Chapter 5: A single finger captures the strong and the wicked
At that moment, Zu Beiqiu suddenly jumped up from the ground and nimbly crawled into the purple bamboo chair behind Zheng Dongting
I have never seen his swordsmanship
Hahaha! The renowned constable Zheng Dongting is indeed witty and extraordinary. Suddenly, a voice like a broken gong sounded behind Zheng Dongting and Zu Beiqiu.
Alright, alright, he has stopped pursuing, he has come to a halt! After a while, Zu Beiqiu suddenly exclaimed excitedly.
Zheng Dongting clenched his fist and glared at him fiercely: "I hate the son of a nouveau riche"
"Brother Eleven, we agreed that I would come alone to retrieve him. Why did you have to come along, and moreover, you revealed the secret right away, leaving me with nothing to work with." The man in black said with considerable dissatisfaction
Shao Tianyu is the heir of the Dual Sun and Moon Blades, yet when traversing the martial world, he only carries a four-foot Yang Blade, and no one has seen the appearance of the Yin Blade. It is rumored that all those who have encountered the Yin Blade in the martial world have met with untimely ends
Chao Zhanxiong's lightness of foot was significantly inferior to that of Zheng Dongting and Shao Tianyu. By the time he arrived, Zheng Dongting and Zu Beiqiu had already departed, leaving only Shao Tianyu, motionless like a wooden carving or clay sculpture, in the quiet center of the official road
At that moment, Zu Beiqiu suddenly extended his plump right hand, with his index and middle fingers forming a sword-like shape, and fiercely jabbed at Shao Tianyu's Quchi acupoint, who was wielding knives with both hands.
"Shut up." Zheng Dongting glared at him
"Brother Eleven, are you crying? I have never seen you cry before; what happened? What did they do to you?" Zhao Zhanxiong anxiously circled around Shao Tianyu, "Why are you not moving at all?"
Thirteenth Brother, this person is cunning and deceitful, particularly skilled in lightness of foot. Your brothers are concerned that you might not be able to handle him alone, so they asked me to lend a hand.
Ah! Zu Bei Qiu, terrified, let out a scream like a pig being slaughtered, as he saw the blade about to envelop his head.
He extended his hand, took Shao Tianyu's left-hand shadow knife, and looked at it in front of him: "The Sun and Moon Shadow Knife, hehe, I’ve heard that those in the martial world who have seen this knife have met their end. Quite impressive, isn’t it? I don’t see it!" As he spoke, he lifted the shadow knife and struck Shao Tianyu's face hard with the blade, "Am I not still alive? Is my junior brother not still alive? Hehehehe."
"Oh my, this is infuriating!" Zhao Zhanxiong roared, shaking his hand to hurl the nine-ring broadsword away. The bright blade flashed in an instant, piercing towards Zu Beiqiu amidst his startled scream. At that moment, Zheng Dongting leaped high, narrowly avoiding this heavy strike.
It turns out that these two men disguised as highway robbers belong to one of the most notorious criminal organizations in the world today—the Taihang Mountain Bandits. The Taihang Mountain Bandits were already famous among the warring lords during the Southern and Northern Dynasties, and their swordsmen were sought after by heroes from both the north and south. In the late Sui and early Tang dynasties, the Taihang Mountain Bandits rose amidst chaos, engaging in robbery, slaughtering villages, and rampaging through the northern counties without anyone able to control them. At that time, the thirty-six swords of Taihang were renowned in the martial world, effectively making them the overlords of the underworld. Later, the Sword God Gu Tianya emerged, riding alone with a sword, challenging the Taihang. The intensity and brilliance of that battle were celebrated by the martial community for over a hundred years, and it was later regarded as one of the classic battles between swords and blades. The Qingcheng Sword Technique thus became the number one sword technique in the world, a status that remained unshakable for a century. A hundred years later, the Taihang Mountain Bandits made a comeback, their power even greater than before. The bandits were divided into the Northern Taihang's thirty-six sword halls and the Southern Taihang's eighteen strongholds, aiming to unify all underworld forces across the Yangtze River in the Tang Dynasty, allowing the underworld to stand on equal footing with the righteous forces of the martial world.
