The God of the Human Realm!

Chapter 26 Boom
Pfft!Pfft!
The unrestrained laughter still echoed in the wind. The four heads, which had been thrown into the air by the immense force of the slash, finally crashed to the ground, rolling around like balls and leaving trails of blood that sent chills down one's spine.

One of the heads rolled right next to the feet of a thug who was holding a laborer hostage. The thug, his neck stiff, involuntarily looked down at it.

The head still bore the ferocity of its slashing, its eyes bulging with rage, staring straight at him. Its empty, dark pupils seemed to conceal an abyss from which a vengeful ghost could leap at any moment.

The thug felt a chill rise from nowhere, his hands and feet turned icy cold, and his whole body went limp and powerless. The steel knife in his hand clattered to the ground.

The other person also screamed and collapsed to the ground, his crotch instantly becoming soaked.

No one laughed at him, no one even paid attention to him. As if it were a signal, several thugs dropped their knives. Even the boldest ones were now swallowing hard, their faces filled with horror.

The thugs who were still standing panicked and turned their attention to the person in charge.

Yan Tieshan stood straight, staring straight ahead, without saying a word, his face still showing a look of panic.

"Third Master..."

The five dark-skinned hunters were also shocked. They were all seasoned hunters who had spent years hunting in the mountains and forests before joining Yan Tieshan's service.

Just now, with that wandering swordsman's leap and bound, they truly felt the terror of being alone deep in the mountains, facing a man-eating tiger with their bare hands.

The attack was too fast; it leaped and darted like the wind, leaving no chance to draw a bow and nock an arrow.

"That kid... that person hasn't gone far yet, should we chase him or not?" A hunter approached Yan Tieshan, asking with trepidation.

Before he could finish speaking, the hunter felt a chill on his face. He reached out and wiped his face with his finger, and blood stained his fingertip.

He suddenly looked up, his eyes wide open.

Chi!
A long line of blood spread across Yan Tieshan's neck, with foul-smelling blood spurting out. Then Yan Tieshan lowered his head, and a huge head rolled off his neck.

"Ah!" The hunter staggered back, exclaiming in surprise.

The numerous travelers, merchants, and people from all walks of life on the dock finally realized what was happening, and a commotion arose as the crowd, like a school of startled fish, descended into chaos.

Exclamations erupted one after another.

Some of the more timid ones covered their eyes, too afraid to look any longer. Others, upon witnessing such a horrifying scene, were so terrified that their limbs went weak and they felt like vomiting.

Even some well-traveled and knowledgeable wealthy men and powerful merchants, surrounded by guards, were dumbfounded and shaken.

The laborers held hostage by the steel knife took advantage of the thugs' panic and hurriedly fled, their faces showing both fear and a hint of satisfaction at finally being able to vent their hatred.

Several martial arts practitioners dressed in tight-fitting clothes, who had been watching from beginning to end, could no longer remain calm. One of them, a man with a knife at his side, stammered, "What... what exactly is going on?"

"What else could it be?" Beside the swordsman, a man with bronze skin and a thick beard said with a wry smile, "We've all been fooled. This isn't some fledgling just coming out of the mountains. It's clearly an old dove disguised as a sparrow. Such a fast knife, such a ruthless strike, hitting the target in one blow and immediately fleeing far away... Hehe!"

As the bearded man spoke, admiration and respect gradually appeared on his face. He murmured, "Killing one man in ten steps, leaving no trace for a thousand miles... This trip was truly worthwhile, truly worthwhile!"

On the other side, the slender He Xiaofeng completely ignored the panic of the thugs, sheathed his scimitar with a blank face, and squatted down to carefully examine the severed neck of Yan Tieshan's headless corpse.

After a moment, he shifted his gaze to the five hideous blood holes on Qian Xiucai's throat, his eyes so gloomy they seemed to drip water.

"Good! Good lad, even I, He, have been tricked!"

He muttered to himself hoarsely, his eyes slightly narrowed, and the image of the other person throwing a straw hat to block the momentum of his curved sword flashed in his mind.

Taking advantage of the moment when Yan Tieshan's curved blade paused, the other party lunged forward, and with a flash of light, easily severed Yan Tieshan's head.

He Xiaofeng recalled the moment when the bamboo hat shattered and the wood chips scattered everywhere, and what came into his view was a pair of calm and indifferent eyes.

The exchange was brief, and the dust obscured the view, making it difficult to see the other person's appearance clearly. However, once you've seen those eyes, you'll never forget them.

Next time he encounters it, he will definitely remember it immediately.

He Xiaofeng glanced indifferently at the group of thugs. Some of them were still lying on the dock, groaning incessantly, while others were like headless flies, all looking utterly lost and dejected.

Without Yan Tieshan, these people would not be able to establish themselves at the docks, and new gangs or powerful clans would soon intervene.

