Sword from Songshan

Chapter 90: Murderous intention emerges, Zhong Zhen dies

On the ninth day of the ninth month, two yangs overlap, a new year begins, and everything is renewed.

More than a hundred miles east of Mount Song, a cluster of red bonfires flickered in the wilderness.

"Too deceiving!"

Zhong Zhen sat by the campfire, toasting a piece of bread with branches, his face full of indignation.

He said he was going to investigate the Demon Sect's stronghold. What kind of stronghold would require a Fifth Protector like him to personally investigate? It was just a poor excuse to deliberately send him down the mountain so that Zuo Feiying could be promoted to the Fifth Protector smoothly.

We slept in the wilderness during the Double Ninth Festival. Not only could we not have the soft, sweet rice dumplings, we couldn't even have a cup of hot soup. We could only eat dry bread with cold water.

"Oops! My pie!"

A burning smell came, and Zhong Zhen quickly picked up the pancake, only to see that the side closest to the campfire was completely burnt.

He threw it to the ground angrily and sighed again. Now he didn't even have the bread to eat.

His resentment towards Zuo Lengchan increased even more.

"Ok?"

I took out a handful of hard dried meat from my bag, preparing to fill my stomach for the time being, when I suddenly saw a figure walking towards me from the west.

Passing by?
No, if you are just passing by, you should go straight east along the main path.

But the man clearly came down the road and walked towards him.

He saw the bonfire and came over to ask for something.

Or, was it directed at him?

The world is dangerous, so you have to be extra careful when you go out.

Zhong Zhen is also a veteran. He sat there without moving, his right hand already grasping the hilt of the sword on the bundle.

He is known as the Nine-Curved Sword, which does not mean that the sword is curved, but rather means that his sword moves are unpredictable and unpredictable.

As a first-class master, Zhong Zhen does not take those low-ranking people seriously.

As the man approached within twenty steps, Zhong Zhen suddenly loosened his grip on the sword, and his tense body relaxed.

"Uncle Zhong."

The man came closer and called out, it turned out to be Lu Nanxing.

"Nephew Lu."

Looking at Lu Nanxing who suddenly appeared, Zhong Zhen smiled.

"Could it be that they have discovered another Demon Sect stronghold somewhere, and the Sect Leader has sent you down the mountain as well?"

"Uncle Zhong, you are joking. I came here specifically to find you."

With a smile on his face, Lu Nanxing sat down next to Zhong Zhen. He first took out a bag of barbecued pork from his arms, then took out a wine gourd from his waist and handed it to Zhong Zhen.

"Double Ninth Festival, nephew will drink with uncle."

Zhong Zhen took a look but didn't answer.

Lu Nanxing smiled and said nothing more. He took a big sip and put the wine gourd aside. He then picked up a piece of roasted meat with 70% fat and stuffed it into his mouth, chewing it with big mouthfuls, leaving shiny oil stains on his lips.

Zhong Zhen looked at Lu Nanxing and spoke again after a while.

"Junior Brother Lu came all the way to look for me, he wouldn't just bring me some wine and meat, would he?"

"Sending wine and meat is one thing, and on the other hand, we hope to invite Master Uncle back to the mountain."

Lu Nanxing took another big sip of wine with a serious expression.

"Without your support, it would be difficult for me to compete with Zuo Feiying for the position of Grand Protector."

"Junior Brother Lu overestimates me. Who will replace the Grand Protector is a matter for the headmaster to decide. How can I butt in on the matter?"

Zhong Zhen spoke in a steady tone, then added with a hint of resentment.

"Besides, I was ordered to go down the mountain to explore the Demon Cult's stronghold. How could I go back without a reason?"

"As for the reason why Master Zhong returned to the mountain, I do have one..."

Lu Nanxing lowered his voice and moved slightly closer.

Zhong Zhen couldn't help but move closer to Lu Nanxing and listen to what he was thinking.

"My idea is..."

When Lu Nanxing's voice became softer and softer, almost inaudible, his face suddenly turned cold and he slapped him hard.

They were too close and Zhong Zhen was almost defenseless, so he had no time to block or dodge. He could only use his internal strength to withstand Lu Nanxing's palm in a hurry.

Bang~!

The blow hit his left ribs, causing a dull thud and knocking Zhong Zhen to the ground.

Zhong Zhen is a veteran in this field. He took advantage of the situation and rolled on the ground. Although he looked embarrassed, he had put some distance between himself and Lu Nanxing.

Then he jumped up and looked at Lu Nanxing with anger on his face.

Although the palm strike just now was powerful, Lu Nanxing was sitting and the palm strike was from the side, so he couldn't use his full strength, so the injury was not too serious.

"what do you mean!"

"I don't mean anything else. I just want to ask Uncle Zhong to make room for me."

Lu Nanxing also stood up with a faint sneer on his face.

"Vacation?"

Zhong Zhen frowned, then suddenly understood.

"You've got your eyes on my seat!"

"Exactly."

"you……"

Zhong Zhen opened his mouth, but looked at Lu Nanxing with confusion.