Zheng Dongting struggled like a fish caught in a golden net, desperately searching for a way to escape from the web woven with the glint of blades and the shadows of swords. In a moment, three wounds had already appeared under his shoulders and ribs. Behind him, Zu Beiqiu was so frightened that he squeaked and curled up into a ball. As the golden light faded, a moon-white shadow suddenly appeared out of nowhere, sweeping towards Zheng Dongting's legs like a flash of lightning.
Zheng Dongting quickly pulled Zubeiqiu's arm, retreating a few steps to stand with his back against a tree by the roadside, while simultaneously glancing to both sides of the official road. He saw on the other side of the road a thin, green-clad man wearing a bamboo hat, riding a green horse, approaching at a slow pace. This man had a sallow complexion, with hair and beard also showing a faint yellow hue, and a pair of grayish-white eyes fixed intently on Zheng Dongting, who was holding an iron bow.
Indeed, the technique of acupoint sealing. I have seen the sword manual of the Dual Suns, which allows me to accurately calculate the special operation of his meridians and acupoints at precisely 3:45 PM.
"Moon Blade Technique, next is the Left Revolving Blade, Right Revolving Blade, first evade to the right, then dodge to the left!" Zu Beiqiu said quickly
"There is no need to say these things to me..." Zheng Dongting raised a hand to stop Zu Beiqiu's incessant chatter. He chuckled sinisterly as he walked over to the motionless Shao Tianyu, looking him up and down several times, shaking his head and nodding, his admiration for him beyond words
"Can't you press his acupoints?" Zheng Dongting asked
"Damn it, Chao Zhanxiong is too unscrupulous; he actually used a dart. Junior brother, scold him for me!" Zheng Dongting shouted breathlessly
Shào Tiānyǔ had been wandering the martial world for thirty years, and his understanding of the body's acupoints was already profound. However, he could not comprehend this move from Zǔ Bēiqiū at all. Being struck at the Qūchí acupoint would at most cause him a momentary numbness, and it would only be effective if executed by a master with exceptionally high internal energy. He did not even attempt to evade; instead, he turned his knife directly, preparing to slice this fat man and Zhèng Dōngtíng into four pieces. Unexpectedly, the moment Zǔ Bēiqiū's finger struck his Qūchí acupoint, Shào Tiānyǔ felt a bone-deep ache and numbness throughout his body, as if all the blood in his body had been completely drained at that instant, leaving him with a hollow sensation that engulfed him from head to toe.
He... he was... you... ?" Zheng Dongting asked in disbelief
Hey! That burly man in black, swinging his nine-ring broadsword, has already charged up close to the two of them. "Brother, I've made myself very clear. Those who are sensible should not make me take action myself"
"Disciple, do you recognize this set of sword techniques?" Zheng Dongting asked anxiously
As soon as he settled down, he saw the black-clad and armored Zhao Zhanxiong swing his massive arm, a streak of azure-blue blade light fluttering before him like a silk ribbon billowing in the wind.
Zu Beiqiu's heavy bottom crashed down on the armrest of the purple bamboo chair, causing him to weep in pain. However, he had no time to lament at that moment; he could only quickly shift his plump bottom, forcefully squeezing himself into the center of the seat, gripping the armrests tightly with both hands
I want to be able to battle with you for three hundred rounds, so why run? Are you an idiot?" Zheng Dongting laughed heartily
Chao Zhanxiong found himself at a complete disadvantage after a round of hidden weapon attacks, feeling utterly humiliated. At that moment, upon hearing the insults from the two individuals, he became agitated, unable to catch his breath, and suddenly spat out a mouthful of foul blood.
"Brother Eleven, what is wrong with you?" Chao Zhanxiong looked at Shao Tianyu's expression and couldn't help but feel a chill in his heart. "Have you been possessed?"
Since it has already been made clear, let me make it perfectly clear for you. The man in black said coldly, "Zheng Dongting, do you still remember our eighteenth brother, Bei Shaojie"
At this critical moment, Zheng Dongting suddenly tilted his body gently to the left, causing the blade to bloom dangerously at the temple of Zu Beiqiu, the piercing light from the blade's edge dazzling his eyes painfully
Run! Zheng Dongting had no time to pay attention to Shao Tianyu and took off running like the wind.
