Chapter 10

Luo Ming was furious, and the blue light flickered on his long sword as he slashed horizontally towards Fei Yang's chest. Fei Yang let out a cold laugh, raising his wine cup to meet the attack. With a clang, the cup collided with the long sword, and to everyone's astonishment, Luo Ming's sword was actually repelled. This display not only shocked Ma Wei and the others, but also caused everyone in the tavern to stand up in surprise. It is important to note that the wine cup was made of porcelain, and despite the clash with the steel sword, it remained completely unscathed, clearly indicating that Fei Yang's martial arts were far superior to those of Luo Ming.

Pei Lixin could not help but laugh, "Those who understand me are none other than my esteemed mother."

Feiyang initially intended to make this person retreat in the face of difficulty, but unexpectedly, Luo Ming, oblivious to the situation, launched a series of attacks aimed directly at his vital points. With a cold laugh, he spun around like a top along with the chair he was sitting on, his fingers flicking out in rapid succession, each strike landing precisely on the spine of the sword. Meanwhile, he ascended higher and higher, and with a loud clap, he landed steadily on the table, sitting there with perfect balance, still holding the cup of wine. At that moment, Luo Ming thrust his sword towards Feiyang's chest. Feiyang extended two fingers of his left hand, and with a muffled sound, Luo Ming's long sword was firmly pinched between his fingers. With a reverse twist, there was a clang, and he had already snapped the treasured sword in two. Following that, he swiftly advanced with his left hand, and the broken sword struck Luo Ming's shoulder well. Luo Ming let out a muffled groan, the half of the sword in his hand fell to the ground, and he collapsed right after, falling to the ground. The patrons of the tavern were momentarily dumbfounded.

Within the inn of Meixian, Pei Lixin has been extremely furious for the past month. Ever since the last incident where he failed to steal chickens and ended up losing rice, his anger has never subsided. Yuan Ying, who suffered a significant loss, was quietly sent to Fat Luo's place to recuperate and can no longer show his face. Yuan Long, unlike Pei Lixin, clearly understands the mission of their group. If they were to jeopardize their important task due to such petty jealousy, Pei Lixin might escape by relying on his family background, but he fears that his brothers would face dire consequences. The thought of the cruel methods employed by the higher-ups sends a chill down Yuan Long's spine. Thus, even though his brother has suffered a great loss, they can only endure in silence for the time being, as there will be plenty of time to deal with that brat later. Moreover, through this direct confrontation, Yuan Long must also consider the opponent's skills. Until their mission is completed, it is unnecessary to provoke such a formidable adversary, lest they complicate matters and jeopardize their important task.

A series of thumping sounds echoed up the stairs; upon hearing this commotion, one could tell it was that crazy girl, Bell.

"Miss, this is truly bad," Lingdang said with a look of panic. "A certain Lord Pei has sent someone to propose to you, and he is currently speaking with your father and mother in the hall!" Lingdang, who understood Lin Yu's concerns well, looked at her with deep worry.

The few individuals at the Iron Sword Gate in the west also changed color dramatically. One person suddenly stood up, but was pressed back down by the old man, sitting at the table, panting heavily.

The middle-aged man from the Huangshan Sect said in a deep voice: "When you return tomorrow, you will not be a match for this person!" As Luo Ming executed his move, he saw that the opponent had actually caught it with a porcelain cup. Realizing that his skills were far inferior to those of the official in front of him, he glanced back at the woman seated beside him. Gritting his teeth, he lunged forward, his long sword sweeping out, the blade flashing as he launched an aggressive attack.

"Not good, miss, not good!"

Feiyang raised a glass of wine and lazily said: "First, please address me as Chief Yun. Secondly, I never take back what I have said"

Is that so? Pei Lixin suddenly became excited, "Or is it that my mother cares for me!"

The bell repeated what it had just said.

"Hurry, hurry, Pei Fu, what did my parents say?" Before the other party could catch their breath, Pei Lixin had already asked in rapid succession.

In recent days, Lin Yu has been as anxious as an ant on a hot stove. For some unknown reason, her parents firmly refuse to allow her to step out of the embroidery house. Several family members are vigilantly guarding the entrance, and whenever she asks her mother, her mother always hesitates and refuses to reveal the details. With a belly full of questions, Lin Yu feels like a canary trapped in a cage, filled with anxiety yet powerless to act.

The one near the stairs on the east side belongs to the Huangshan Sect. This Huangshan Sect has always been well-off, with families and businesses; how could they have come all the way to Meixian, a thousand miles away!

The middle-aged man from the Huangshan Sect approached step by step, his expression grave.

