Minglong

Chapter 199 A Man's Affection and a Woman's Sword (9.6K)

Under the autumn sky, guns rang and swords clashed before the Dragon Offering Platform. A figure in white robes moved like a dragon across the wilderness, his stunning beauty captivating countless martial artists. Their gazes shifted from initial unfamiliarity to astonishment, and then gradually turned to despair, realizing that they could never hope to surpass him in this lifetime.

The image of a female knight-errant and the wife of a sect leader shifted to one of longing and helplessness, a longing that could not be fully satisfied with a single encounter.

After all, if they had met such a prodigy before today, they might have had a chance. But once he becomes famous throughout the Great Qian Jianghu, if they met him again, even if they offered themselves to him, this young hero probably wouldn't even be worth their attention.

Only beautiful and powerful celebrities like the Empress Dowager, Princess Nangong, and other high-ranking officials could be paired with such a young dragon.

Nangong Ye rubbed the coal ball that had run over and watched from his seat. His feelings were pretty much the same. The usual disdain was gone from his eyes, leaving only complexity.

I don't know whether I should feel gratified that the younger generation has surpassed their predecessors, or delighted that my Daoist partner is renowned throughout the land...

Although she's called a junior, now that this kid's backside is gone, she knows to act more respectful...

If this guy is a man, and he can also slap Qingmo, does that mean they'll lift it together...?

……

Of all the female warriors, only Bu Yuehua's attention was entirely focused on martial arts.

After all, Xie Jinhuan was Wanyi's man, and they had already slept together. No matter what, she could never bring herself to go back and become the mistress of the manor...

Bu Yuehua came here to snatch the Tiger Bone Vine to try and reach the Super Grade, and also to see the depth of martial arts in the Guannei region. However, after watching three matches, she found that the local gangs were not that powerful, and only Xie Jinhuan was very impressive.

After the third match, all the martial arts sects remained silent, which did not surprise Bu Yuehua.

There are also rules to the way of fighting to the death in a tournament. The first rule is that "no two kings can meet".

If everyone's goal is to accumulate wins and climb into the top three, then they won't rashly challenge tough opponents.

Xie Jinhuan remains unscathed after three consecutive wins, but his stamina is not yet half depleted. With top contenders like Huo Zhonghu facing off, he might be able to defeat them, but it's impossible for him to win without injury or depletion.

If Xie Jinhuan inflicts even the slightest damage, the opponent will inevitably target them, making it difficult to survive the subsequent matches; while Xie Jinhuan has already achieved three consecutive victories, and even if they stop here, they may still secure a top-three spot.

Given the immense risks and virtually no potential returns, the martial artists present, all vying for victory, certainly wouldn't leave the stage before Xie Jinhuan showed signs of weakness.

Therefore, the following challenges will be relatively simpler, consisting of cannon fodder being sent in to wear down the enemy's strength until Xie Jinhuan's momentum declines or he is injured in a way that can be targeted.

The reason why some people still went up despite knowing the high risks was because not all martial artists were good at scheming. There were always some people present, such as: a half-baked sect leader who thought Xie Jinhuan would be exhausted after fighting three battles; a hot-blooded, impulsive martial artist who wanted to kill the dragon; and a clever, quick-witted person who thought he had figured out Xie Jinhuan's moves and knew how to counter them...

Bu Yuehua watched from the crowd and saw that the fourth person to enter the arena was the head of the Bagua School, who followed the internal martial arts style. He used the Youlong Bagua Palm, an internal martial arts style with soft and gentle energy, emphasizing body movement and the technique of using minimal force to overcome great strength. He was extremely resilient in a prolonged battle. His purpose was obviously to take advantage of Xie Jinhuan's exhaustion after three consecutive battles and to show off his strength despite his advanced age.

As a result, Xie Jinhuan faced off unarmed and unleashed a set of Cannon Fist punches, showing the old sect leader what it meant to be "young and strong in fists." His punches were so powerful that one strike would pierce the brow, the second the heart, the third the brow, and the fourth the heart...

Xie Jinhuan was unfazed by the two slaps, but the old sect leader would lose three years of his lifespan on the spot from just one. Terrified, he admitted defeat halfway through, rubbing his arm as he left the arena, muttering:
"That fist is like a weight..."

The fifth to appear was a wandering swordsman from the Northwest, wielding a strange weapon called the "Qiankun Blade." It resembled a broadsword, but had blades at both ends, and the handle was equipped with two crescent-shaped shovels.

The Qiankun Blade Technique is versatile and adaptable, combining offense and defense. Its four blades can kill, and if used well, it can defeat anyone. It is a formidable opponent.

Xie Jinhuan did not use a single sword to fight the enemy, but instead took out the Heavenly Gang Mace, which is a rare weapon that can only be used by those with immense strength.

