The First Sword of the Universe

Chapter 441 Sword Shadows on the Ferry at the Dock
The lakeside docks outside Suzhou are bustling with boats coming and going.

Xu Xingchen, dressed in a blue robe, slowed her pace and walked to the vicinity of the dock.

Those who came into view were all strong and muscular martial artists carrying weapons. Each of them had a murderous look on their face, hatred in their eyes, and shouted loudly while asking each other questions.

"Have you found it yet?"

"No, we don't know where the Murong family is hiding."

"I've heard that there are some islands in those reeds, and some villas built on those islands. I wonder if that's where the Murong family is located?"

"Whether it is or not, we should still go and look for it."

"Yes, we must find Murong Fu and avenge ourselves."

Some, whether deliberately contradicting others or trying to muddy the waters, sneered, "Don't be fooled by your loud pronouncements now. If Murong Fu really appeared before you, you'd probably run faster than anyone else."

Those who came seeking revenge on Murong Fu were enraged and began shouting curses.

"Where did this thief come from? Trying to demoralize us? There are so many of us, are we afraid of just one Murong Fu?"

"That's right. If he dares to show his face, we'll swarm him and hack him to death."

"That's right. Even if Murong Fu is proficient in martial arts from all schools and sects, how many of us can he handle at the same time if we all attack together? He'll be overwhelmed and can't fight against so many opponents."

Some people expressed doubts.

"Rumor has it that when those renowned figures of the martial arts world were killed, no one saw the killer's true face. Are you so sure that the one who did it was Murong Fu?"

"That's right. Isn't there a mysterious figure in the martial arts world who uses a set of Qiankun Great Shift skills that can reflect all other people's martial arts back at him? Such a skill is probably even more powerful than the Murong family's 'using their own methods against them' technique."

"A mysterious person? Haha, you actually believe in a mysterious person that no one has ever seen? And that he knows a divine skill called the Great Shift of Heaven and Earth that no one has ever heard of? And that he uses this divine skill to kill people everywhere?"

"That's right. I'd rather believe Murong Fu is killing people indiscriminately than believe a fictitious mysterious person."

"What grudges did Murong Fu have with those renowned figures in the martial arts world? Why did he want to kill them?"

"Who knows? Perhaps there are conspiracies and schemes we are unaware of."

"Or perhaps they know some earth-shattering secret."

"A secret? What secret? Could it be a martial arts manual? A divine skill?"

"The Murong family are proficient in martial arts from all schools and sects. They must have many secret techniques and skills. Why would they kill someone over such a thing?"

"If he wasn't killed by Murong Fu, why hasn't he dared to come forward and clarify things for so long?"

"That's right. If he didn't kill them, he would have come forward to clarify things long ago; only if he did kill them would he be hiding and afraid to show his face."

The dock wasn't big, but it was crowded.

Xu Xingchen strolled among them, listening attentively to the rising and falling sounds of conversation, shouts, doubts, and confusion.

He wondered to himself, "Deng Baichuan and the other three have been recuperating from their injuries for more than half a year. They should have recovered by now. Why haven't they come forward to clarify the situation?"

"And what about Murong Fu? He hasn't shown up at all. Is he still serving as General Li Yanzong in the Western Xia Kingdom?"

"Furthermore, there isn't much talk about the mysterious person and the Great Shift of the Universe skill; it seems that people are more willing to believe in a real person than inexplicably appearing in the martial arts world without anyone ever seeing him."

We moved forward while pondering.

Slowly, I squeezed my way to the dock and looked around at the dozen or so ships moored nearby.

Soon, he smiled slightly and moved to a ferry.

It was an ordinary ferry, completely inconspicuous among the surrounding boats.

The boatman above was a burly man with dark skin and a simple, honest face; it was clear at a glance that he was a fisherman who made a living on the lake.

This unremarkable fisherman had a camellia pattern embroidered on his chest, with messy, rather ugly stitches, grayish-white threads, and inconspicuous appearance.

It looks like it was sewn on by his clumsy wife with her subpar embroidery skills.

Xu Xingchen stepped out and boarded the ferry.

As the ferry rocked, the fisherman looked up.

Seeing that it was a complete stranger, he said, "Sir, my boat doesn't carry passengers. I'm going out fishing soon. Please come and ask the other boatmen if they'd be willing to take you."

Xu Xingchen clasped his hands and said, "Boatman, I have nothing to do and would like to spend half a day playing on the lake. It won't interfere with your fishing."

"Don't be so quick to refuse. I'm willing to pay one tael of silver as payment for today's hire."

The boatman was taken aback, scrutinized Xu Xingchen for a long while, then looked around, his troubled expression barely concealing a hint of greed: "One tael of silver is quite a lot; but..."

Xu Xingchen smiled and said, "Nine qian of silver."

The boatman's eyes widened in surprise, and he said, "You mean, another nine qian of silver?"

Xu Xingchen shook his head and said, "No, it's eight qian of silver now."

