Xu Zishuai grasped the large bow, giving the quiver a shake, and drew out a jet-black arrow.
He stood tall, gazing at the battlefield, pulling the bowstring to its fullest.
On the ground, the entire Zhao Manor had been reduced to ruins by the fierce clash between the two fighters.
Torrential blood energy surged like a long streak of smoke rising and swirling, and under the moonlight, it vaguely seemed as if a pack of wolves were galloping, their momentum terrifying.
Even from a hundred meters away on the rooftop, Liang Qu felt a stifling pressure in his chest.
This was already both fighters restraining their strength, directing it toward each other.
How much destruction would it cause if they went all out?
Half a foot thick stone slabs were crushed into powder, and a pillar casually pulled out was snapped in half, wooden shards splintering and embedding into the ground as black holes.
One second the yellow earth was as solid as brick, and the next it was crushed into soft sand.
The rolling dust mixed with shockwaves made the invisible become visible to the naked eye, truly astonishing.
Huang Zejun found himself more and more overburdened as the fight progressed, his chest feeling uncomfortably blocked.
Fighting across realms was no easy feat, and even if it was just a small step in difference, the gap was not insignificant.
He was not some inferior who had swallowed a defective Fetal Pearl Pill; he was a genuinely trained elite within the sect.
This was why he dared to stand alone and conduct the blood sacrifice despite knowing Lu Gang still stood in opposition.
Yet Lu Gang had caught him off guard with an unyielding attack like a battering ram.
Under such an onslaught, Huang Zejun suspected he might have broken a few ribs.
His surging blood energy found a way out, leaving him devoid of strength, and the more they fought, the more panicked he became, yearning only to escape swiftly.
Secretly harnessing his energy, Huang Zejun pinpointed a direction to leap towards.
Before he could charge out, the whistling of an arrow was already upon him, and he could almost feel the air it stirred.
Huang Zejun instinctively ducked, the arrow grazing past his hair, snipping off several strands.
Cold sweat drenched him at the precision of the shot, flawless, but unfortunately lacking the force to break through his protective shield of energy.
Yet just as Huang Zejun felt a sense of relief, he saw the incoming iron fist.
No, that wasn't the real aim of that arrow!
Lu Gang swung his arm, landing a precise blow on Huang Zejun's side of the face, the force blasting through him, spinning his entire body.
His blood energy fully ignited in that moment, akin to a rainbow piercing the sun, smashing into Huang Zejun’s head, driving it into the ground.
Huang Zejun felt as if his entire skull vibrated like a struck bronze bell, blood spraying from his nose and mouth.
The impact almost severed his head from his neck, completely disrupting his balance.
His head was driven into the yellow earth, burying his shoulders with the immense momentum.
Xu Zishuai seized the moment, drawing the bowstring to its limit, causing the bow to creak ominously.
Bang!
Thunder roared in Huang Zejun's ears but he couldn't react in time.
Thankfully, the archer's might was lacking, and without hitting a vulnerable spot, it was not enough to—
All his pores suddenly clenched shut, a terrifying shiver spreading from his heart.
The arrow transformed into a streak of light, piercing through him.
A coin-sized hole extended from front to back, utterly destroying his kidney in its path.
The arrow lodged itself in the ground, the fletching vibrating with a humming sound.
Agony tore through him, rendering Huang Zejun's mind blank, every nerve in his body trembling.
How could this be?
On the rooftop, Liang Qu marveled at Xu Shixiong’s two arrows.
The first arrow mimicked Hu Qi's strength, deepening Huang Zejun’s misconceptions and blocking his movement, providing Lu Shixiong an opening.
The second arrow, unleashed after Lu Shixiong's successful strike, fully embodied the pinnacle of the Galloping Horse Realm, delivering a killing blow when least expected!
Though from the same bow, Xu Shixiong's archery was of a superior martial arts caliber, incomparable to the ordinary.
Had he gone all out from the start, not only would Lu Shixiong have struggled to succeed, but the arrow itself might have been avoided!
The first arrow was merely a trap; the fatal second arrow struck when Huang Zejun was at his most relaxed!
Even the initial arrow had taken into account Hu Shixiong's earlier shot.
Liang Qu suddenly felt he was still too inexperienced and had much to learn.
"Ugh."