The result was obvious: in the martial arts world, "the stranger the weapon, the faster you die." Xie Jinhuan only needed to smash down with his mace to knock the wandering swordsman off balance. He then retreated repeatedly, and under the brutal impact of the heavy mace, the tiger's mouth on both hands was cracked. In the end, he was knocked out of his weapon and defeated.

There were significantly more people wanting to go on stage for the sixth round. After all, Xie Jinhuan had fought five rounds without rest, and his physical strength and energy were greatly depleted. He was almost at the limit of a first-grade martial artist and was likely to lose in a tough battle.

However, given Xie Jinhuan's intimidating presence of being virtually unscathed after five matches, the seeded players were reluctant to engage in a direct confrontation, and the person who went up was a master of using a soft whip.

The soft whip is two zhang long, and its attack range is unparalleled among weapons. Moreover, the whip tip strikes with tremendous power and can entangle the opponent's weapon and disarm their arm. The only drawback is that its attack trajectory is traceable and it has virtually no defensive capabilities; getting close to the opponent is fatal.

Therefore, those who use soft whips usually rely on body movements to pull and stretch, using their unparalleled attack range to continuously scratch and injure their opponents, and then strike them dead when they make a mistake.

Xie Jinhuan clearly paid a heavy price for encountering this cunning flea who avoided direct confrontation. To prevent himself from being caught in a protracted battle and suffering casualties, he started with four consecutive moves of Black Dragon Strikes the Pillar, using the killing move as a charge to force his way in. However, the Whipman immediately conceded defeat.

Although the victory was swift, the exhaustion was like the last straw that broke the camel's back.

The Black Dragon's collision with the pillar compresses and gathers energy, instantly pushing its vital energy and physical strength to their limits; it is a move that consumes a great deal of energy.

Having already fought five rounds and unleashed four deadly moves in succession, Xie Jinhuan appeared to be nearing his limit. He stood still, his hands gripping the ground with his maces, panting heavily, sweat beading on his cold, handsome face. His demeanor resembled that of a hero on his last legs, only his cold, sweeping eyes, which had surveyed the hundred schools of martial arts, remained sharp.

"Who else wants to challenge me?"

The martial arts practitioners watching were all fired up, and cheers and encouragement erupted like a mountain.

"Well done, Master Xie!"

"Pull one down..."

"Thank you, my love... Thank you, my love..."

……

The top contenders from all the martial arts schools present had clearly been waiting for their chance. After all, judging from the momentum of Xie Jinhuan's attack just now, his Qi Sea should be almost depleted. This battle was practically a free victory for him.

However, Xie Jinhuan did not fall down after all, and a martial artist can kill with just one move, so most people were still somewhat wary of him.

Bu Yuehua could tell that Xie Jinhuan was about to collapse and didn't want to risk a victory by running over a child with a cart and sending her apprentice's son-in-law off the stage. So she simply watched from the sidelines.

But she didn't want to take advantage of the situation, yet she couldn't stop her fellow Daoist.

Just after Xie Jinhuan finished speaking, a black-clad martial artist leaped out from the crowd not far away.

Bu Yuehua stood there, staring at Liang Yue of the Black Yan Gang, who was also a cultivator from the Southern Frontier. Liang Yue was the second-in-command of the Black Yan Gang and was quite skilled in martial arts. He had come here to steal the Tiger Bone Vine.

The Black Yama Gang and the Witch Alliance are not on the same side. If they get a victory for free, they may have more super-grade items in the future, which will naturally increase the pressure on the Witch Alliance, not to mention that the person on the field is her disciple and son-in-law.

Xie Jinhuan was greatly exhausted, and her remaining strength was no longer enough to support her in a full match. When she attacked her disciple's son-in-law, she would at least be careful not to injure him; while the Black Yan Gang members might also stop short of injuring her, they would never be as unscathed as she was.

Therefore, the moment Liang Yue set off, Bu Yuehua simultaneously leaped into the air, soaring over the vast sea of ​​people and landing in the arena.

Unlike immortal cultivation and witchcraft, women are a rarity in martial arts. Before Bu Yuehua even landed, the howls of wolves echoed around her.
"Whoa! A female knight has arrived..."

"Impressive skills! Who is this fairy?"

"Is it Fairy Nangong...?"

……

Xie Jinhuan, his hands resting on his mace, surveyed the crowd. Hearing the commotion, he turned his gaze and saw a female warrior in a dark dress and a man land on the field at the same time.

The female warrior, carrying a long sword, landed lightly and silently. Her skirt swayed, revealing her dignified and graceful figure. She looked like the wife of a sect leader. Her face was obscured by a veil, but her figure was exquisite, so curvaceous that it seemed as if one could squeeze water from it...

Xie Jinhuan was taken aback. After carefully examining the waist and hip curves and confirming that this was his sister-in-law, he couldn't help but glance at his junior sister Bing Tuozi in the stands.

