C17 Fighting

Jie Mu tightened his grip on the long sword and beckoned to the burly man opposite him.

"Friend, arm yourself as well. It'll make the fight more satisfying."

The burly man paused, then let out a sinister chuckle and nodded. He selected a long saber from the weapon rack behind the Zhang family and approached.

He silently scoffed, "Foolish boy, the sword is blind, and you're seeking your own demise!"

Yu Wen, however, furrowed her brow in concern. Jie Mu had never wielded a sword before. While she was genuinely pleased that he had mastered Machine Arts Weapon Transformation—a skill she hadn't—this only added to the risks he faced.

In Fragrance Light Valley, the master's wife was a swordsmanship expert, but she hadn't practiced in years and certainly hadn't taught Jie Mu. Where, then, had he learned his swordplay?

As the burly man readied himself, Jie Mu didn't hesitate. He advanced with a step that seemed tailor-made for his sword technique.

In a flash, Jie Mu was upon the man, his sword aimed straight for the burly man's neck.

He executed the renowned "Nine-step Farewell" technique!

This technique required a special sequence of nine steps to unleash its full power.

At Jie Mu's current skill level, he could barely manage the first step, but even that was formidable.

The burly man stepped back, his long saber attempting to deflect the sword from his neck.

The sword grazed his garment and continued downward, bypassing the saber meant to block it.

But due to the distance, the sword's edge only nicked his skin, reaching as far as his left chest before Jie Mu withdrew.

Jie Mu hadn't lost the will to attack; the burly man had cleverly turned retreat into advance, bringing his saber up to Jie Mu's neck, forcing him to back off.

The burly man had taken a minor hit and now regarded Jie Mu with newfound respect.

Gripping his saber firmly, he realized he had underestimated the young man. He had thought little of Jie Mu's youth, but he had nearly lost an arm for his complacency.

At a nearby dining table, Yu Wen witnessed the scene and nearly burst into applause.

She couldn't identify the sword technique Jie Mu was using, but its ferocity was reassuringly unmatched.

Zhang Loong narrowed his eyes, musing to himself, "What sword technique is this youngster using? It may elude others, but not me."

"It's unmistakably the Yao family's Slice Blade Arts. The technique isn't named for flair but for the slice blade it employs."

"The technique isn't particularly remarkable; it's designed for killing, with powerful attacks but weaker defenses."

"Still, it looks like the kid has only scratched the surface of it."

Lee Huiye let out a cold snort and advised, "Wang, his swordsmanship isn't impressive. Don't let him set the pace. Take the offensive, and he'll crumble under your attack!"

Upon hearing this, the muscular man charged with his long saber. The blade descended with a force that seemed capable of cleaving mountains and splitting stones.

He was practicing the "Ro Shan Blade," a high-level Human Rank martial skill popular within the Qilin Society.

Though merely a Human Rank skill, when mastered to Great Completion, its power and fierceness rival those of Earth Rank martial skills.

Jie Mu, recognizing the saber's formidable power, dared not meet it head-on. With a step, he executed the Fragrance Light Step Arts, deftly avoiding the strike.

The Fragrance Light Step Arts, the foundational Lightness Skill from Fragrance Light Valley, was simple yet sophisticated.

The saber missed Jie Mu by a hair's breadth, severing a few strands of hair and nearly decapitating him.

As the blade swung horizontally for a second strike, its power diminished, but it still possessed lethal force.

Jie Mu parried with his sword, feeling a jolt in his grip. He was driven backward, a fierce pain radiating from his hand, nearly causing him to drop his sword.

Internally alarmed, he had assumed that without mastering Dark Strength, his comparable inner strength would suffice in battle. Yet, he hadn't anticipated the subtle effectiveness of Dark Strength.

The brawny man was relentless in his pursuit of Jie Mu, delivering another blow with his Ro Shan Blade technique. His movements lacked speed and flair, but the sheer force behind them made his attacks difficult to counter. Coupled with his use of Dark Strength, Jie Mu found himself struggling to keep up.

Lee Huiye's timely interference threw Jie Mu off balance, plunging him into a perilous state. Yu Wen, witnessing the scene, felt her heart race with fear. She was eager to intervene and rescue Jie Mu, but being encircled by formidable foes, she dared not act rashly.

As the long blade clashed with the sword, it bore down with immense pressure, channeling a surge of Dark Strength into Jie Mu's body. Despite the overwhelming discomfort in his chest, Jie Mu managed to retreat swiftly, employing the Fragrance Light Step to escape the blade's reach. However, once he was clear, the pain became unbearable, and he coughed up a mouthful of blood.

The sight of Jie Mu's distress brought a gleam of delight to Lee Xian's face, while Lee Huiye and his followers shared a laugh. Zhang Loong, on the other hand, frowned deeply. The two men exchanged glances, their mutual discontent clear without words.

Zhang Loong was hesitant to get involved; his relationship with Chenmu was ambivalent, so saving Jie Mu was not a priority. Yet, he couldn't help but feel a fondness for the young man. Lee Huiye, noticing Zhang Loong's displeasure, was taken aback and offered an awkward smile, internally resolving, "Having already offended Zhang Loong today, I must capture this youngster to recover my losses."

