Scourge Messenger

Chapter 75 No One Dared to Answer (Seventh Update)

"me?"

Chen Linchuan looked at Jiang Shi, who was charging towards him, and couldn't help but sneer, "You've really been underestimated."

Despite saying that, Chen Linchuan's expression was extremely solemn.

Even the most arrogant person would be extremely wary of Jiang Shi's ability to kill Zhou Ye amidst a crowd.

Previously, when Chen Linchuan read about feats of taking the head of an enemy general amidst a vast army in historical records, he always thought it was merely a messenger crushing ordinary people. How could there be such a huge difference in strength between equals? But from today onwards, he might have to change his old views.

"Jiang Shi, if you grow up, you might become a match for ten thousand men in Liang Kingdom!" Chen Linchuan brandished his greatsword to resist Jiang Shi's attack: "But you have no chance. You are too arrogant, so arrogant that there is no place in this world that can tolerate you."

"You are an enemy of the imperial court, an enemy of the powerful families, and everyone on this land is your enemy!"

"If this is the result you wanted, then die content!"

Chen Linchuan tried to sway Jiang Shi's resolve with words, hoping to provoke her into refuting him and thus wasting the legendary token's time. However, Jiang Shi remained silent as a tombstone, her hands as steady as a mountain, her blade as swift as lightning. Even the most composed warrior Chen Linchuan had ever seen seemed far too naive and impulsive in her presence.

With his spiritual energy nearly depleted, Chen Linchuan took a step back and retrieved a spirit jade from his storage container.

Snapped!
Jiang Shi's blade struck down, and although it failed to break through the protective barrier of the Heart Mirror, the power of the calamity was enough to shatter the spirit jade!
At that moment, Chen Linchuan realized he was in danger.

Unlike Zhou Ye, he had to wield the greatsword with both hands, so his action of drawing the spirit jade would be very conspicuous, and Jiang Shi, who was watching him, wouldn't give him that opportunity. He could no longer rely on the spirit jade and defensive tokens to buy time as he had before.

He had half his spiritual power left, and Jiang Shi's legendary token seemed to have a quarter of its time remaining. What would happen next...?

It's a battle between life and death.

Jie Zilong noticed that Chen Linchuan had changed his fighting style, no longer seeking stability but instead acting bravely and aggressively, actively engaging Jiang Shi in combat. After a moment's thought, he understood the reason and said, "Chen Linchuan, I'll try to create an opportunity for you—"

“There’s no such opportunity,” Chen Linchuan said. “Jiang Shi won’t give us that chance. Running away would only be shameful and pointless.”

"Actually, we've already lost all face. A bunch of third-tier messengers have been forced into this situation." He couldn't help but sigh. "Don't worry, I'm the Chen family's iron fortress. How could I possibly fall here?"

Chen Linchuan's words were not untrue. Unlike others, his token, the Long River Greatsword, inherently possessed defensive capabilities. The fiercer his attacks, the less damage the enemy inflicted on him, similar to the effect of Jiang Shi's blade aura. He was originally a type who could balance offense and defense, but Jiang Shi's aura from activating his legendary token was too intimidating, and Chen Linchuan, unaware of the full extent of the damage, focused primarily on defense.

Now, ignited by Jiang Shi's fighting spirit, Chen Linchuan found himself fighting with increasing ease. He even felt a long-standing bottleneck being broken through, and his greatsword skills were reaching new heights. Indeed, fighting countless mobs was no match for a single clash with a master.

Based on the current situation, it's estimated that Jiang Shi's legendary token will expire before his spiritual energy is exhausted. Chen Linchuan believes that as long as he proceeds steadily, Jiang Shi will have no chance.

However, he wasn't the only one who improved during the battle.

Having fought fiercely against the third-tier messenger, and with the enlightenment bestowed upon her by the forest dwellers, Jiang Shi's swordsmanship finally underwent a qualitative change. Her sword suddenly split into three sword shadows, and the sword light instantly divided into three segments, shattering Chen Linchuan's remaining half of his protective shield in a single blow!
"Shadow Splitter!"

"A secret technique!"