Nangong Ye knew the enchantress would appear, but he really didn't expect her to take advantage of Xie Jinhuan's weakened state.

The demoness herself is already incredibly powerful, and Xie Jinhuan wouldn't dare to hit his sister-in-law. If the demoness were to gain another victory without suffering any losses, she would most likely be ranked number one.

The top three teams will compete against each other, with the winner challenging the champion.

The number one player has avoided one more peak battle, so they have been holding back their best and most potential, making their chances of winning the championship extremely high!
If the demoness easily wins the championship, she'll definitely be no match for her at the end of the month. Not only will she get a beating, but she'll also lose the Phoenix Feather Grass, suffer all that damage for nothing, and have her reputation ruined for life...

Wouldn't that infuriate her?!

Nangong Ye's eyes narrowed slightly, and she wanted to give Xie Jinhuan a meaningful look, but with all the patriarchs gathered there, she was afraid of being recognized if Xie Jinhuan looked at her, let alone giving her instructions on the spot.

Fortunately, this guy seems to be quite understanding!

As the two landed simultaneously, the onlookers immediately began to jeer:

"What are you, a grown man, doing fighting with a woman for something..."

"Get out of the way, I want to watch the heroine fight..."

"Yes……"

As the host, Wei Wuyi could tell who landed first and wanted to speak up about the order of arrival.

But Xie Jinhuan was quite bold, looking directly at his sister-in-law who was eager to join the competition:

"My lady, why don't you stand aside and rest for a while? I'll fight with you in the next match."

"..."

As soon as he finished speaking, the noisy meeting room suddenly fell silent.

The martial arts masters present all frowned, looking slightly puzzled. Liang Yue of the Black Yan Gang was about to argue with the unknown veiled female warrior when he heard the voice and immediately turned his gaze back to Xie Jinhuan.

Bu Yuehua was also quite surprised, and glanced at Xie Jinhuan, who was sweating profusely:
"Young Master Xie, are you still capable of fighting another match?"

Xie Jinhuan wiped the sweat from his face, drew his Heavenly Mace, and slung it over his shoulder. Perhaps he was getting excited from the fight, because he even made a lewd remark to his sister-in-law:

"The most important thing for a man is endurance. If you don't give it your all, I might have another chance."

"..."

Bu Yuehua thought her son-in-law was a bit of a chatterbox, so she simply nodded gently and stepped aside; the martial arts heroes, on the other hand, were half-convinced.

Nangong Ye suddenly remembered that this kid also had the 'persistence of a donkey,' which was truly persistent.

Thanks to his physical recovery ability and the depth of his Qi Sea, his endurance is 20-30% greater than that of an ordinary early-stage first-grade player. As long as his fighting style is somewhat restrained, he should be able to last for another one or two matches without much trouble...

After watching his sister-in-law leave, Xie Jinhuan turned his gaze to the black-clad martial artist, his eyes unusually cold.

"Why is Boss Liang here in the Central Plains, instead of being a pirate in the south?"

? !
Liang Yue was about to raise his hand to introduce himself when he heard this, his expression changed drastically, and then he feigned confusion:
"I am Zhao Ba of the Qinghe Gang in Jiaozhou. Young Hero Xie, have you mistaken me for someone else?"

After those two sentences were uttered, everyone around the venue was stunned, exchanging bewildered glances and whispering among themselves.

Yang Qing of the Jingzhou Gang, who had remained silent since his younger brother's disgraceful act, finally turned to look at the Jiangzhou Gang's location:

"Chief Xu, is there such a person in Jiaozhou?"

Jiaozhou is a small, third-tier prefecture. It is close to Ruizhou, but not as famous. Few people in the Central Plains have heard of the gangs there, but the Jiangzhou Gang's influence extends there.

Xu Guanfu had a secret cooperative relationship with the Black Yan Gang. He should have nodded in agreement to help Liang Yue confirm his identity, but since Xie Jinhuan had already named him, if he were to mistake Liang for Zhao, Xie Jinhuan's next stop might be as an imperial envoy to investigate smuggling in the southeast.

Even if someone wields the imperial sword, and can't defeat you in swordsmanship, can't they defeat the law?

Xu Guanfu, unsurprisingly, showed a hint of doubt and shook his head:

"I haven't been to Jiaozhou in recent years, so I don't know."

If Xu Guanfu said he didn't know him, then the problem was quite serious, and everyone's attention turned to the person who was about to appear.

Seeing this, Liang Yue sensed something was wrong and reacted quickly:

"Please excuse my presumption, everyone. I've been traveling around the Central Plains recently and heard that Elder Wei is holding a gathering of heroes. I came to see it out of admiration, and seeing Young Hero Xie's overwhelming victory, I got a sudden itch to try my hand at it. I'll be going now..."