Yu Wen's fists tightened, ready to leap into the fray, but a chilling sensation struck her from behind, paralyzing her with a fierce killing intent. She knew all too well who was behind her, leaving her frozen and unable to do anything but watch over Jie Mu with deep concern, too weak even to speak.

Meanwhile, the burly man prepared for another mighty slash, wielding his blade with the full force of his strength. The heavy blade carried with it the power to cleave mountains and shatter stones.

This maneuver could have easily claimed Jie Mu's life!

Cornered with nowhere to retreat, Jie Mu resolved to stand his ground. Grasping his sword with both hands, he channeled all his internal energy into the blade, which instantly morphed into a fully-formed slice blade.

Jie Mu advanced with two swift steps, and as the blades clashed, sparks scattered in every direction, the force and noise reverberating throughout the entire estate.

He immediately felt a tingling in his palms, a clear sign that the Dark Strength had once again seeped into his body.

Yet, he showed no fear, meeting the onslaught with full force and thrusting upwards, sending the burly man flying.

"Accompany him on a thousand-mile journey!"

This technique left everyone, especially Zhang Loong, dumbfounded as they recognized the renowned move.

It was not part of the Nine-step Farewell, but rather an advanced technique of the Slice Blade Arts, known only to a handful of people worldwide.

And each of those few had a profound connection with him.

With a single step, Jie Mu moved behind the burly man, his slice blade piercing through the man's body before he violently withdrew it.

"Until we part ways for good!"

The burly man crashed to the ground, unmistakably dead.

Though Jie Mu remained standing, his Machine Arts had reverted to their original form.

His internal energy was nearly depleted, and his hands, weakened by the Dark Strength, could barely lift. His complexion was ashen, betraying a sense of exhaustion.

Yu Wen slapped her chest, coughing up blood, but successfully breaking free from the intimidation of Lee Huiye's murderous aura. She rushed to Jie Mu's side.

She supported Jie Mu back into his chair and produced a Nine-fragrance Light Pill from her bosom, placing it in Jie Mu's mouth for him to swallow.

Lee Huiye, indifferent to the fallen man, simply smiled at Jie Mu.

"Well done! Such a young hero, possessing remarkable strength for his age. Truly worthy of being the academy's finest student, displaying a diverse array of martial skills. Impressive, indeed."

Lee Xian watched Jie Mu with a mix of awe and fear. Despite his frivolous demeanor, he was acutely aware that had he been in the duel with Jie Mu, he would certainly have been the one to perish.

Jie Mu closed his eyes, focusing intently on replenishing his internal energy, unable to pay any attention to the ongoing situation.

Yu Wen quickly came to Jie Mu's defense, "Uncle, you flatter him. My junior brother's skills are quite basic. His victory was nothing short of a fluke."

Lee Huiye chuckled, "No, you can't say that. The young man is formidable. With his Rank Three strength, he managed to defeat one of my disciples who was at the Acquired Stage."

"It seems I have no capable men under me. Xian, why don't you give it a try?" he suggested.

At these words, the expressions of the Zhang family members darkened. This man was outrageously shameless, having already sent someone clearly more powerful than Jie Mu.

And now, he was looking to capitalize on Jie Mu's weakened state to end his life.

Yu Wen was simultaneously shocked and enraged, yet she dared not lash out. Instead, she forced a smile and pleaded, "Please forgive us, Uncle. My junior brother is simply no match for Brother Xian. Please spare him."

Upon hearing this, Lee Huiye patted Lee Xian on the shoulder, signaling him to sit down, and then said with a smile, "If Wen insists, we'll let it be."

"But perhaps it's time we discuss your marriage to my son. With this beautiful setting and Mr. Zhang to bear witness, what could be better than the two of you officially becoming husband and wife?"

At these words, not only did Yu Wen bristle with anger, but some members of the Zhang family also found it hard to stomach Lee Huiye's villainous demeanor.

Even Zhang Loong thought the man was going too far. However, he held his tongue; his position was unique, and any comment he made would reflect on the entire Zhang family. Besides, he had more pressing matters to attend to than these squabbles—impatience could jeopardize larger strategies.

Yu Wen inhaled deeply, glanced at Lee Huiye, and then at the severely wounded Jie Mu.

"Since Uncle has spoken, I have no choice but to agree. After all, having Uncle Zhang as a witness would leave me with no regrets in life," she conceded.

Lee Huiye, unfazed by her words, gestured dismissively, "Take the young man down and see to his wounds. Make sure he is well cared for and not further harmed."

The individuals trailing behind him nodded in agreement, promptly moving to Jie Mu's side to carry him away.

It was an unmistakable form of house arrest, using Jie Mu as leverage against Yu Wen!

Despite the situation, Yu Wen managed to suppress her smile, "Uncle has thought of everything. Thank you so much, Uncle."

Lee Xian's heart swelled with joy upon witnessing Yu Wen's reluctant compliance. He gratefully gazed at his father, his eyes filled with desire as he looked at Yu Wen.

Just then, a servant from the Zhang family approached hastily, whispering to Zhang Xuan. The Young Lord responded with a smile, then spoke up.

"Father, Uncle, a servant has brought a bridal gown from the department store, reportedly a gift from the Yu family. Perhaps Yu Wen should go and try it on."