"You are clearly competing with Zuo Feiying for the position of the Second Protector, and Ding Mian, Tang Ying'e and I are also helping you. Why do you insist on taking the risk to snatch my position?"

"Uncle Master, do you really think I can't figure it out? Which one is more risky? Zuo Feiying is Zuo Lengchan's son. Can I win the battle for the throne with him? Even if I win, how can Zuo Lengchan tolerate me? By then, I'm afraid I will be dead!"

Lu Nanxing had a sneer on his face and a hint of contempt in his eyes.

“That sounds nice, but in reality, the reason you support me in competing for the position of Second Protector is just to use me to suppress Zuo Feiying and thus weaken Zuo Lengchan’s power. Even if I can’t win, you still want me to pay the price. After all, as Zuo Lengchan’s direct disciple, in your eyes, I also belong to Zuo Lengchan’s power.”

“…You see things so clearly.”

Zhong Zhen looked at Lu Nanxing, his eyes revealing a hint of surprise and fear.

I originally thought that he was just a 17 or 18-year-old boy who had some talent and luck and accidentally gained the fame he has today.

With just a little provocation, they will obediently be used as knives by them.

But now it seems that they were all wrong.

Although Lu Nanxing is young, he is mature and experienced, and is not inferior to these old hands!
Zhong Zhen frowned for a long time, confused again.

"Since you have seen through it, why are you still fighting with Zuo Feiying? Are you just putting on a show for us? No, if it's just a show, it's too real. You pushed Zuo Feiying back several steps with one palm, which has completely angered him."

"I'm not that bored. I'm just putting on a show for your amusement."

Lu Nanxing sneered, and his eyes suddenly became deep.

"Because I really want to be a bodyguard!"

"You want to be a bodyguard? But you don't dare to compete with Zuo Feiying, so you aimed at my position from the beginning?"

Zhong Zhen frowned, and became even more confused by what Lu Nanxing said.

"Then why didn't you just attack me directly from the beginning? You had to pretend to fight with Zuo Feiying. If it was just to make me careless so that you could have a chance to attack me, it would be too much trouble."

"Uncle-master, I really wonder how you got to the position you have today." Lu Nanxing shook his head and said helplessly.

"If I don't fight with Zuo Feiying, how can I sit on the position of Grand Protector?"

"you……"

Isn't this a contradiction? Zhong Zhen was about to speak, but suddenly changed his mind.

Yes, if Lu Nanxing had not competed with Zuo Feiying, he would never have been able to sit on the position of Grand Protector.

The reason why Zuo Feiying was promoted to Taibao was not because he was the head of the second-generation disciples, but because he was Zuo Lengchan’s son!

Therefore, let alone the only vacant seat for the Second Guardian, even if there were two or three vacant seats for the Fifth Guardian and the Sixth Guardian, it would not be the turn of Lu Nanxing, the second-generation disciple who had only been in the sect for two years.

In fact, the facts have already proved this point. There were six empty seats this time. Zuo Feiying only occupied one, and there were five others, but none of them was for Lu Nanxing.

Even if there are more vacancies, there are many people in the sect who are highly skilled in martial arts, have rich experience, and have made great contributions. There will always be someone to replace them, and Lu Nanxing will not be considered.

Therefore, Lu Nanxing has to compete with Zuo Feiying.

Only if he competes with Zuo Feiying will people list him as one of the candidates for Taibao.

This is exactly the situation now. Everyone in the sect is arguing about who is more suitable to succeed the Second Protector between Lu Nanxing and Zuo Feiying.

You know, Lu Nanxing originally did not have the qualifications to succeed the Grand Tutor.

But because of the competition with Zuo Feiying, he managed to win the qualification.

It’s just like judging an award. If you want to win, you have to be shortlisted first. Competing with Zuo Feiying was Lu Nanxing’s way of being shortlisted.

Since he has already obtained the qualifications, there is no need to compete with Zuo Feiying for the position of the Second Protector.

Just as Lu Nanxing said, if you can't win the fight, even if you win it will be a dead end.

Among the Thirteen Guardians of Songshan, why should he just focus on the position of the Second Guardian? Aren't there many other options?

For example, the Five Guardians.

As long as Zhong Zhen dies, the position of the Fifth Protector will be vacant. Judging from the current situation, Lu Nanxing is recognized by everyone as the best candidate!
"What a deep mind! What a sophisticated method!"

After thinking this through, Zhong Zhen couldn't help but look at Lu Nanxing again, his expression extremely solemn.

He just thought that Lu Nanxing just saw things more clearly than his peers.

Only now did I realize that he was not only able to see through things, but was also ruthless!

Ding Mian, Zhong Zhen and Tang Ying'e have already expressed their attitudes long ago, supporting Lu Nanxing to succeed as the Grand Protector, but it does not have to be the Second Grand Protector, because there is only one vacant position for the Second Grand Protector.

If Zhong Zhen died, there would be an extra vacancy, and Lu Nanxing could completely succeed him as the Fifth Protector. Ding Mian and Tang Ying'e could not take back what they had said. Otherwise, it would prove that they actually wanted to use Lu Nanxing to attack Zuo Feiying.