The Thirty-Six Blades Hall operates with impunity in Jiangbei, openly confronting the righteous sects such as the Tianshan and Guanzhong Sword Schools with drawn swords and guns. In contrast, the Eighteen Southern Villages are more active, with actions that are more secretive and insidious. They have infiltrated various businesses and the unstable factions in Jiangnan, gathering vital forces and wealth for the Taihang Mountain stronghold, thus becoming a powerful backing for the Thirty-Six Blades Hall's dominance in the north
"Dart, dart, dart!" Behind him, Zu Bei Qiu cried out mournfully and sharply.
"Do you know how much this human head is worth?" Zheng Dongting shook Shao Tianyu's hair bun and said, "Three thousand taels!"
Encountering one of them in the martial world is already quite a headache, let alone meeting two at the same time
Hehe! Zheng Dongting pulled Zu Beiqiu close and said with a cold smile, "I don't know if you, my brother, are here for money or for pleasure. I have no money to offer, but for pleasure... hehe, this chubby white guy is round and plump, and you with your dark hair could make quite the pair."
"Disciple, are you out of your mind!" Zheng Dongting exclaimed urgently
These notorious villains stirring up trouble in the martial world were originally unrelated to the nameless individual Zheng Dongting. However, he should never have discovered the bounty placed on the head of Bei Shaojie, the leader of the Eighteenth Stronghold of the South Taihang, at the Jiangnan Righteousness Hall branch in Hangzhou; nor should he have coincidentally stumbled upon Bei Shaojie's plot to disguise himself and infiltrate the wealthy Lu family of Hangzhou as a suitor in the famous brothel, the Mysterious Tower. Due to his intervention, Bei Shaojie's plan was completely thwarted, leading to a collective attack by the righteous heroes of Hangzhou. Bei Shaojie fought valiantly to escape but was unfortunately struck down by Zheng Dongting's sudden arrow, resulting in his death. These mistakes could have been concealed, allowing Zheng Dongting to evade any repercussions. However, he was blinded by the allure of the two thousand taels of silver reward from the Righteousness Hall and, driven by an inexplicable force, brought Bei Shaojie's head to claim the bounty, thus forging an unbreakable enmity with the Taihang Stronghold.
No, no! Seeing Zhao Zhanxiong's face turn ashen with anger, Zu Beiqiu quickly exclaimed, "Mencius never said that!"
"This is too cruel; he is not dead yet, he has merely been acupunctured. Your act of beheading is extremely inhumane, and... uh, it is too disgusting." Upon saying this, Zu Beiqiu could not help but shiver all over.
"Junior brother, hold on tight!" Zheng Dongting shouted, grabbing Zu Beiqiu by the neck and throwing him behind. With a push of his legs, he propelled Zu Beiqiu several meters away in an instant.
Zheng Dongting quickly bent his body, darting left and right like a ghost. Seven or eight gleaming, azure-blue bone-piercing darts brushed past Zu Beiqiu's body and flew far away.
You gave birth to a son without any sense, you fool! Hearing Zuzu Bei Qiu and Zhao Zhan Xiong rambling on about some unknown rules of the martial world, Zheng Dong Ting felt a wave of irritation and couldn't help but curse loudly
"Hey, why use a butcher's knife to kill a chicken?" The man in black let out a cold laugh, turned his horse around, and the rough and fierce demeanor he had just displayed suddenly vanished, replaced by a coldness that was entirely incongruous with his appearance
"Damn it, I never expected that you, a mere constable, would possess such remarkable lightness of foot." Chao Zhanxiong, convinced he had struck a decisive blow, found his attack landing in empty space, prompting an involuntary exclamation of admiration.
"You coward who only knows how to run away, if you have the guts, stand still and fight me for three hundred rounds, and I will leave you with a complete corpse!" Although Chao Zhanxiong was highly skilled in martial arts, his lightness skill was indeed inferior to that of Zheng Dongting, who was currently stepping on the breeze, causing the distance between them to widen.
Oh! Zheng Dongting had no time to think carefully; his body sprang up, leaping high into the air, his legs spreading apart to form a straight line. Behind him, Zu Beiqiu had no choice but to mimic his actions, raising his legs and spreading them into a straight line. A bluish-white blade brushed past the heels of the two, flashing by, accompanied by a chilling wind that left their lower bodies feeling icy cold
Hey, hey, Senior Brother, stop, stop!" Zu Beiqiu grabbed Zheng Dongting's arm, "What do you want to do?"
