C21 I Am a Killer!

Zhang Qu let out a deep sigh, as if holding back tears, and said, "I lost today’s fight, but I never thought I’d lose to an unknown wanderer. This is the greatest shame of my life!"

"One day, you might even be proud of this battle with me," Ho Liao replied confidently and calmly.

"Let’s go!" Zhang Qu turned to his companions and, without waiting for a response, strode forward alone.

The three women gave Ho Liao a long look before following Zhang Qu.

Ho Liao watched them leave, shook his head, and turned to head into the diner to finish his breakfast.

Just as Ho Liao turned to walk away, one of the women suddenly used her energy to hurl a short sword at his back in a surprise attack.

Hearing the swift sound of the weapon cutting through the air, Ho Liao realized the danger. In a split second, he reacted by releasing a burst of energy from a pressure point, sending a blast of energy from his lower back to shatter the incoming sword. The energy continued forward, targeting the woman who had attacked him.

She stood frozen, unable to move as the energy closed in.

At the critical moment, a thunderous shout came from above, and the shadow of a giant axe appeared to block the energy. The clash between the energy and the axe shadow created a deafening explosion, and the axe shadow vanished instantly.

"You've got some nerve, kid, showing such skill at the Soulkeep stage!" an old man's voice echoed from afar, growing closer.

"Master, he attacked me with a fart!" the young woman who had ambushed Ho Liao complained tearfully, like a child running to a parent.

"Ying, that wasn't a fart!" the old man admonished his disciple seriously.

Hearing this, Zhang Qu and her friends blushed before bursting into laughter, leaving Ho Liao feeling utterly embarrassed.

The newcomer was Xu Dong, an elder of the Silverbeards' Outer Sect and the master of the young woman, Wang Yingying, who had attacked Ho Liao. Xu Dong was leading the pursuit of Zhao Bu to seize the Golden Thread Seal. He arrived promptly because Wang Yingying, unhappy with Zhang Qu's decision, had secretly shattered her locator talisman to alert Xu Dong. They had an agreement to break the talisman in emergencies, so Xu Dong, who was nearby, received the alert and used a flying talisman to rush over.

Though Xu Dong was an Outer Sect elder of the Silverbeards, he was only at the seventh level of Spirit Shedding and couldn't fly on his own.

"Master, this guy is Zhao Bu's accomplice. He must have the Golden Thread Seal on him!" Wang Yingying said, tears in her eyes, as she approached Xu Dong.

"Ying, you've done a great job. Once I retrieve the Golden Seal, you'll be handsomely rewarded!" Xu Dong said, looking at Wang Yingying with satisfaction.

"Master, be careful. This person can attack from anywhere!" Wang Yingying warned her master, still shaken.

"Don't worry. A kid at the early stage of Soulkeep can't cause much trouble!" Xu Dong, a seasoned veteran, easily saw through Ho Liao's abilities.

"Sir, you saw it was your student who attacked me first, forcing me to defend myself. Let me clarify: I'm not allied with Zhao Bu. I just happened to be passing by when Zhao Bu, injured, fell in front of me. Zhao Bu suspected I was a pawn of the Silverbeards, while your Silverbeards suspected I was with Zhao Bu. Unexpectedly, Zhao Bu framed me before he died. To prove my innocence, I killed Zhao Bu. I'm telling you the truth, not a single lie!" Ho Liao said, bowing to Xu Dong.

Though Ho Liao spoke the truth, he deliberately concealed the fact that he had obtained the Golden Seal.

"That's just covering up a murder!" Wang Yingying shouted.

"Kid, the Silverbeards don't kill the innocent, but that's only if what you say is true. How will you prove it?" Xu Dong asked, looking at Ho Liao.

"Who is this Zhao Bu? I have no idea how to prove anything about him," Ho Liao said, feeling wronged.

"How old are you?" Xu Dong suddenly asked.

"Thirteen," Ho Liao replied honestly.

"Thirteen? If you're really thirteen, you couldn't possibly be Zhao Bu's accomplice because Zhao Bu has been locked up in the Silverbeards' Redemption Cave for twelve years!" Xu Dong shook his head with a wry smile.

"Master, just look at him! How could he only be thirteen? And his skills are so advanced!" Wang Yingying exclaimed, looking as if she couldn't believe what she was hearing.

Xu Dong studied Ho Liao closely for a while and said, "He is indeed thirteen. I'm not mistaken. Plus, I can tell he's been training for less than six months!"

"What? Less than six months?" Wang Yingying gasped, and Zhang Qu was stunned, along with everyone else.

What kind of talent is this? How is it possible? What sort of extraordinary encounter did he have to achieve such power? That powerful strike was Xu Dong's signature move. Even though Xu Dong acted hastily, it still had at least half its usual strength, yet Ho Liao's sword energy completely countered it. What kind of extraordinary encounter did Ho Liao have?

Zhang Qu and the others looked at Ho Liao as if he were a phenomenon.

But now, they were convinced that Ho Liao was not Zhao Bu's accomplice.

"My young friend, would you be willing to join the Silverbeards? I guarantee you'll become a core member of the Outer Sect, and entry into the Inner Sect will be within reach!" Xu Dong offered sincerely, looking at Ho Liao.

"Thank you for your kind offer and your generosity, but I already have a mentor whose expectations guide my path forward. I must decline joining Silverbeards, but your integrity and openness are admirable. If you're willing, I'd be honored to call you a friend. I hope you don't find me presumptuous?" Ho Liao replied with respectful confidence.

"Haha..." Xu Dong laughed heartily and said, "Young friend, your talent will soon make you a towering figure I greatly admire. How could I not welcome your friendship?"

"Your praise is too generous, Xu Dong. I'm just a humble wanderer, often facing hardships. Your skills are impressive, and coming from a prestigious background, your willingness to befriend me is truly gracious. I'm grateful!" Ho Liao responded respectfully.

"Ho Liao, you're giving me too much credit. Honestly, I'm nearing sixty, and my abilities are still at the Spirit Shedding stage. I'm just an elder in the Outer Sect. As for lowering myself, take this task of capturing the rogue Zhao Bu—it's a minor duty. Despite my intentions, I lack the strength to handle it well, and I feel quite embarrassed," Xu Dong sighed.

"Who exactly is Zhao Bu, and what did he do to cause your sect so much trouble?" Ho Liao asked casually, though his curiosity was piqued. After all, he was just a thirteen-year-old boy.