The warhorse ridden by Li Guanyi, while not comparable to the steeds of the Western Regions or the Turkic Iron Pagoda horses, was still carefully selected by the Xue family. Each hoof strike was more terrifying than a punch from an entering realm martial artist. If it were to stomp down, the legs of the martial honor disciple would surely be shattered.
At that moment, a shadow suddenly appeared, darting beneath the horse's hooves.
A hand pulled the stunned martial honor disciple out, while the other wielded a long knife and swept it fiercely.
The warhorse neighed in fright, stepping back a few paces, its hooves clattering.
The man was around thirty-five, sporting a bushy beard and wearing a mask that covered half his face. He spoke in a deep voice, "At such a young age, how can you be so ruthless!"
The rescued martial honor disciple, still shaken, shouted in a fit of rage, "Kill him!"
"I want him dead! I want his entire family dead!"
"I want all the men in his family to become beggars, and the women sold to the most despicable brothels!"
"Let a thousand of the lowest cripples take him!"
Li Guanyi's eyes were calm, but within them brewed a terrifying storm.
His words flowed too smoothly; even in anger, they proved he had done such things before.
At the very least, he had witnessed others do so.
The man hesitated not a moment before drawing his knife and attacking. Li Guanyi tightened the reins, and the horse suddenly reared up, crashing down fiercely. At the same time, the heavy knife at his waist was drawn, utilizing the horse's momentum for a powerful slash, a signature move of the Iron Cavalry. At this moment, he executed it perfectly.
The might of this strike was overwhelming.
However, the man's knife paused, releasing a three-foot-long aura.
Ordinary long swords and knives rarely exceed three feet in blade length, yet this three-foot aura made the weapon in the man's hand seem like a six or seven-foot-long polearm as it swept across. Li Guanyi pulled the reins, and the warhorse leaped to avoid the attack, the aura from the man's blade sweeping past.
Nearby trees swayed, branches falling chaotically.
"Second Floor martial artist."
"Qi Condensation Great Accomplishment, already connected to the meridians."
Li Guanyi recognized this realm; it was at least the level of an eighth-grade lieutenant in the border army. A thirty-something eighth-grade lieutenant, having accumulated some military achievements and heads, could become a seventh-grade martial officer, a remarkable figure in ordinary cities.
His ruthless actions indicated a background among the soldiers at the border.
Yet now, he was to serve these martial honor disciples as a lackey.
Even though these martial honor disciples had yet to enter the realm.
This was the power of the privileged.
Ordinary people defend the borders for their country, risking life and death, and with decent talent, they would enter the realm by twenty, then forge their bodies, condense qi, and connect their meridians. By their thirties, they would be at the Second Floor, ultimately ending up as lackeys for martial honors.
Li Guanyi had no thoughts of retreat; he swung his knife down once more.
The man had already leaped up, using his knife to block Li Guanyi's weapon, his shoulder crashing into the boy's chest.
A visible force erupted.
The impact from his shoulder was enough to shatter a boulder.
He was experienced, using one hand to hold down Li Guanyi's weapon while the other shoulder crashed in, allowing Li Guanyi to absorb the brunt of the attack. But soon, he felt that the force of the impact was being neutralized by something. The two forces clashed, the boy's clothing tearing, revealing the soft armor beneath.
The soft armor was bestowed by the imperial decree.
Even if it was merely a casual gift, it was still considered top quality.
This layer of soft armor could dissipate qi.
If it weren't for this soft armor being able to mitigate a certain degree of a martial artist's qi, that blow would have been enough to kill a fierce tiger.
Li Guanyi's forged body, however, still found it hard to withstand.
The man was fierce and quick to react, retracting his knife and swinging it down toward Li Guanyi's face. Li Guanyi, seemingly stunned, actually used his flesh and blood hand to block the blade.
After all, he was still a child.
The man's expression was indifferent.
As the blade fell, the aura sensed a feeling of stagnation.
It was as if it had struck steel.