Jie Zilong and Shang Yue exclaimed in surprise at the same time, their faces filled with disbelief.

Secret Technique: Shadow Splitter Blade, one of the most powerful secret techniques of the swordsman's messenger, with a brutal yet practical effect: turning one attack into three!
However, secret techniques... many second-tier messengers may not be able to master them in their entire lives. Even for the two of them, it was only after they reached the second tier and received years of instruction and education from their family elders that they were able to master the secret techniques, and it took them at least three years.

Jiang Shi only changed jobs for the second time today!
Any secret technique can greatly increase the power of the token. Jiang Shi, who has comprehended the secret technique, already has the qualifications to kill a third-level messenger!
After the breastplate shattered, it took at least five seconds to reassemble. Upon witnessing Jiang Shifen's three swift strikes, Chen Linchuan knew he was already one foot in the grave. Death.

Am I going to die?
All external sounds vanished, and the world seemed to consist only of black and white, and the blood-red Jiang Shi. Chen Linchuan could hear his own heavy breathing, the beating of his heart, the sound of blood flowing in his veins, and even the sound of his hands rubbing against the hilt of his sword.

He felt no fear, no shame at being defeated by the 'weak,' and no resentment at being the 'strong.' His mind was filled only with the moments he had spent wielding his greatsword for decades.

He recalled a greatsword technique circulating in the outer realms, hailed as the supreme art. It neutralized an enemy's attack by striking its weakest point, even knocking them off balance or causing them to lose their weapon. He had practiced it before and always thought it was a pipe dream. How could the greatest sword, the heaviest weapon, possibly perform such precise maneuvers?
But now he feels he can do it.

He can do it.

He has to do it!
Chen Linchuan took a deep breath and dragged the greatsword with both hands, slashing upwards at Jiang Shi! If nothing unexpected happened, Jiang Shi's longsword would collide with the greatsword. Whether Jiang Shi lost his balance or his longsword was knocked away, Chen Linchuan would have enough time to reassemble the breastplate!
Secret Technique: Mutual Killing Slash!
He succeeded. Under the immense terror of life and death, he comprehended a new secret technique and unleashed his full potential!

But at that moment, Jiang Shi jumped up and narrowly avoided the greatsword's killing strike.

Because she rarely dodged after using the legendary token, Chen Linchuan even forgot... she was the Battle Victory Warrior who could leave them helpless just by dodging!

"How could last-minute cramming techniques possibly work for me?"

Jiang Shi lightly stepped onto the greatsword, as graceful as a swallow in flight.

She swung her Bingzi Jiaolin sword and slashed down, causing Chen Linchuan's headless corpse to fall with a thud.

Unlike Zhou Ye's death, which was like a sudden thunderbolt, Chen Linchuan's death was like a torrential downpour following the thunder. It was an expected outcome, but also a chilling and unsettling truth.

No one in the camp dared to speak. They stared blankly at the scene, covering their mouths tightly, as if afraid of attracting Jiang Shi's attention and being slashed by her.

At this moment, Shang Yue and Jie Zilong were numb. Even though the orange-red light on Jiang Shi's body was about to dissipate, they couldn't muster any thought of fighting back, let alone going forward to entangle him.

Jiang Shi ignored them and strode towards Qun Yushu, who was resting on the grass. To maintain the shared burden of damage, he couldn't stray too far and could only watch helplessly as Jiang Shi approached.

"Now," Qunyushu said with a weak, bitter smile, "can we reconcile?"

Jiang raised his sword and slashed down.

With a snap, Qun Yushu's right hand fell to the ground. He seemed to have a healing artifact, as it immediately stopped the pain from severing his arm. He was visibly in pain and covered in cold sweat, but his expression relaxed, as if he had escaped a calamity.

Jiang Shi lightly twirled his knife, then flicked it to the ground, drawing a line of blood on the grass.

"Now, is there anyone who still wants to be my enemy?"

The orange-red glow of the legendary artifact on her body completely dissipated, but the camp remained quiet, with not a single one of the hundreds of people speaking.

No one dared to respond.

　Seven chapters complete. Requesting monthly votes.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)