Wei Wuyi wasn't surprised that people from beyond the Great Wall had come; with such a large scene, it would be unusual if there weren't a few foreigners. However, participating in the competition was indeed against regulations, since Tiger Bone Vine was a benefit given to the younger generation of the Great Qian Dynasty.

At the Jianghu Gathering, all who come are guests. Among the tens of thousands of Jianghu people present, not everyone has a clean past. Shen Jinyu of the Blood Rain Pavilion, who is present, even started out as an assassin.

Seeing that Liang Yue had the sense to leave on his own, Wei Wuyi didn't intend for anyone to die there, but simply watched him leave.

But Xie Jinhuan showed no sign of letting it go, and called out:
"Since Chief Liang is already here, wouldn't it make Daqian seem petty if he didn't fight before leaving?"

Liang Yue paused slightly, his eyes showing a hint of embarrassment.

After all, his identity has been exposed, and no matter how high his skill level is, he doesn't dare to make a move right now.

Xie Jinhuan had already exhausted himself after fighting six battles in a row. As a bandit leader from the Southern Frontier, his attempt to take advantage of the situation had already made him an enemy of the martial artists of the Great Qian Dynasty.

If Xie Jinhuan were to be slightly injured, it would inevitably provoke public outrage, making it impossible for him to leave Sanjiangkou alive. Moreover, his death would be in vain, as the Black Yan Gang is far away in the southern border region and has a poor reputation, so no one would stand up for him.

Seeing that Xie Jinhuan wouldn't let go, Liang Yue could only bow his head in resignation:
"Young Master Xie and I, have we met before?"

Xie Jinhuan didn't say much. He beckoned over the coal ball, slung it over his shoulder, and then twirled the iron mace, revealing the two characters 'Tian Gang' on it.
"Doesn't Chief Liang look familiar?"

After a careful examination, the coal ball immediately flapped its head and reached out with its claws:
"Gooji!"

Murderous!
Liang Yue was initially a little puzzled, but when he saw the large, black eagle on the shoulder and the thirty-six-section Heavenly Gang Mace, his eyes widened in disbelief.

The reason for this goes back two years.

Two years ago, Liang Yue served as the head of the gang in Phoenix Harbor, the most prosperous seaport in the southern wilderness, and was in charge of the gang's many businesses in the port.

At that time, there was a lowly laborer who looked about thirty years old and was tanned dark. He carried a small eagle and an iron rod with him. He went to the shipyard under his command and said he wanted to buy a small boat. He took out a hundred or so taels of silver.

A hundred taels of silver is a huge sum of money for those at the bottom of the hierarchy. The subordinates thought the man had stolen it, so they confiscated the silver and arrested him to "see the authorities."

The government office in Phoenix Harbor is the Chilong Cave. People who commit crimes are arrested and punished. The lightest punishment is hard labor to atone for their sins, while the heaviest punishment is one of four: becoming a puppet, a ghost, making medicine, or raising Gu.

But the boy was clever; sensing something was wrong, he injured the manager and ran away without taking the money.

Liang Yue knew that feuds in the martial arts world should be eradicated completely, so upon hearing the news, he sent people to search for several days, but they couldn't find the person.

Then one dark and stormy night, one of his cargo ships, fully loaded with supplies, was secretly hijacked!

The cargo ship's supplies, plus the ship itself, were worth over ten thousand taels of silver!
The robbers were even so arrogant that they left a message next to the unconscious henchmen:

This is interest. If I manage to come back alive, I will definitely wipe out your Black Yama Gang!
Liang Yue initially thought that the huge loss was caused by a sabotage from an enemy, but after some investigation, he found that the suspect was a laborer who had just been hired at the dock. He was honest and simple, always smiling at people, hardworking and diligent, and was called "Black Ox" by the boatmen. He had seen him twice when he went to inspect the boat.

Liang Yue couldn't imagine how such a large ship could have been secretly taken away by such an idiot.

However, after the shipyard manager and dock workers corroborated each other's accounts, it was discovered that the person who hijacked the ship was the wandering laborer who had come to buy it.

Liang Yue failed in his duty to recover the cargo and was severely punished by the gang. Not only did the Black Yan Gang become a laughing stock among the heroes of Southern Xinjiang, but they had been searching for him for the past two years, thinking that this audacious robber had died in the deep sea.

but……

Liang Yue scrutinized the young man opposite him, whose white robes fluttered in the wind and whose appearance and demeanor resembled that of an immortal. He simply couldn't reconcile the man in front of him with the miserable fellow who had been squatting on the dock in southern Xinjiang two years ago, holding a cornbread and grinning foolishly at him.

But the large iron rod in their hands, the black eagle on their shoulders, and the gazes between the man and the bird clearly confirmed their identities.

Liang Yue stood there stunned for a long time, his lips moved as if he wanted to ask a question, but he didn't say it.