Some of these people might be kept on to do the dirty work, but as for the thugs whose bones have been broken, no one will spend money to support them for nothing.

He Xiaofeng had no intention of raiding Yan Tieshan's lair.

It wasn't that he wasn't greedy, but rather that he knew there wasn't much wealth left in Yan Tieshan's stronghold.

Yan Tieshan was able to become the third master of the docks and control the interests of the docks and surrounding fish market streets, coolie alleys, and other areas because he had the support of powerful families in the city.

He had to share most of the wealth he acquired, and he also had to support nearly a hundred thugs. In the end, how many coins would he have left?
Because the returns weren't as high as others expected, and the expenses were substantial, Yan Tieshan felt the pinch after only investing in He Xiaofeng for a few days.

Without saying a word, He Xiaofeng turned around and strode away.

The autumn wind ripples the clear waves.

An eerie silence fell over the deck of the Tao family's large ship on the Jade Belt River.

After a long while, Master Jin shook his head with a wry smile and let out a deep breath:
"I, Lao Jin, have traveled all over the country for so many years, and I consider myself a seasoned veteran. I've seen all kinds of people with my eyes, but I never thought I'd be so blind today..."

"Don't blame Master Jin, even I didn't see the flaw."

The young man in fine clothes gazed in the direction where Hong Yuan's figure disappeared, his expression solemn:
"This man's real goal was probably to take Yan Tieshan's head, but he was unwilling to risk entering Yan Tieshan's lair. So he pretended to be a naive newcomer and acted kind-hearted to lure people out. Yan Tieshan's death was not unjust."

Master Jin said, "This cunning is indeed something to be wary of, but this person's martial arts skills are even more frightening."

"Yes, in the blink of an eye, he parried four slashes with one stroke and beheaded four people. That must have been a burst of true power! Then he killed Yan Laosan and that old scholar. His swordsmanship was so fast that no one could see anything amiss when his head was severed. His claw technique tore the old scholar's throat apart in one strike!"

"This level of martial arts skill is unmatched, not to mention among the younger generation, even among those established masters who are still in their prime."

The young man in fine clothes suddenly laughed again: "I never expected that my sudden idea to go out and wander around would lead me to encounter such a remarkable person so quickly. Truly, the world is vast and full of heroes! Judging from the voice that person spoke, he is not very old, and with that cautious and cunning mind, he may very well become 'shrewd' one day."

"So meticulous..." Master Jin sighed, his eyes filled with envy and jealousy.

He came from humble beginnings, but his excellent martial arts skills earned him the appreciation of the Tao family, making him the bodyguard and martial arts instructor for the young master and young lady of the Tao family. The Tao siblings treated him with great courtesy, always addressing him as 'Master'.

But he knew perfectly well that the Tao siblings' politeness towards him was merely the self-assured refinement of a scion of a prominent family, and didn't mean he could actually put on airs as a teacher. To put it bluntly, he, 'Master Jin,' was just a highly regarded upper-class servant in the Tao family!

But if martial arts skills reach the 'subtle' level, then everything will be different.

Once you reach the level of "Ruwei," you are already a first-rate martial arts master. You can fight against dozens of armored soldiers or more by yourself. You are a true "hundred-man enemy." In the martial arts world, you can establish your own school and dominate a region.

On the battlefield, donning heavy armor transforms one into a formidable warrior charging into battle, unstoppable in their path. Such a figure, if not on par with those long-established aristocratic families, would at least command respect and courtesy.

Unfortunately, Master Jin lacked both talent and opportunity, and mastering the subtlety of strength was merely a distant dream for him.

The girl in red, recovering from the shock of the blood-soaked scene, said, "Since this person is so capable, why don't you find him, brother, and bring him into our Tao family before he 'enters the subtle realm'? That way, our family will have a great help."

The young man in fine clothes hesitated for a moment, then shook his head: "Forget it. Judging from this person's demeanor, he is decisive and ruthless, without any hesitation. If I rashly try to find out his identity, I might end up making things worse and angering him instead..."

"It was my oversight." The girl in red looked more serious.

Thinking back to that swift and ruthless strike, she felt a chill run down her spine, yet she couldn't help but feel a surge of longing, exclaiming, "I've read so many chivalrous tales and practiced martial arts with Master Jin, thinking I'd acquired some skill. But only today do I truly understand what the real spirit of a wandering knight is..."

"Ten steps, one kill; a thousand miles, no trace left. The deed done, he dusts off his clothes and departs, concealing his merit and fame." She couldn't help but softly recite, "What a fine poem! I wonder which master penned it? Only such a fine poem could match such a breathtaking strike!"