He was momentarily taken aback, noticing the fierce determination in the boy's eyes.
Beside Li Guanyi, the White Tiger pressed its paw down, and in the boy's eyes, a faint golden hue reminiscent of the White Tiger seemed to appear. The White Tiger's manifestation roared proudly, directly pouncing onto Li Guanyi's body. His arms were enveloped in a layer of golden qi, resembling steel and mysterious weapons.
Li Guanyi suddenly swept his arms.
His hands moved like superior weapons.
The man felt his grip loosen, and the weapon capable of containing a martial artist's inner qi shattered. Yet his momentum did not end so quickly; Li Guanyi surged forward, following the man's charge.
His right hand formed a fist, the middle finger curled, protruding like a phoenix eye.
He struck out suddenly!
During his earlier entry into the realm, the White Tiger Grand Sect's ultimate technique he had comprehended finally revealed its edge for the first time. Streams of golden qi spiraled like a drill, and as Li Guanyi's fist struck, it landed squarely on the man's chest. The former border lieutenant seemed to hear the roar of a fierce tiger in his ears.
The defensive qi around his heart was instantly torn apart, followed by a sharp pain in his chest.
The protective true qi of the Second Floor martial artist was actually shattered by a punch from an entering realm youth.
His expression changed drastically as he wildly retreated.
Li Guanyi stepped forward half a pace.
Clearly, it was a state just after the explosion of inner qi, yet his arms gathered a flow of heat.
The Jade Arm Divine Bow Technique, unmatched in the world for explosive power.
It could accumulate strength and unleash moves that exceeded limits.
The Xue family's inner qi erupted, seamlessly transitioning into the Xue family's Shattered Jade Fist.
Another punch struck.
The inner qi surged into the heart, then exploded, mixing with the power of the White Tiger's manifestation.
Boom!!!!!!
The noble disciples were just preparing to witness Li Guanyi's tragic fate. The previous clash, in their eyes, was merely their guest elder being repelled in a single move. But the next moment, accompanied by a faint tiger's roar, a fierce wind suddenly swept through the entire forest, leaves swirling.
In the next instant, the former border lieutenant let out a scream, falling backward with a gaping hole in his chest, dead on the spot. In the midst of the silence, the boy stood there, one hand gripping the heavy knife, the other flicking his blood-stained clothing.
A Second Floor martial artist, a fierce warrior from the border, a military lieutenant.
In wartime, he could command three hundred troops.
Climbing another level would allow him to be called a general, capable of leading a thousand troops into battle, along with supplies and logistics, a scale of two to three thousand men.
And just like that, in a single move, he had witnessed life and death?
This was a fourteen-year-old boy, rumored to be a lucky bumpkin?
Their faces turned pale as they realized they had stepped on a landmine, and they shouted, "Someone! Someone!" Just moments ago, the road had been empty, but suddenly, many people surged forth, shouting, "Who are you? Why are you wielding a weapon and committing murder?"
"Impudent!"
"How dare you kill? Put down your weapon!"
These people, dressed as officials, shouted loudly as they advanced.
They aimed to force Li Guanyi back.
First, there were the officials themselves, and if that didn't work, there were the lieutenant-level martial officers.
Then there were the officials who had been arranged around the area.
Li Guanyi understood the methods of these martial honor disciples.
Those officials approached with fierce momentum, looking like ferocious demons.
If it were common folk, a wandering hero would likely be scared silly by such a scene and retreat. Even martial artists from the rivers and lakes who were stronger than this lieutenant would choose to leave, unwilling to engage in battle with a colossal entity like the Chen Kingdom.
This was the power of authority.
Li Guanyi suddenly felt that the old man had secured many things for him.
In the end, he realized how useful they were.
As these officials advanced, the youth extended his hand, tearing off the shattered upper garment to reveal his soft armor. Then, with one hand gripping the knife, he pulled out a waist token from his bosom.
It bore a dark golden fierce tiger.