Pain spread throughout his body.
Huang Zejun’s nose was completely broken, preventing him from breathing through it, forcing harsh inhalations through his throat.
Lu Gang seized the advantage, stamping on his neck.
Huang Zejun seemingly heard the lament of the cartilage in his neck, with only his spine keeping him upright, overwhelmed by the metallic tang of blood everywhere, numbly opening his mouth only to gulp in large amounts of yellow dirt.
His sternum was shattered, internal organs injured, and his neck almost broken.
The victory was set.
Lu Gang pulled Huang Zejun out, trampling on his leg bone until it snapped, then broke his arm.
Confirming that all four limbs were completely ruined and he had lost the ability to resist, Hu Qi descended from the rooftop, handing over a glowing green-black chain.
Azure Steel Chain, specially for restraining Wolf Smoke Martial Masters.
Lu Gang hefted Huang Zejun's leg, slamming him onto the ground, binding his broken hands and feet with the chain.
Liang Qu approached, finding Huang Zejun’s nose completely shattered, blood flowing from the swollen, bruised break.
The small puncture in his abdomen continued to ooze blood, yet his chest still rose and fell steadily.
It's astonishing that despite such extreme injuries, there was no sign of approaching death.
Such wounds would be unbearable for any normal person.
However, the vitality of a Wolf Smoke Martial Master was incredibly strong, with a blood aura towering a full height, enough to make one's hair stand on end from sheer presence.
They were like immortal cockroaches.
Just needing a common doctor to set the broken bones, in less than a month he could be as lively as ever.
No, a Wolf Smoke Martial Master couldn't regenerate limbs, so one kidney was surely ruined, but didn’t he still have another? He would survive.
"What should we do next?" Xu Zishuai asked.
Lu Gang pondered briefly, "First, we go to the martial hall to find Junior Brother Xiang, then together we visit our elder sister in law. They must be worried. After reassuring them, rest for the night, and deal with the mountain spirits buried the next day. Once it's all taken care of, our master should return soon. That will be the time to see if Magistrate Peng has any issues. If there are, we report it to the prefectural city, otherwise, we leave it to the magistrate."
To prevent being tricked by Zhao Hongyuan, they devised a plan to split into three groups.
Lu Gang and Hu Qi sought out Huang Zejun, one attacking and the other harassing.
Xu Zishuai and Liang Qu hunted the ferryman.
Given the ferryman’s strength, Liang Qu alone was enough, but the team feared any hidden measures unknown even to Zhao Hongyuan, so Xu Zishuai accompanied him.
If the ferryman was strong, it ensured safety.
If weak, they quickly captured and returned to aid Lu Gang.
Xiang Changsong remained at the martial hall as support, just in case.
Liang Qu couldn’t help but reminisce about playing video games with his classmates back in the day, a full team carrying a rookie, winning every match and opening every chest.
Relying on a strong presence felt wonderful.
All danger seemed non-existent, while the benefits were plentiful.
Following his senior brothers, Liang Qu shouldered the long spear, dragging the captured dwarf towards the martial hall.
The streets were deserted, fallen leaves carried by the wind from one side to the other, scraping against the stone, creating a raspy sound.
Liang Qu’s stomach grumbled, yet even the night market shops were closed, every door and window shut, everyone thoroughly frightened by the battle at Zhao Manor.
Understandable, anyone would be scared seeing a large household reduced to ruins in the blink of an eye.
After regrouping with Xiang Changsong at the martial hall, the group headed to Yang Manor, passing through three courtyards before settling in the main hall, awaiting Mistress Xu.
Night maidservants served tea and brought snacks.
Liang Qu, hungry, silently consumed most of it, just as Mistress Xu yawned, emerging from the corridor, accompanied by the familiar Nan Di.
Taking a sip of tea to rinse his mouth before standing to greet her, Liang Qu saw Mistress Xu turn back again.
What did that mean?
Liang Qu scratched the back of his head, noticing his senior brothers were equally puzzled.
Moments later, Nan Di reappeared, bowing, "Madam said that the young masters reek of blood, and she has no desire to see them. If there is nothing urgent, please take a bath first."
After a pause, Nan Di added, "I have already instructed the servants to prepare hot water, so the young masters should wait a moment."
(End of Chapter)