Xie Jinhuan raised his Heavenly Mace, pointed it at Liang Yue, and said in a clear voice:

"Back then, I was sent out by my master to gain experience. Chief Liang robbed me of 120 taels of my hard-earned money and afterwards sent people to dig three feet into the ground, trying to eliminate me completely. Now that I have returned with my skills, Chief Liang, how do you think this debt should be settled?"

The assembled heroes were initially somewhat bewildered, but upon hearing this, they immediately understood the reason—the Black Yama Gang had been blind to their own fault for trying to trample on the Hidden Immortal Sect's World Traveler, and before they could even kill him, they were remembered.

But in reality, it's much more dangerous than that.

Xie Jinhuan had no sect or protectors at the time; he was simply a lowly laborer struggling to survive. He had spent several days saving up his meager sum of a little over a hundred taels of silver, after confiscating his illegal gains. He had taken countless risks, only to have his money stolen and be hunted down. One wrong step and he wouldn't be alive today. Liang Yue knew their past well. He used to want to tear Xie Jinhuan to pieces, but after witnessing Xie Jinhuan's actions, he felt that something terrible was about to happen to the Black Yan Gang.

However, past grievances are a matter for the future; the most important task at present is to leave Sanjiangkou alive.

Liang Yue, holding his sword, cupped his hands and said, "The grudges of the past will be settled in the future. I have been looking for Young Hero Xie for several years. Since we are fortunate enough to meet here, I must spar with Young Hero Xie. However, in a duel on the stage, we shall only discuss martial arts and not personal grudges. I will still abide by the rules of martial arts."

The words seemed arrogant, but they were actually a reminder to Xie Jinhuan.

Xie Jinhuan raised his hand to put the coal briquettes back in place, pointed his Heavenly Mace diagonally at the ground, and slightly raised his chin.

……

The area around the venue quieted down, and everyone was focused, feeling that this match was about to become real.

Since Liang Yue had already made an enemy, and the Seven Heroes of Martial Arts were watching from above, they couldn't just stand by and watch someone die in the arena. So, they decided to go all out, gripping their broadswords with both hands, bending low like tigers, and exhaling a breath of turbid air.
"Huff...drink—"

Without warning, a roar, as loud as a lion's bellow, startled those who were fully focused, making them tremble.

At that moment, Liang Yue also charged out, his body spinning once in mid-air, pushing the momentum of his heavy sword to the limit, and slashing down with the force of splitting a mountain.

This strike differs from Bao Xiaolin's initial moves, but the approach is similar: both rely on a brutal, heavy strike to gain the upper hand from the outset.

Xie Jinhuan could initially withstand the blows with Panlong Henggang, but now his limbs and Qi Sea were excessively depleted, making it impossible for him to continue with more than a dozen strikes until Liang Yue's Qi was exhausted.

Faced with this astonishingly powerful strike, Xie Jinhuan advanced instead of retreating, his steps sliding forward like an iron bridge. Holding the Heavenly Gang Mace in both hands, his shoulder and back muscles bulged as he swung it forward, even his eyes instantly turning bloodshot, accompanied by a thunderous roar:

"open--!"

Recalling the grievances and helplessness of the past, this strike, fueled by the rage from his arduous journey through the martial world, almost instantly drained all its energy, and the iron mace swung out with a loud bang:
Swah——

And its power is terrifying!
The two-handed weapon-wielding Dragon's Tail Sweep has limited range and flexibility, making it difficult to follow up with subsequent moves.

But if the explosive power is strong enough, there is no need for a second move.

Liang Yue, wielding his broadsword, fought with all his might. Seeing Xie Jinhuan meet him head-on, he did not dodge at all, but instead channeled all the energy and power within his body into the blade.

clang--

The moment the two heavy weapons clashed, the ground where the two men were standing was shaken, creating a ripple of earth that spread outwards.

The three-and-a-half-foot-long broadsword shattered the moment it touched the mace, sending iron filings flying like arrows that instantly pierced several bloody spots into Liang Yue's chest.

Then, the force rebounded, and Xie Jinhuan's skin on both hands immediately cracked. His sleeves, which had remained intact, were torn to pieces by the force. On his muscular forearms, dark red marks could be seen emerging along the energy channels and spreading towards his upper arms.

The Overlord Body Technique can only be used defensively and cannot be used during an offensive. This attack was purely a matter of physical strength to withstand the blow. His arms were injured at the start, but his whole body remained as still as a rock.

As the second-in-command of the bandit gang, Liang Yue had some skill, but his foundation was obviously not comparable to that of a prodigy. Under the backlash of the energy that ordinary people could hardly handle, his tiger's mouth cracked open, and then the hilt of his knife slipped from his hand.