The boatman let out an "Ah!" to express his dissatisfaction.

Xu Xingchen said again, "Seven qian of silver."

The boatman quickly waved his hand and said, "Alright, alright, I can't lower the price any further, seven coins it is!"

Xu Xingchen chuckled, took out seven qian of silver from his sleeve, and tossed it over.

The boatman reached out and caught it, weighed it in his hand, and then, with a mixture of joy and annoyance, stuffed it into his pocket, muttering, "What a loss! What a loss! If I had known, I would have agreed when you asked the first question."

As he spoke, he turned around, picked up a bamboo pole, and pushed hard on the dock. The ferry swayed and drifted away along the water.

Many boats came and went at the dock, but the ferry Xu Xingchen was on was completely inconspicuous. Even if someone had overheard the slightly strange haggling between the two, they would only have scoffed, "The boatman is greedy."

There's no doubt about it.

This boatman was from Mantuo Manor.

Their previous conversation was nothing more than a pre-arranged code.

The ferry swayed gently across the water and slowly sailed away into the distance.

After sailing a dozen or so meters, a commotion suddenly broke out on the dock.

Someone shouted, "It's Murong Fu! Murong Fu has finally shown himself!"

Upon hearing this, Xu Xingchen and the boatman turned around and looked at the dock.

The dock was in complete chaos.

Many people were rushing ashore.

Furthermore, several voices shouted angrily.

"Murong Fu, you killed my master, pay with your life!"

"Murong Fu, you killed my senior brother, today I will tear you to pieces!"

"Murong Fu, you've finally shown yourself! There are so many of us, we're not afraid of you at all!"

Amidst the cacophony of noise, a long howl soared into the sky, like rolling thunder, silencing all the shouts and commotion.

Many others were so shocked by the powerful sound waves that their eardrums rang, their vision blurred, and they staggered, unable to stand steadily.

On the ferry.
Xu Xingchen exclaimed in surprise, "Such profound internal strength! Could the newcomer really be Murong Fu?"

The boatman had already dropped the bamboo pole he was holding, covered his ears with both hands, and looked pained.

There was simply no energy left to answer Mr. Xu's question.

The long howl quickly subsided.

A clear voice echoed across the lakeside: "Fellow martial artists, I, Murong Fu, absolutely did not attempt to assassinate any of your masters or brothers; someone has framed me. I urge you all to remain calm and not act impulsively."

After a long silence on the shore, someone shouted angrily, "Murong Fu, do you think you can just say there was no assassination of my master? In the martial world, who doesn't know how ruthless your Murong family is at 'using their own methods against them'?! Only your Murong family would use my master's signature technique to kill him."

"That's right. My senior brother died by his most proficient Qingfeng Sword Technique. Who else could it be but you, Murong Fu?"

"What nonsense are you all talking about? Didn't we agree that we'd all attack him together as soon as he showed up?"

"That's right, don't listen to his excuses, let's attack together!"

With shouts, flashes of swords and blades rose into the air, shooting and piercing through the air.

"Gentlemen, you are all blinded by hatred. Please calm down!"

The clear voice rang out again, followed by the clanging of metal against metal, accompanied by cries of surprise and pain.

Xu Xingchen, on the ferry, saw it clearly.

A sword light burst forth from the crowd, dazzling and incomparably sharp.

Anyone struck by that sword light had their weapon thrown from their hand and shot into the sky.

Their bodies flew like tattered sacks, crashing in all directions and knocking over many people who followed.

The sharp and fierce sword light cleaved through the crowd, moving swiftly forward.

Wherever they went.
Weapons flew from their hands, and figures were sent flying backward.

Its power is like thunder and lightning, unstoppable.

His sword techniques are dazzling, precise, and swift.

In just a dozen breaths, a large number of people on the lake shore had collapsed.

The weapons that shot into the sky reflected the blinding sunlight as they tumbled and fell downwards.

The sharp sword light shot into the sky once more, meeting the many falling weapons.

Jingle bells
Amidst the crisp, metallic clang of metal.

One by one, the weapons transformed into streaks of cold light, shooting out in all directions.

Puff! Puff! Puff! Puff!
The cold light fell to the ground, penetrating three feet deep.

The heroes and outlaws lying on the ground, looking at the trembling, sharp glints of steel inserted into their ears, sides, and groins, felt their hearts pound and cold sweat pour down their foreheads.

If Murong Fu hadn't shown mercy, all those weapons would have pierced their bodies and taken their lives.

Terrifying! Terrifying!
Murong Fu of Gusu is truly terrifying!

The sword light that had knocked away many weapons flowed through the air like water, turning and turning several times before suddenly returning to its sheath.

A handsome figure in flowing white robes appeared.

The figure clasped his hands in greeting to the group of martial arts heroes lying on the ground and said, "Fellow martial arts friends, in three days, I will be hosting a banquet at the Misty Rain Restaurant in Suzhou to entertain you all."

"I will definitely give everyone an explanation when the time comes!"

(End of this chapter)