The young man in fine clothes stood at the bow of the ship with his hands behind his back, watching the ongoing commotion on the dock. Some people were clamoring to report to the authorities, while many others were indifferent and hurriedly left.

He chuckled and said, "This matter will probably spread very quickly. When those wandering knights hear of it, they will surely be overjoyed and regard this poem as the ultimate standard..."

Whoosh! Whizzing!

Hong Yuan swiftly moved like the wind, quickly leaving the dock area. After turning around a few times, he entered an unfamiliar street and stopped in a quiet corner, regulating his breathing to calm his slightly rapid breaths.

His face was slightly flushed, a sign that he had unleashed his true energy multiple times in a short period of time, causing his blood and qi to surge upwards.

On the dock, Hong Yuan unleashed his true power three times. The first time, he parried the swords of four guards with one stroke and then beheaded them!
Secondly, they would fire a barrage of arrows at Yan Tieshan to kill him.

Third, the true strength bursts forth from the feet, moving swiftly like the wind, disappearing without a trace.

If it were Yang Erhu, he would be helpless and die after just one outburst, while Hong Yuan would only experience a slight disruption in his qi and blood.

After slowly adjusting for half an hour, Hong Yuan opened his eyes and was as usual, full of energy.

He drew his knife and set off to seek trouble with Meng Yue's superior, the so-called "Mr. Cui".

An hour later.

Hong Yuan emerged from a dimly lit alley, looking slightly displeased. He had come up empty-handed; Mr. Cui was not in the house.

He even lurked in the shadows, waiting quietly for more than half an hour, but still made no sound.

Hong Yuan possesses the ability to "see clearly and understand the hidden," and his observational skills are extraordinary. He is 90% certain that Meng Yue did not lie when he interrogated him.

So either Mr. Cui didn't really trust Meng Yue and had multiple escape routes, or he was just very lucky.

Regardless of the reason, Hong Yuan felt that it would be difficult for him to catch up with Mr. Cui's whereabouts in the short term.

After all, he didn't even know what Mr. Cui looked like.

Once news of the incident at the dock spreads, Mr. Cui, having heard of it, will likely become immediately alert, and if he waits any longer for Meng Yue to arrive...

In fact, while Hong Yuan was hiding and waiting for Mr. Cui to arrive, the shocking incident at the dock had already spread to several prosperous streets in the county town.

"What? Yan Tieshan, the Third Master of the dock, has been murdered?"

"What? Master Yan's strategist, Scholar Qian, is dead too?"

"What kind of Third Master is he? Yan San is just a headless dead dog now, tsk tsk! You guys didn't see the scene, it was a horrific sight, blood everywhere!"

……

The dock is a place where people come and go, gathering all sorts of people and merchants. In addition, Yangquan County is not a big town. Although it is not enough for the news to spread throughout the county in just one hour, the most crowded and bustling commercial areas are already noisy and bustling, and everyone is as lively as if it were New Year's Day.

The restaurant and teahouse were filled with a large crowd arguing, many of whom had witnessed the scene at the dock and had come specifically to spread the word. They were all excited and gesticulating wildly.

"Alas! It's such a pity you didn't witness it with your own eyes. This is far more exciting than the stories told by the storytellers in the teahouse."

A teahouse.

The speaker, beaming with excitement, placed one foot on a stool and gestured with his hands: "That chivalrous young man wore a bamboo hat, a black robe, and a steel sword at his waist. He single-handedly slaughtered Yan Laosan's hundred or so men, leaving them lying dead on the ground. Then, with another slash, he was as fast as lightning. In the blink of an eye, several heads flew into the air..."

"The most ridiculous thing is that Yan Laosan. His head was cut off, but his men still thought he was alive. They went over to touch him, and bang!" The speaker spread his palm in front of his eyes and tilted his head to the side.

"His head just fell off!"

"Good! Well done! That old dog Yan has committed many evils and should have died long ago! Waaah..." Someone cried loudly, perhaps having also suffered from Yan Tieshan's bullying.

"Hey, the king of hell at the docks has met the real king of hell!"

"I heard that swordsman killed hundreds of people by himself, his blood staining the Jade Belt River red, and the corpses blocking the riverbed..."

"Wow! What a grand scene! Shall we go take a look now?"

"Forget it!"

Has anyone notified the authorities?

"Someone reported it to the authorities a long time ago, but what can the county government do? Jianghu matters are resolved in Jianghu. At most, the county magistrate will just send someone to collect the body..." someone muttered.

In a corner by the window of the teahouse, a middle-aged man with a prosperous appearance and a jade thumb ring on his right thumb was leisurely sipping his tea. But now he frowned, put some loose silver on the table, and hurriedly got up and walked out.

He had only taken a few steps out of the teahouse when he suddenly stopped, a thoughtful expression appearing on his face, before turning back and going back inside.

……

(End of this chapter)