The heavy, broad-backed sword, under the violent assault of the Heavenly Mace, slammed backward onto his chest and shoulder, instantly shattering his black robe and leaving a bloody gash!
His whole body then leaned backward, like a polo ball struck by a long stick, flying backward and crashing into the yellow earth, creating a crater. He slid more than seven zhang (approximately 33 meters) before he could even fully stand up after a somersault, when he heard something from ahead:
"Die!"

Boom——

Liang Yue looked up in horror, only to see a heavy mace, like a flying wheel, carrying boundless energy, tearing through the yellow earth between them, and arriving before him in the blink of an eye. Then:
Poof——

Like a meteor falling to earth, the loess land turned into a soft, mushy swamp under the swirling mace, instantly creating a towering wave of earth that tore a fan-shaped rift more than ten feet deep. The flying sand and soil splashed directly onto the seats of the outer sect members, like a torrential downpour.
slam-la-

The billowing dust obscured the view, and most people couldn't see what was happening. But just by looking at the power of this deadly trump card, they knew that anything it touched would shatter. Even if they didn't lose their swords, they would still be seriously injured!
The many sect leaders present were truly surprised that Xie Jinhuan, having fought to this extent, could still unleash his strongest momentum to date.

Bao Xiaolin brushed the yellow mud and fallen leaves off his clothes, the gloom of his first defeat vanishing, and sighed softly:
"The younger generation is truly formidable. It seems that I, an old man, have only managed to withstand over thirty moves, so I'm not quite done with this life in the martial world..."

"Pooh……"

Bao Fei snapped out of his daze, spat out the sand from his mouth, and looked at him with respect:
"I've taken two moves from Master Xie before; the Black Yan Gang is nothing special..."

……

Many of the sect leaders present looked on with surprise and doubt, while the seeded players secretly felt a sense of lingering fear and were glad that they hadn't rashly tried to take advantage of the situation.

After all, Xie Jinhuan's trump card is meant to be used in a desperate gamble, risking his life at any cost. Once he uses it, he will be unarmed and powerless. Therefore, its power should be as great as possible. If someone is accidentally hit by it, they will either be seriously injured or have a weapon destroyed.

Huhu~
As the autumn wind dispersed the sand and dust, everyone was surprised to find that there were still people standing in the sand and dust.

Liang Yue crossed his arms in front of him, his tiger's mouth was a bloody mess, and there was a blood groove on the 'Bald-tailed Dragon' tattoo on his chest and shoulder. His whole body was stiff and his face was deathly pale. He glanced at a groove at his feet.

The groove is fan-shaped, cutting diagonally into the loess ground until it smashes out a pit more than ten feet deep. The Heavenly Mace is stuck at the bottom of the pit. The groove is only two feet away from the foot.

Xie Jinhuan stood on the opposite side, his sleeves torn, blood dripping from his fingertips, but his chin was slightly raised, his cold, clear eyes revealing an unyielding arrogance:
"Making a move is to prove your strength, missing is out of martial virtue. Go back and tell your gang leader to prepare for the worst. I'm keeping track of the entire Black Yama Gang's accounts, and I'm not just going to deal with you, one of their lackeys."

"Buzz..."

Perhaps due to its overwhelming ferocity, a few gasps of surprise rippled through the crowd, though the sounds were faint.

Liang Yue, covered in cold sweat, nodded, turned and walked away without a word, only to hear another voice behind him:
"Eh."

Liang Yue took a sudden step and cautiously looked back.

Xie Jinhuan tilted his head to indicate the broken knife stuck to the side.

Liang Yue silently ran over, picked up the knife, and quickly disappeared into the crowd.

"Oh..."

"Young Master Xie looks rather fierce..."

"Stop talking nonsense. Politeness depends on who you're talking to. The Black Yama Gang are pirates by origin. If it weren't for the arena fight, this guy definitely wouldn't be alive..."

"I love this look!"

"Don't be so horny..."

……

Wei Wuyi watched the whole thing and felt that Xie Jinhuan was impeccable in every aspect, almost too perfect to be human.

You should know that even Qixia Zhenren and Ye Sheng have some strange flaws, but Xie Jinhuan is truly flawless. As for being amorous and dissolute, that's just a rumor. How could such a cold and unparalleled righteous hero be tempted by beauty?

Seeing that Xie Jinhuan had basically drained him dry, Wei Wuyi spoke up:

"Seven wins will guarantee a top-three finish. Young friend Xie is injured, so he should rest next game."

Nangong Ye secretly breathed a sigh of relief, thinking that his blond-haired friend was really amazing. Even with only one breath left, he was able to take down another one, not giving the opponent a chance to gain an advantage.

But before she could even feel relieved, she noticed Xie Jinhuan, his hands covered in blood, turning his gaze to the enchantress on the sidelines:

"I feel I can still fight. This heroine has already made her appearance, so I naturally have to give her a chance..."

"?"

