Hengshan Sect's Strongest Sword Cultivator

"How dare you!"

Lu Shilai roared, but he was too astonished to keep up with that decisive slash.

The reaction of everyone in the Changrui Escort Agency was just like Lu Shilai's. Jin, who had his hand on the hilt of his sword and was concentrating on Zhou, was now stunned.

"Clang!"

Long Ping's twin swords struck simultaneously, narrowly blocking a deadly blow to her chest.

At that moment, her hair stood on end, and the force from the swords made her arms go numb, forcing her to retreat several steps.

Wang held a butcher's knife.

When his strike failed, his expression did not change.

Most in the escort agency were still dazed, completely unaware of the purpose of the earlier questioning, let alone understanding why the cook, Wang, would attack Long Ping.

"It's you!" Zhou's eyes bulged as he glared angrily.

A man of few words, he gathered his strength and cut towards Wang without reservation.

Although the men from the Prosperous Martial Arts School were also confused, seeing Wang attack Long Ping, they drew their swords and yelled angrily as they moved toward the cook.

Wang, who had been hunched over, suddenly straightened up, swinging the butcher knife in a flourish, moving swiftly – not at all like an old man.

Leaning forward with his upper body facing south, he stepped half a step forward with his left foot, the right arm rotating outward slightly bent, and the knife tip passing under his armpit as he stepped.

This move, a twisting body hiding the knife, was well-choreographed, stabbing directly at Zhou's vitals, forcing him to use his short knife to block.

Zhou was shocked, realizing his short knife was not as heavy as the butcher knife.

The collision made his hand go weak, allowing the cook to capitalize on the opening, slashing his butcher knife towards Zhou's chest. Luckily, Lu Shilai reacted quickly and raised his sword to parry.

Feeling the force on his sword, Lu Shilai's face changed drastically.

An expert!

"Who exactly are you?"

Wang let out a cold laugh, then pulled back his right arm, bending his elbow, his wrist rotating inward as he executed a circular overhead slash.

The swords and sabers of the five men from the Prosperous Martial Arts School were cleverly blocked, and although Wang moved skillfully, the force was so great that he bent downwards, a layer of skin on his forehead breaking.

Wang snorted coldly, his voice surprisingly young.

"Seeking death!"

People around realized and shouted, "Damn it, he's not Wang!"

The disguised Wang burst forth with Inner Strength, flicking off the blades over his head, his right hand rapidly swinging in a circular motion.

Instantly, three of the five men were struck, screaming in agony.

The people at the escort agency were taken aback, not expecting him to possess such martial skills!

Pu Kui and Lu Gui also stood shocked.

But from their side, a figure dashed out; it was the ever-calm Zhao Rong.

"His new strength has yet to form, now is the time to strike."

"This man's weapon skills far exceed mine, I fear even Gao from the Hai Sha Gang is no match for him."

"I must compete with him in Inner Strength, only then do I have a chance of winning."

The thoughts raced through Zhao Rong's mind as he seized the opening in the cook's movements and swiftly attacked.

He mobilized most of his Inner Strength, fiercely pressing his right palm towards Wang's chest!

"Whoosh whoosh~!"

A gust of wind filled Zhao Rong's sleeves, flattening the angles of his entire right arm's robe.

The 'Wang' was both shocked and amazed as he felt the palm wind, and then seeing the face of his attacker, he revealed a fiercely cold smile.

It was this young man who had spoiled his plans.

Wang's reactions were far superior to those of the Hall Master. Taking advantage of the respect established by that one slash at the escort agency, he feigned stepping back to create a slight gap, immediately pressing down with his left palm, which turned red instantly, emitting strands of burning hot qi energy.

His cold smile grew even more pronounced.

Compared to his sword skills, he was even better at... palm techniques!

When the two palms met, the onlookers heard a sound like a hammer smashing into stone!

In an instant, both Zhao Rong and Wang's expressions changed.

For the first time since he revealed himself, Wang showed a look of terror, feeling the overwhelming Palm Strength from the palm strike, causing him to sweat profusely; he had barely been able to muster full strength.

From that exchange, he knew that the opponent's Palm Strength was far greater than he had anticipated.

"How can Changrui Escort Agency have such a person!"

"This is bad, this person has likely also disguised himself, definitely a hidden expert from the Hengshan Sect."

As Wang's thoughts flickered, he saw the 'young man' across from him suddenly change color.

Looking at him as if he were extremely wary.

The 'young man' gritted his teeth and raised his left palm, intercepting before Wang could swing his knife.

Their Palm Strength collided, immediately sending the already struggling cook flying backward.

Zhao Rong staggered backward, and Long Ping, getting there before Pu Kui, helped him steady himself.

Feeling the burning heat from the palm contact spreading through his body, Zhao Rong forced out a mouthful of fresh blood, which trickled from the corner of his mouth, feigning disarray.

Wang spat out a mist of blood, looking even more miserable.

He immediately pulled out a pill from his chest and swallowed it. As the surrounding weapon wielders closed in, he raised his hand to sprinkle a circle of flying darts and several smoke bombs, displaying extremely skilled technique.

Some were injured by the darts, and amidst the rising smoke, the escort agency descended into chaos again.

"Ah, I've been hit!"

"The smoke is too thick, don't let him escape!"

"Over here, quickly block him!"