On the front were the words "Zhenwei" (Establish Authority).
He casually fastened the waist token to his horn belt.
A glimmer of relief appeared in the eyes of the martial honor disciples, as they were no longer afraid of his official status.
They were too accustomed to this kind of official competition.
The youth raised his gaze slightly, pressing down on his knife, and said calmly, "Today, this official is executing the Emperor's orders, escorting the family of Concubine Xue into the capital. Yet, there are those—"
"Gathering in numbers, wielding weapons, surrounding and killing."
Gathering in numbers, wielding weapons, surrounding and killing a court official?!
The actions of the officials suddenly slowed.
"Among them is a border lieutenant."
"Suspected to be a traitor of Yue Qianfeng."
Everyone's minds froze instantly.
The wind in the air became eerily silent.
The few martial honor disciples who were about to reveal their identities suddenly turned pale, not daring to speak their fathers' names. The youth, clad in soft armor, his clothing stained with blood, with the horn belt at his waist and the ink knife in his right hand, walked step by step. The dozens of officials surrounding him turned pale and retreated.
With a single sentence, he shattered the poker table, his cold gaze sweeping over them as he said lightly:
"Zhenwei Lieutenant, it is my duty to capture fugitives by order."
"Idle people, do not disturb."
All the surrounding officials were rendered speechless, watching as Li Guanyi stepped forward to the noble who had spoken, looking at him and softly saying, "What were you just saying? What do you want to do to my family?"
The martial honor disciple's face turned pale.
Li Guanyi, who had relied on his aunt since childhood, smiled.
His expression was fierce.
With a swing of his hand, the heavy knife struck down hard.
Accompanied by a crisp shattering sound, the martial honor disciple screamed, his knees shattered.
Li Guanyi's killing intent surged as he pressed down on the knife handle, drawing it out. His eyes reflected a murderous aura; he wished he could cleave this person in two, but he refrained from causing more trouble for Old Xue. Old Xue had said to beat them to death, but he couldn't actually kill someone.
He understood that beating a martial honor disciple to death was different from chopping off the head of this martial honor disciple outside the capital.
Li Guanyi slowly sheathed his knife.
He controlled his killing intent.
Taking a long breath, he turned to another person.
The youth's voice trembled, "I never said that! I didn't say anything!"
"I know."
"Then why did you still attack me?"
Li Guanyi replied, "No reason."
"Just that I felt displeased."
The heavy knife swung up and struck down.
Bones shattered.
Screams echoed.
Then he stepped forward to strike another.
The officials could only watch helplessly as this youth shattered the knees of everyone, bones protruding, and then bound them with the iron chains they had brought. He then mounted his horse, lightly squeezing the horse's belly, and the warhorse began to gallop.
These martial honor disciples were dragged along, their screams unending.
The ground was soaked in blood and flesh, and the officials turned pale, some running back to inform the true nobles who manipulated these martial honor disciples like chess pieces. To subdue these martial honor disciples, one had to be even more ruthless than them; this was not about character or disposition, whether good or evil.
Evil people are naturally ruthless, but good people must be ruthless too.
This was the chaotic world.
In the woods, the old bodyguard in the Xue family's Listening Wind Pavilion quietly watched this scene.
In the end, he left. It wasn't just these martial honors who had protectors; the old man, who had been by Xue Daoyong's side without leaving an inch, followed behind, just as he had done when he came down from the sect of Mount Tai in the Central Plains during his youth.
This bodyguard reported the events to the old man writing in the Listening Wind Pavilion.
Xue Daoyong said, "Shi Feng, you didn't intervene?"
The bodyguard Liu Shifeng smiled and said, "Young Master Li's Shattered Jade Fist has reached great accomplishment, killing a Second Floor border officer. There was no need for me to intervene."
Xue Daoyong laughed heartily.
Liu Shifeng added, "Young Master Li rode for about ten miles, dragging them along, and then had those officials escort these martial honors into Guan Yi City. Regarding Yue Qianfeng, they have been imprisoned."