What else can you do?!
Nangong Ye was shocked to see this scene. She had just been thinking about losing both her body and her army, but she was quite happy to see the demoness being chased away.

As a result, you didn't fight back just now, and now you're clearly injured and your energy is completely depleted. You're calling someone up now.

what do you mean?
You're siding with outsiders, trying to curry favor with your senior sister, aren't you?

Do you want her or me?
……

Seeing that Xie Jinhuan was already swaying and about to collapse, Bu Yuehua, who hadn't planned to go on the match anyway, was flattered to find that her son-in-law was so filial, giving her a victory for free.

"Isn't this inappropriate?"

From a God's-eye viewpoint, this approach is indeed inappropriate.

However, from Xie Jinhuan's perspective, Hua Ruyue is Bing Tuozi's senior sister, and she is unaware of the two's open and covert struggles and their one-on-one duel at the end of the month.

If Bing Tuozi were to compete, he would never dare to side with outsiders.

But Bing Tuozi didn't go on stage. He was indeed at his limit and couldn't beat anyone anymore. There was no benefit in going off stage. He could just help Hua Shijie up and give each other a hand. Wouldn't that be a free favor?
Even if Senior Sister Hua is extremely powerful and ultimately wins the championship, at least she'll keep the good stuff within the family, leaving it with the Qingming Sword Manor. Relying on this connection, he's not without a chance to get it again...

Moreover, having two people shortlisted gives him a greater chance of success than having one alone. After all, Bing Tuozi is a fellow disciple. "Brothers may quarrel within the walls, but they unite against external threats." No matter how intense the competition among fellow disciples is, it's all for the sake of "becoming the master of the manor." If there are good things outside, you always have to bring them back to your own home first.

In order to compete with his senior sister for the position of manor lord, Bing Tuozi would rather give up the opportunity and let an outsider have it than let his fellow disciple increase her chances of getting the treasure. Is this kind of mentality worthy of the manor lord's attention?
Therefore, Bing Tuozi would likely side with his own people. Xie Jinhuan couldn't think of a reason not to help. He had made Senior Sister Hua wait earlier precisely to hand over this advantage. His response at this moment was:

"As a warrior, even if I only have my eyes left, I must use them to terrify people. I still have hands and feet, and I can still stand, so I still have the strength to fight. How can I just walk away!"

The numerous sect leaders around noticed that Xie Jinhuan's arm muscles were trembling slightly, and they figured that the young hero was probably trying to flirt with a girl.

Based on her stunning beauty just now, and the favor she's done for me, this female warrior will most likely be captured...

Surrounded by powerful enemies, Bu Yuehua naturally had to accept Xie Jinhuan's insistence on giving it to her. She slowly walked closer and bowed respectfully.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Hua Ruyue from Qingming Sword Manor."

Because Qingming Sword Manor was a relatively unknown sect in the south, the people in the martial arts world present didn't react much, only whispering among themselves and asking a few questions.

Xie Jinhuan wiped the blood off his tattered sleeve, picked up his senior sister's sword, took a deep breath, and assumed a fighting stance again:

"The arena is not child's play. I may not be able to win, but I will still give it my all. If you don't take this seriously, I may really have another match."

As soon as he finished speaking, his body froze instantly, his muscles, breathing, and even his eyes all calmed down, turning him back into an unmoving rock.

?

Those who were there to watch the young hero flirt with the ladies were genuinely taken aback by what they saw:

"Hey?! Young Master Xie can fight?"

"Grandpa, what kind of monster is this...?"

"This heroine is probably in trouble..."

……

The seven martial arts masters above, and even many other promising players, initially viewed Xie Jinhuan as a dessert after dinner. However, they were genuinely shocked to discover that Xie Jinhuan could maintain his physical strength and aura even when his physique was almost exhausted.

After all, only battle-hardened soldiers can suppress their physiological instincts in desperate situations and use all their strength to defeat the enemy.

Xie Jinhuan is not even twenty years old. What kind of trials and tribulations must he have gone through to temper himself into this state?

Seeing that Xie Jinhuan had regained his composure and displayed an unshakeable aura, Bu Yuehua was filled with amazement and no longer took it lightly.

Clang~
With a three-foot-long sword drawn from behind his back and pointed forward to his side, his left hand produced a short sword about a foot and a half long, which he gripped upside down to parry the center line, striking an elegant yet composed stance.

The mother sword is light and fast, mainly for offense, while the child sword is heavy and heavy, mainly for defense. They complement each other in terms of strength and weakness, and can be used freely in both offense and defense. They are much more effective in actual combat than a single sword.

Seeing this, the assembled heroes knew that this was bound to be another fierce battle!
But they soon realized they were overthinking it...

Xie Jinhuan ran two fingers of his left hand across the blade, leaving a trail of blood, and struck an extremely handsome pose:

"Please go first, young lady."

