The Iron Cavalry halted, blocking the entire mountain road.
Upon seeing the group's attire, especially the emblem on their chests, all the passersby steered clear, not even daring to et their gazes. So wanted no trouble and departed quickly. Others couldn't restrain their curiosity and stopped to watch from a safe distance.
"Those… those are people from the City Lord's Mansion! What are they doing here?"
"I heard the City Lord's most pampered princess traveled all the way from Lingjing City and is now staying at the Xianlai Restaurant in Shisu Town. Countless young talents have flocked there, hoping to catch a glimpse of her."
"These Silver Armored Guards are probably here for Chen Yang."
The various discussions continued, but in uniformly hushed tones, as if terrified of being overheard by the guards. Whether speaking of the City Lord's Mansion or the young princess, their voices carried a mix of reverence and extre caution.
The City Lord's Mansion was incredibly powerful. It wasn't just ordinary people like them; even the Three Valleys and Six Courts had to be wary. Only the nine great Sects could stand with them as equals.
"Don't tell he's going to be wiped out right after leaving the Red Lotus Valley? If so, that Chen Yang fellow is incredibly unlucky."
"You're not wrong. These are the Silver Armored Guards from the City Lord's Mansion. How could any ordinary person stand against them?"
"Commander." A deputy nad Zhu Mu flashed a fawning smile. "Aren't these nobodies underestimating us? Forget you, Boss, or the rest of the team; I alone could capture that Chen Yang fellow."
"Who cares about so nobody who ca from who-knows-where? I don't care why he shouldered the bla for the Red Lotus Valley. This ti tomorrow will be the anniversary of his death."
"Can't argue with that," Zhang Xiao said, tapping his forehead with a smile. "Why capture him alive? Just kill him."
"You're right, Boss." Zhu Mu imdiately nodded, shalessly promoting himself. "My strength has improved quite a bit. You'll have to give a few pointers later, Boss."
He had barely finished speaking when the sound of approaching hoofbeats echoed from a distance. They instinctively looked up.
A group of four was heading their way, with one person in the lead and the other three following closely behind.
"Here they co!" A smile tugged at Zhang Xiao's lips.
Zhu Mu brandished his spear and patted his chest. "Leave it to , Boss."
They had never seen Chen Yang, nor had they ever t Shen Shaotian. But how could they not recognize Liu Qingi, the renowned beauty of Yuning Mountain?
At the sa ti, Shen Shaotian and Liu Qingi frowned, their faces falling.
Silver Armored Guards... this...
They had considered countless possibilities but had never imagined that people from the City Lord's Mansion would appear here. More importantly, judging by their posture, they clearly ca with ill intent.
"Are you Chen Yang?" Zhu Mu raised his spear, pointing it at the man in the lead. "Hand over the map fragnt now," he said arrogantly, "or die!"
"Shen Shaotian, Liu Qingi, if you don't want to die, step aside imdiately." Zhu Mu spoke again, nudging his horse forward. "Of course," he added coldly, "if you wish to make an enemy of our City Lord's Mansion, then you are welco to try!"
His voice bood, dripping with killing intent. The sheer dominance in his words sent a shiver down the spine of everyone present. The reputation of the City Lord's Mansion was one thing, but to see their thods firsthand was sothing else entirely. Outside of the nine great Sects, who else would they deign to notice?
Shen Shaotian was about to speak when the unthinkable happened.
CLANG!
A sword left its sheath.
In the next instant, a piercing glint of cold light tore across the sky, flashing under the bright sun. Zhang Xiao had only seen Zhu Mu accelerating, raising his war spear to charge. Before he could even blink, a sliver of starlight descended from the heavens, its Sword Qi as sharp as frost.
"Watch out!" Zhang Xiao roared, but his warning ca too late.
The imnse Sword Qi crashed down from above like a thunderbolt striking the firmant. As it landed, the entire mountain road began to tremble violently.
BOOM!
A thunderous explosion erupted from within the ranks of the Silver Armored Guards. Then, the swordsman advanced as if they were completely unopposed, the slow, rhythmic sound of his horse's hooves echoing in the silence.
Zhang Xiao's eyes widened in horror. Everywhere he looked, the entire troop of Silver Armored Guards was thrown into chaos, with n and horses sent flying in a total rout.
Zhu Mu, who had been charging at the very front, was cleaved in two—along with his horse and his war spear.
It was all from a single sword strike.
And most importantly, he didn't even deign to look my way?
This... This sudden turn of events nearly sent Zhang Xiao toppling from his warhorse. His entire body trembled uncontrollably.
Even Shen Shaotian and Liu Qingi, along with the curious onlookers who had stayed behind, were all completely dumbfounded and filled with disbelief.
"Since when were my belongings sothing the likes of you could take by force?"
The sword returned to its sheath as the figure walked further and further away.
WHOOSH.
A second ago, Zhang Xiao had been celebrating his survival, but now his chest was pierced by a beam of light. He fell to the ground, his eyes still wide with shock.
Even in death, he couldn't understand how their opponent was so powerful. He couldn't understand how soone in Yuning Mountain dared to defy the imnse power of the City Lord's Mansion, wiping out an entire squad with his sword without a single word of warning.
The onlookers were just as bewildered.
Who… who in the world was this person?!
For a mont, countless people simply stared at each other, a cold chill running from the soles of their feet to the crowns of their heads.
This guy... he's practically defying the heavens.
Liu Qingi and Shen Shaotian subconsciously exchanged a look, both seeing the sa profound shock in each other's eyes. In that single, fleeting mont, they felt as though they had just witnessed the rise of a truly ruthless figure.
Far too ruthless.
「Early that spring.」
An abrupt piece of news sent shockwaves through all of Yuning Mountain.
Chen Yang had cut down dozens of Silver Armored Guards with a single strike. He had cut through their ranks like a hot knife through butter, completely unopposed.
In a single confrontation, with a single strike, the Silver Armored Guards—fad for their tactical coordination and formidable armor—had crumbled as if made of clay. Not a single one survived.
"Who is this fellow who appeared out of nowhere? To think he took out an entire squad of the City Lord's Mansion's Silver Armored Guards with one move!"
"A newborn calf that doesn't fear the tiger, eh? Does he not even have any regard for the mighty City Lord's Mansion?"
A tidal wave of discussion erupted throughout Yuning Mountain. At the sa ti, the news deterred a number of people who had been planning to murder him for his treasure. Anyone who still wanted to make a move on Chen Yang now had to seriously reconsider their own strength.
Shisu Town was, naturally, the first to bear the brunt of it.
The sky above was gloomy and oppressive, the blazing sun obscured by clouds. The cold wind cut like a knife, whistling without end.
Inside a tavern.
"What an arrogant bastard! How dare he touch people from the City Lord's Mansion? He's courting death!"
The young man, who was none other than Shen Shaokun, gripped a wine cup tightly. A cruel glint flashed in his eyes as he looked up, staring at the Xianlai Restaurant across the street, a slight smile playing on his lips.
If I were to take your head and present it as a gift to the little princess from the City Lord's Mansion, I'm sure she'd look upon with favor, wouldn't she?
At this thought, Shen Shaokun let out a sinister laugh.
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