Zuo Lengchan was troubled by the dispute between Lu Nanxing and Zuo Feiying, so if he gave the vacant position to Lu Nanxing, everyone would be happy. Moreover, Lu Nanxing was his direct disciple, so the benefits would not flow to outsiders.

This time, Lu Nanxing not only did not act as their knife, but also played them, even Zuo Lengchan, in the palm of his hand!

"Humph, but unfortunately, you chose the wrong target!"

After sorting out everything, Zhong Zhen was secretly shocked, but then he sneered.

Although Lu Nanxing had calculated everything correctly, there was only one thing: if he couldn't kill him and vacate the position of the Fifth Guardian, wouldn't all his efforts be in vain?

Lu Nanxing's martial arts skills were no less than Zuo Feiying's. Everyone knew about the brief fight between the two in front of the hall. In this way, his martial arts skills had indeed reached a first-class level.

But what can be done?
After all, Lu Nanxing is old and has just entered the ranks of first-class masters. How capable can he be?

Zhong Zhen has been famous for a long time and is known as the Nine-Curve Sword. Even if Ding Mian wanted to kill him, it would not be easy, let alone Lu Nanxing.

Furthermore, even if he is no match for Lu Nanxing, can't he still escape?

It is not easy to kill a top-notch master.

"Uncle Master, you really make me at a loss for words."

Lu Nanxing shook his head and laughed, then snorted.

"If I wasn't sure I could kill you, why would I choose you? Is it just because I like the number five?"

"Don't be so crazy..."

Zhong Zhen was about to retort when he suddenly felt a dull pain in his chest and his blood circulation was blocked.

He couldn't help but widen his eyes and spit out a mouthful of blood with a "wow".

Looking down, I saw that the blood on the ground was a thick and sticky black color!

Slightly distracted, Zhong Zhen quickly pulled up his shirt. There was a purple-red handprint on the place where Lu Nanxing had hit him.

"you……"

Zhong Zhen looked at Lu Nanxing in disbelief, with a hint of panic in his eyes.

"Your palm power is poisonous!"

I know that Lu Nanxing has been collecting various poisons, but I never expected that he actually developed a poison palm!
This kid is hiding so well!

"Uncle Master, please forgive me. It's not that I want to use such a despicable move. It's just that with your martial arts skills, it would be difficult for me to kill you if I didn't use poison."

"Damn it! I'll fight you!"

The poison is extremely potent, and it is too late to detect it now.

Knowing that he couldn't escape this time, Zhong Zhen was furious. He pulled out the sword from the ground and rushed towards Lu Nanxing.

Even if he dies, he must kill the evil villain Lu Nanxing first!

"Toxins move with the blood. If Master-uncle uses force like this, the toxins will definitely flow faster. Why bother?"

Lu Nanxing held a heavy sword in his hand, but he was not in a hurry.

Zhong Zhen did not expect Lu Nanxing's poisonous palm. Similarly, he did not know that even if they fought head-on, as a top-three martial artist, Lu Nanxing's martial arts skills were not inferior to his.

At this time, Zhong Zhen was poisoned, so how could he be a match for Lu Nanxing, let alone kill him for revenge.

Lu Nanxing was neither anxious nor impatient. He dodged when he could, and blocked when he couldn't.

In this way, the two exchanged more than twenty moves. Zhong Zhen suddenly stopped and opened his mouth to spit out another large amount of poisonous blood.

The five poisons are extremely fierce. I just used up my luck, but the poison has already attacked my heart, and even gods cannot save me.

"I'll give Master Uncle a ride!"

Lu Nanxing's expression turned cold, he took a step forward and hit Zhong Zhen hard on the chest with his palm.

Zhong Zhen, who was already at the end of his strength, could not withstand this blow and fell backwards.

He was lying on the ground, twitching, and before he died, he wanted to secretly write down Lu Nanxing's name.

"Uncle Master, just go and relax. Don't do these unnecessary things anymore."

Lu Nanxing smiled, walked forward and wiped off the words written by Zhong Zhen on the ground with his foot.

Seeing that his plan failed, Zhong Zhen became furious. He couldn't catch his breath and died with his eyes wide open.

"It is said that one cannot close one's eyes after death, but when a person dies, all things are over. What can we do about it?"

Lu Nanxing snorted and squatted in front of Zhong Zhen's body.

Instead of closing his eyes, he stretched out his hand and sucked the toxin back into his body.

Not only that, even the poisonous blood that he had spit out on the ground before, the toxins in it were also cleaned up.

As one of the Five Great Protectors, Zhong Zhen suddenly died, and the Songshan School must do its utmost to find the murderer.

By then, Lu Nanxing will take the place of the Five Guardians and, as the ultimate beneficiary, will easily attract attention.

The fact that he collected poisons was known to everyone in Songshan Sect. If it was discovered that Zhong Zhen died of poison, wouldn't they directly suspect him?

"Uncle Zhong, you should go with peace of mind."

Lu Nanxing had already figured out everything. He erased all traces around him and left quickly with a smile.

(End of this chapter)