
And from the looks of it, this newcomer’s intentions were even more sinister. His killing intent was so thick it was almost tangible.
In a flash, there was no time for him to think, no time to even shout a warning or a question.
The golden Primordial Spirit locked its gaze on Zhou Bo’an.
It raised its right hand and made a light grasping motion in the empty air.
A staff, entirely black and lusterless but radiating an aura that made one’s Divine Soul tremble, materialized in its hand.
The next moment, the golden Primordial Spirit moved.
With a single step, its form blurred into a brilliant streak of light, its speed beyond extreme. The black staff in its hand moved silently, yet it carried a terrifying power as it chopped down toward the spot between Zhou Bo’an’s eyebrows.
The space where the staff passed seemed to distort slightly, emitting a low, whining sound.
Unavoidable!