Pei Lixin, who had suffered in silence for a month, finally smiled today, thanks to the arrival of someone from his family in the capital who brought him good news

Feiyang, upon hearing that the other party was here to celebrate the birthday of the master of the Divine Sword Manor, was infuriated to the point of grinding his teeth. Although he had never met the master, judging by Lei Xiaotian's demeanor, it was clear that he was not a good person. However, upon hearing the last few sentences, he became even more enraged. I merely glanced at that woman; I did not even take a bite out of her, yet they want to gouge out my eyes. Such arrogance and tyranny are utterly unreasonable

Therefore, the old lady has instructed me to bring a betrothal gift to propose to the young master. The lady also mentioned that the young master could first consummate the marriage with Miss Lin here, and the wedding could be arranged after returning to the capital. The lady is eager to hold her grandchild!

"Yun Tou, at the table to our west are the renowned members of the Iron Sword Gate from Lanzhou. The sword in that old man's hand looks quite heavy; could it be that the leader of the Iron Sword Gate, Mo Qigui, is here?" Huang Gesheng said with a heavy voice

Pei Lixin said with dissatisfaction: "Hmph, when has that old fellow ever regarded me? In his eyes, there is only my second brother! How can I be accused of neglecting my duties? I am thinking about the important matter of continuing the Pei family line." He grumbled without any regard for the order of seniority.

Although Feiyang still could not see Lin Yu every day, his immersion in martial arts slightly alleviated his feelings of longing. Whenever he had free time, he quietly pondered the first move of the Great Luo Zhou Tian Sword Technique. This sword technique, much like the Hunyuan Divine Skill, was peculiar and strange to practice. Each change required a direct thrust of energy, while the next demanded a reversal of internal force. Before he could fully utilize one change, he suddenly had to disperse his energy into dozens of points. A single move contained dozens of variations, with the application of internal force alternating between direct and reverse, sometimes concentrated and sometimes dispersed, which tormented Feiyang to an unbearable extent. During his first practice, the changes in energy could not flow smoothly between direct and reverse, causing Feiyang to cough loudly and turn red in the face. After finally becoming familiar with the changes in energy and feeling quite pleased with himself, he unexpectedly found that when reversing the internal force, the pure steel sword suddenly bent into an arc and thrust directly into Feiyang's right chest. Startled, Feiyang immediately changed his energy and technique, but his shirt was still pierced with a large hole. A fine sword could not withstand the sudden change in Feiyang's energy, and with a loud crack, it broke into two pieces.

At this moment, he heavily placed the wine cup down and coldly remarked: "No wonder the number of ghosts and monsters in Meixian has suddenly increased recently; it turns out that the landlord who engages in shady dealings is celebrating his birthday. These people should abide by the rules and regulations in Meixian; otherwise, they will all be thrown into prison to experience the severity of the law and the consequences of their actions"

"What did my parents say?" Lin Yu asked, his face pale.

With a wine cup in hand, Feiyang tilted his body in a split second, allowing the sword's edge to pass by. The cold, glinting long sword swept past Feiyang's chest, prompting another gasp from Ma Wei and the others. Even the few members of the Iron Sword Sect and the two from the Huangshan Sect were greatly astonished, collectively exclaiming in surprise.

With a proud lift of his neck, he said: "As the chief constable of this county, I have encountered countless violent and tyrannical individuals, yet I have never seen anyone like you. What, do you intend to kill an official in the street?" While speaking, he poured himself another cup of wine.

Observing Pei Lixin's impatient expression, Pei Fudao said: "The master is not very pleased and mentioned that the eldest son is not focused on his proper duties..." As he spoke, Pei Fu's face showed signs of difficulty, indicating that there were still some words from Pei Yuanda that he found inappropriate to voice.

The old lady said, "Pei Fu took a sip of tea, chuckled twice, and then continued, 'Speaking of the eldest son, you have finally come of age and are ready to start a family and establish a career! I am absolutely delighted.'"

Only then did Ming'er resentfully say: "If it weren't for the fact that this trip is to congratulate the master of the Divine Sword Manor on his sixtieth birthday, I would definitely gouge out his eyes for treating Xiao Min'er with such disrespect!"

Feiyang, who came from a hunting background, was preoccupied with evaluating the value of the other person's attire, neglecting whether it was polite to stare at a woman for such a long time. As expected, within moments, the woman at the table to the east was already fuming with anger, and a young man sitting to her left let out a cold snort and stood up. Realizing his lapse in manners, Feiyang felt a wave of shame wash over him and turned his head away, awkwardly taking a sip of his drink.

Pei Fu's face showed an awkward expression, and then he said: "But the old lady was overjoyed upon hearing this, saying... saying...!" Pei Fu could not continue speaking.

Meixian quietly passed another month in tranquility. What puzzled the officials at the Meixian government office was that the Ministry of Personnel officials, who usually assessed the merits and demerits of local officials, would not stay in Meixian for more than a few days before hastily returning home. However, this year's group was quite unusual; they seemed intent on settling down in Meixian, showing no signs of leaving. The Lin family head did not find this objectionable and merely instructed his subordinates to provide them with good food and drink, remaining indifferent to their movements.

"What is wrong, Lingdang? You are always so erratic. Be careful that Father sees you; it won't be good for you!" Lin Yu frowned

Miss Nan Min exclaimed and rushed forward, pulling Luo Ming back with a combination of dragging and tugging. Fei Yang let out a cold snort but did not stop her.