Chao ... ... Chao Zhanxiong, heroes of the rivers and lakes do not use darts, please abide by the rules of the rivers and lakes, as Mencius once said ... ... "" Zu Beiqiu shouted loudly with trembling lips
Ah! At this moment, Zheng Dongting is still energetically dodging left and right on the official road. "Junior brother, where will his next attack land? Hurry and tell me!"
Zheng Dongting quickly leaned to the side, first tilting his body to the left, then straightening up and shifting to the right. Behind him, Zu Beiqiu, although unable to touch the ground with his feet, instinctively mirrored his evasive movement. The moon-white blade light, resembling a flowing ribbon, indeed transformed into two arcs, flying in from the left and then the right.
"Senior Brother, be a bit more serious..." Zu Beiqiu whispered as he huddled beside Zheng Dongting.
Suddenly, a foul odor emanated from Shao Tianyu's groin, causing Zhao Zhanxiong to tilt his head back sharply: "Wow, Brother Eleven, did you wet your pants?"
He appears to be in poor health, as if he could succumb to tuberculosis at any moment, yet his eyes are filled with a ghostly aura, exuding an extraordinary spirit
"Hehe, otherwise how could one kill Beishaojie?" Upon hearing the praise, Zheng Dongting became excessively proud.
"Advance seven feet forward, turn right, and pivot halfway!" Grandfather Bei Qiu shouted loudly
Haha, apart from Mencius, everyone has said this! Zheng Dongting laughed heartily
Not good! This good news not only did not calm Zheng Dongting's situation, but instead made him anxious. He suddenly dashed towards the woods by the roadside. Just as he took off, a flash of golden light suddenly rose from the middle of the road like the sun, enveloping the two figures completely.
This is the Dual Blades of Sun and Moon! Senior brother, jump up!" Ancestor Bei Qiu shouted loudly.
Shao Tianyu's grayish-white eyes gazed vacantly into the distance of the road, as two streams of humiliating tears rolled down his cheeks
"Three thousand taels? Senior brother, please do not blame me for speaking out of turn. If there were three thousand taels right beneath my feet, I would not even bother to pick them up." The master shook his head vigorously, his face full of disdain
He pressed the blade of the dark knife against Shao Tianyu's neck: "This head is even more valuable, hahaha, come on, let me take you to collect the reward together." He patted the top of Shao Tianyu's head and was about to use the dark knife to sever his head.
I will cut off his head to claim the reward!" Zheng Dongting raised an eyebrow
Zheng Dongting instinctively lunged forward seven feet, swiftly dodging in the online game. Then, with a half-turn, he realized at that moment that he had shoved the plump body of Zu Beiqiu into Shao Tianyu's embrace
Hmm? Zheng Dongting turned his head to look. He saw Shao Tianyu, holding a shadow knife in his left hand and a light knife in his right, standing in the middle of the official road with a fierce expression, resembling a statue of a heavenly king in a temple, completely motionless
"It turns out you have come specifically to find me; I am truly honored to have the two esteemed guests laboring on my behalf." At this moment, Zheng Dongting felt a chilling coldness throughout his body, as he had already guessed the identities of the two individuals.
Chao Zhanxiong is adept at wielding the Wind-Dragging Blade beyond the pass, particularly skilled at taking heads from the necks of those on horseback. His swordsmanship is fierce and brutal, merciless and bloody, and he has been acclaimed as the foremost mad swordsman, a figure feared by all in the martial world.
Senior brother, he has no next move!" Ancestor Bei Qiu said softly
What happened? Zheng Dongting turned his head and saw Zhao Zhanxiong rushing over from a distance at lightning speed
Zheng Dongting shuddered all over: "This is truly instant karma. It has only been five months, and it has come to find me."
This time, the two experts dispatched by Taihang Mountain Village to capture him are the leaders of the Eleventh and Thirteenth Villages of South Taihang, "Ghost Blade" Shao Tianyu and "Five Overlords Blade" Zhao Zhanxiong