"He's climbed the courtyard wall, heading towards the east alley, chase him!"

"..."

With the noise, over a dozen escort agents hurried out in pursuit.

Although Wang was injured and fleeing, his skills were extraordinary and not of ordinary origin. Now, taking advantage of the night, he slipped into the streets and alleys, most likely out of reach.

Zhao Rong silently watched the entrance of the escort agency, his heart churning, unable to calm down.

He opened his right palm, where a burning sensation entered from the fish border point on the radial side of the first metacarpal bone, surging upwards through Taiyuan and Lieque. Had it not been for his Inner Strength blocking it, it would have likely pierced through the Hand Taiyin Lung Meridian.

This Palm Strength was extremely familiar.

Zhao Rong couldn't help but touch his chest, where half a month earlier, using lime to launch a surprise attack, he had saved a young girl but had received a palm strike to his chest that made him feel as if his insides were burning.

Feeling the burning sensation on his arm, his brows slightly furrowed.

The two Palm Strengths originated from the same source.

The bandit and the fake cook of the escort agency turned out to be one and the same!

Feeling more wary, Zhao Rong knew somewhat about this world, but the jianghu was deep with dragons and snakes mingling, a mix of all sorts from various sects, and even he couldn't untangle the threads.

After much thought, he still couldn't figure it out, unaware of this person's origins.

To others, Zhao Rong, touching his chest and pondering, seemed lost in his thoughts.

Wang's knife and palm were fierce, and everyone present had experienced them.

Although Zhao Rong had taken the initiative and managed to injure him, it was seen as a rare feat worthy of admiration.

Just having spat out a mouthful of blood and appearing dazed, it was evident he had suffered serious internal injuries.

"Brother Zhao, are you alright?"

Long Ping helped him to rest on a stone step, concerned about his injuries.

Zhao Rong looked around; following Jin Qisheng, Pu Kui, and Lu Gui were chasing Wang, while Lu Shi came over, meeting Long Ping's gaze and approaching Zhao Rong.

"It's nothing serious."

"I just regret that with my insufficient skills, while taking advantage of the momentary gap to strike, I couldn't keep him here and instead got injured by him."

Long Ping slightly shook her head, looking at Zhao Rong with a pleasant expression.

"I have a nephew about the same age as Brother Zhao, influenced by my brother to handle weapons from a young age. This lad, when fighting with apprentices from the martial arts school, could not be bested, which is quite impressive. But should he encounter such a master as tonight, he certainly wouldn't last more than a couple of moves."

"This person's Inner Strength is robust, probably not inferior to the chief escort. Brother Zhao being able to contend with him in terms of arm strength clearly shows remarkable martial talent."

At this point, a rare smile appeared on Long Ping's fair face.

"I wonder, Brother Zhao, do you have any mentors?"

"You flatter me," Zhao Rong politely clasped his hands, "My skills are mediocre, and I have no formal mentorship; I've merely cultivated a brute strength."

On hearing this, Long Ping was actually pleased.

There are many who practice martial arts in the jianghu, but not everyone possesses martial talent.

The young man before her was graceful and modest, with hidden wisdom, truly a gem!

"This is simple!" Long Ping became even more eager, "I wonder if Brother Zhao is aware of what lies west of Dongting by the Wuling Mountains."

"Of course, I've heard of it."

"Chuanqin's throat, Yungui's gateway, also a utopia."

Zhao Rong joined in, and Long Ping nodded repeatedly, "Correct."

"Prosperous Martial Arts School is quite esteemed in Changde Prefecture. My elder brother, Long Kui, is the head of the school. His father-in-law is a senior figure in the jianghu, known as the 'Wuling Swift Blade'. He's also skilled in fisticuffs, wielding a Bagua Flying Cloud Fan."

"Once this matter is resolved, Brother Zhao might as well come with me to Changde. I guarantee this senior can take you as a disciple and teach you all he knows."

"I also have a niece, just twenty-eight years old, as gorgeous as a peach and as pure as a chrysanthemum."

Long Ping looked at him with a smiling face, adding this extra incentive.

Initially, when Long Ping praised Zhao Rong, Lu Shi listened with enjoyment, precisely proving his own good judgment.

But the more he listened, the less right it seemed.

When Long Ping started playing matchmaker, Lu Shi's expression darkened, worried that Zhao Rong, young and impulsive, might not resist the temptation.

The good disciple I picked for my master, are you trying to poach him?

The Wuling Swift Blade?

Can it compare to our Hengyang music master?

At once finding an opportunity, he cut in before Long Ping.

"Vice Hall Master Long."

Lu Shi's face was darker than Wang's when raising his butcher's knife.

"Some days ago, I already transmitted 'Xie Lin's Ancient Lost Sounds' to Zhao Rong."

"So what? The Ancient Lost Sounds are not 'Guangling San'," Long Ping understood Lu Shi's intent and huffed discontentedly.

"Not so."

Lu Shi shook his head, "This Ancient Lost Sound is also favored by our master."

By bringing up Liu of Hengyang city, Long Ping could not act rashly anymore.

She merely tapped Zhao Rong on the shoulder gently, "Sometime, I'll introduce you to my niece. You two have similar personalities and will definitely get along well."

Zhao Rong smiled and thanked her.

He suddenly realized that he seemed... quite in demand.

...