The next day, in a fit of rage, his handsome face twisted in a terrifying manner. He suddenly stood up and strode over to the table where Feiyang and the others were seated, and even the middle-aged man did not intervene this time

Miss, what is wrong? Please do not scare me! The sound of a bell rang in the embroidery room in a state of panic

This friend, please retract what you just said

Looking at the sword's edge in front of him, Feiyang scoffed, "Almost."

With a sudden thrust of his sword, Luo Ming aimed at Feiyang's right shoulder, thinking to himself, let this corrupt official experience some real power. Upon seeing the trajectory of the sword, Ma Wei and Huang Gesheng could not help but exclaim in unison. As the saying goes, a true expert can tell the skill of another with just a single move. Although this young man named Luo Ming was currently dizzy with anger, his technique was exceptionally precise, displaying the demeanor of a master. The two immediately recognized that his martial arts skills far surpassed their own.

"Speak quickly, what did my mother say?" Pei Lixin asked bluntly.

At this moment, Yun Feiyang, who knows nothing about this, is enjoying drinks with Ma Wei, Huang Gesheng, and others in the Drunken Immortal Pavilion. As the year-end approaches, the number of martial artists in Meixian has unusually increased, which inevitably makes the local captains anxious. The New Year is just around the corner, and it is crucial that nothing goes awry.

The languid demeanor of Feiyang thoroughly infuriated the other party. With a swift motion, the long sword was drawn, and he shouted angrily: "Dog official, if you do not retract your previous words, do not blame me, Luo Ming, for being ruthless!"

Lin Yu felt as if the world was spinning around her, no wonder she had not been allowed to go downstairs for so many days. Her body swayed for a moment and then went limp.

Unlike others, Feiyang is completely ignorant of the rules and regulations of the officialdom, which he finds rather unremarkable. What piques his curiosity is the apparent deep-seated animosity these individuals harbor towards him; every time they see him, they glare at him with anger, as if they wish to devour him whole. However, Feiyang, immersed in joy, pays no attention to this. Ever since that night when he was attacked, his Hunyuan Divine Skill inexplicably broke through the first level, and he feels that his internal energy has become significantly more abundant. It seems that what his master said about each level doubling one's internal energy is indeed true. Since then, when practicing the Hunyuan Divine Skill, he no longer experiences the previous awkwardness; it flows smoothly within his body. If Feiyang were to examine himself closely now, he would notice that his face appears to be subtly covered with a layer of white light, making him look much fairer than before.

With a bitter smile, Feiyang glanced at the broken sword in his hand, then at the gaping hole in his chest, and couldn't help but curse once again at this utterly despicable divine skill.

Yun Feiyang knew little about these martial arts sects. Upon hearing the two speak, he couldn't help but glance at them. Sure enough, at the table to the west, an old man had a sword that appeared quite different from ordinary ones. The sound it made was unusually broad, yet it was three points shorter than a typical Qingfeng sword. The weapons of the three young men beside him were equally distinctive. Earlier, when he heard the old man's sword thud onto the table, it was indeed incredibly heavy.

A middle-aged man with a woman on his right hand forcefully pressed down the furious young man, whispering: "Tomorrow, do not cause trouble. We are not far from the Divine Sword Manor, and we must not lose our decorum. Moreover, the other party is an official; getting involved with such people is most troublesome."

Although the voice was low, at this moment, Yun Feiyang's martial arts were such that he could hear everything clearly. Upon hearing the words "Divine Sword Villa," his ears involuntarily perked up.

The business at the Drunken Immortal Pavilion has been exceptionally good these past few days, with a surge of visitors from out of town bringing joy to the proprietor, who is smiling from ear to ear. These martial arts figures are all quite generous, and in just a few days, their spending has equaled the Pavilion's usual monthly revenue.

The three individuals at the table to the east were dressed in brocade robes, clearly indicating that they were not from an ordinary family. In particular, the fox fur draped over the shoulders of one woman was exceptionally valuable. Estimating the worth of this fox fur in her mind, Feiyang couldn't help but think: just this piece of fox fur alone could allow their family to live for a year in the past.

Huo suddenly stood up, and Lin Yu asked with a trembling voice, "What did you say?"

The lady's face was filled with worry, but I observed that the master seemed quite pleased

As soon as the words were spoken, the room fell into an immediate silence, with Ma Wei and Huang Gesheng left speechless. Such disrespectful remarks towards the Divine Sword Manor were something they would never dare to utter, even if it meant facing death, given their long experience in the martial world. Seeing their own reckless words spoken without consideration of the consequences, both were taken aback, their expressions changing in alarm. Observing the situation in the room, they discreetly placed their hands on the handles of their swords, ready to take the initiative should things go awry

Pei Fu is the chief steward of the Pei family, approximately forty years old. His slender figure is complemented by a pair of eyes that seem unfathomable, immediately revealing him to be a person of deep scheming.