Sa——

As soon as Bu Yuehua finished speaking, she moved her feet slightly, her figure turning into a water-blue afterimage, bringing with it a clear sword sound in the wide arena!
Xie Jinhuan's eyes were like still, cold springs as he carefully observed his sister-in-law's charming and alluring figure. Only after they had moved three zhang closer did he suddenly strike forward.

Hey~
clang--

Everyone watched intently, only to see the veiled heroine thrust her sword into her throat, but Xie Jinhuan deflected it with his own sword. Then, Xie Jinhuan followed up by pulling his sword and slashing at her ribs!
The veiled heroine concealed a short sword in her left hand and almost simultaneously raised it. The three weapons collided instantly, producing a crisp sound of light and heavy impact, and the two brushed past each other.

Xie Jinhuan dodged the attack in an instant, then delivered another 'turning sword strike', hitting the woman's left shoulder of her veil.

The veiled woman's moves were extremely strange. Her right-hand sword was wrapped around her head to block the attack. The sword was double-edged and relatively soft. This move would be more suitable for a knife, as using a sword would easily cause self-injury.

But the woman, with the sword against her back, successfully blocked the sword thrust from behind. She lowered her body and swept her leg backward, spinning around. Her light blue skirt spread like a peacock's tail. The short sword spun in her palm and then thrust straight at her, followed by the sword in her right hand!

Faced with the lightning-fast sweeping leg, Xie Jinhuan was thrown sideways in mid-air. Even so, he still managed to grip the wrist of the short sword with his left hand and block the long sword with his right, before unleashing a whip kick at the woman's veil.

Call ~
Ding--

As she fell downwards, the veil and curtain rose as she spun around, revealing a face below.

Her cheeks were as white as soft jade, exuding a mature charm. Her peach blossom eyes, like autumn waves, were also looking at him. Her red lips were luscious and tempting. Overall, she looked alluring without being vulgar, beautiful without being seductive...

It looks like a fuel-efficient car...

……

bang~
In the blink of an eye, his body had already fallen to the ground.

Bu Yuehua's left hand was held, but the short sword spun in her palm and rested on her wrist. She pressed down to dodge the whip kick, and with her right hand, she pressed down on the long sword, which lacked strength, and pressed it against her opponent's chest. The scene looked just like pressing a man to the ground.

However, this posture only lasted for a moment before Bu Yuehua quickly planted her sword in the ground and helped Xie Jinhuan to his feet.
"Are you OK?"

Xie Jinhuan felt that Senior Sister Hua's swordsmanship was intricately linked, and although the moves were a bit strange, the technique was truly impeccable. He immediately stood up and dusted off his robe.
"It's alright, young lady, your swordsmanship is excellent."

Bu Yuehua probably got a good deal and even hit the child a few times. Feeling embarrassed, she helped brush the dust off his robe, just like a master's wife helping her little apprentice tidy his clothes. But after just one pat, she quickly stopped and stood up straight.

"Buzz..."

A great commotion erupted!
The martial arts practitioners around them, who were completely focused on the scene, couldn't see Xie Jinhuan's moves clearly in the previous seven matches, but this time they could see through it.

This is the ultimate martial arts technique for showing off affection in the martial arts world—the Sword of Love and Devotion!

That light, airy sword, yet he acted so meticulously, as if afraid the girl wouldn't be able to catch it. Phoenix nodded but didn't, tapped her shoulder, and finally even made a half-hearted attempt at a whip kick, only to miss...

Young hero, if you fight like that, then I can win too!

This veiled female warrior is even more outrageous. She's practically overflowing with water, moving slowly, using a dagger wrapped around her head to block swords, twirling a short sword with her left hand in fancy moves, and even when she falls, she's afraid someone will get hurt, so she helps them up and pats their robes...

Do you think the seven martial arts masters present are all blind, or do you think the entire audience of martial arts enthusiasts are clueless about romance?

If we know each other, we know each other. What are you pretending for?

There must be a story behind Hua Ruyue of Qingming Sword Manor and Xie Jinhuan, the Marquis of Danyang...

Maybe the couple came together to snatch some rare and precious herbs...

……

Nangong Ye sat in his seat and saw that the brat was not using any strength at all, but was playing flirtatious games with the vixen. His beautiful phoenix eyes were blazing with anger!
Where is your energy going, even with all that Yang poison?

Is this how you treat her?
OK OK...

After finally watching the competition, Coal Ball perked up and started swaying his head, waiting for dinner to be served...
-
This is all live code, so there might be some typos. I originally wanted to leave one chapter unfinished, but I didn't want to end the story, so I'm posting it all here.

I'll have dinner and take a nap later, and when I wake up it will be six or seven in the morning. I won't be able to finish writing it by eight. I'll post it tomorrow after A-Guan finishes writing it...

(End of this chapter)