Xue Daoyong wrote down, asking, "Who was leading them?"
The old bodyguard replied, "It was the son of the Fourth Grade General Qi Junsong."
Xue Daoyong said, "Qi Junsong, a martial artist nearing the Fourth Heaven, has accumulated quite a few military achievements at the border. He is considered a young general with skills and good swordsmanship."
"Guanyi refrained from causing trouble for my family, haha, what a good child."
"He knows the limits, but the old man cannot neglect his own child. He must also return the favor."
The old man said nothing more, finishing his writing, and beckoned Liu Shifeng over. Liu Shifeng saw that it was a landscape painting, with galloping steeds, and on one side were the words, 'Breath-taking Power,' to which Liu Shifeng remarked, "It's a good piece of calligraphy."
Xue Daoyong replied, "Naturally, it's good."
After admiring it for a while, he casually tossed the brush aside, saying, "Send this to Qi Junsong."
The old man said lightly, "I remember he doesn't have just one son, does he?"
This seemingly casual remark carried an unspeakable chill and killing intent. Li Guanyi had not been ruthless, leaving face for him. The old man appreciated such kindness; merchants value reciprocity, and one must also give back.
The old man sighed to himself:
"Still a child, not understanding that things should either not be done or done to the extreme."
"The old man doesn't need him to take care of me. My hands are already stained with blood; I don't need another."
"Shifeng, handle the aftermath well."
"The children are still immature. I heard he was wandering the alleys of Jiangnan with Shuangtao, composing music for her, then climbing trees and carrying her back. It shows he is still a youth, with eyes filled with spring and autumn, unable to see the bloodshed of the chaotic world. We have grown old; our time has passed."
"Paving the way for them to the world is the last thing we old bones should do."
"I want to teach him the ways of this chaotic world at the least cost."
"This is what a senior should do."
"Otherwise, the price he must pay to truly understand these things would be too heavy."
The old man's eyes reflected a complex emotion.
Liu Shifeng smiled and nodded, softly saying:
"Understood."
……………………
Li Guanyi had confined these fellows in the dungeon of Guan Yi City. Regardless of their curses and shouts, he wrote the documentation and then returned to the Xue family. During the medicinal bath, he removed the soft armor, beneath which was another layer of padding. Even so, his chest still bore a bruise.
Li Guanyi soaked in the medicinal bath, recalling the battle of the day.
Brief, yet perilous.
He had used all his means.
In the end, it was the White Tiger Grand Sect's technique he had comprehended during his entry into the realm that broke through the defenses, seamlessly transitioning into the Shattered Jade Fist to strike at the heart. If Li Guanyi had already condensed qi, he wouldn't have needed to follow up with that last punch; the self-comprehended technique of the White Tiger Grand Sect would have sufficed.
Condensing qi...
Li Guanyi sat cross-legged, breathing and circulating the medicinal energy into his body, then attempted to forge his inner qi. However, this was a laborious task; the so-called laborious effort required one to grind away bit by bit. Li Guanyi's mind was tranquil, and his qi condensation progressed rapidly.
It was just a pity that it couldn't be achieved in one go.
After finishing the medicinal bath, he stood up and practiced a set of exercises to activate his qi before preparing to meditate again.
Suddenly, his heart jolted.
The bronze cauldron hummed, the Red Dragon manifestation lit up, and then the jade liquid accumulated.
This familiar feeling brightened Li Guanyi's eyes. He turned and quickly stepped outside, seeing that dusk had fallen. In the corner, a broad-shouldered man sat cross-legged, holding a wine jug, with a red divine dragon coiling behind him.
The man lifted the wine jug, smiling, "Not bad, huh?"
"Same crime!"
"Want to join me for a drink?"
"Hahahaha!"
Rank thirty-four on the Divine General List, first in foot combat.
Yue Qianfeng!
The bronze cauldron hummed violently.
(End of this chapter)