Chapter 003: Rescue on the Long Street
To be honest, he was really frightened by the words "Slaying Dragon Mastery". But now, looking at Cao Liang's furious appearance, even if Su Jian doesn't mind losing face and surrenders, Young Master Cao will not let him off.
Currently, Su Jian has a feeling that the more he knows, the further he is from them.
Luoxueqiong, Bingqingyujie, gives people the feeling of a misty iceberg in the wind and snow.
"My Cao family is considered wealthy and powerful. When have we ever been treated like this?" Cao Dejing shouted, spitting with anger. "You're just a low-ranking member of the Black Guards! With this one mistake, it will spread throughout the neighborhood. Where can my father put his old face?"
It can be imagined that being hit by the stone edge and falling on the stone road, how much pain Su Jian must be in. But there was no time to scream in pain at all, as Cao Liang's figure was accompanied by a triumphant and eerie laughter, coming along like a shadow.
"Ashamed," Su Jian also blushed a little. "Brother Lei, you don't know that I am just the lowest-ranked Xi Hui Wei in the Xuanwu Guard, and I have only joined for one or two years. In fact, most of my Xuanwu Guard comrades..." Su Jian wanted to boast a few words for the Xuanwu Guard, but who knew that Lei Bingfan raised his hand and bluntly interrupted him: "No need to say more. 'The situation is getting worse and worse,' and from your lowest-ranked Xuanwu Guard, we can see the clues. Alas," the cold Prince sighed lightly, "I thought that the Huaxia country was the backbone of our divine land, and I had hopes for it. Now it seems, it's really ridiculous, ridiculous!"
As he spoke, he was about to throw the boy and slam him against the hard wall next to him.
For these individuals, the recent commotion on the long street is merely a topic of conversation that can entertain for two or three days, and will soon fade away. However, the subsequent remarks, when heard by the Cao family at the Fuhua Restaurant, convey an entirely different sentiment.
What is this? Watching Qiu Yingxuan walk away like a passerby, Su Jian mourned in his heart, once again feeling the overwhelming malice of this world
At this point, Boss Cao turned around, gazing at the twinkling lights of the capital city in the dark night. He stroked his beard and coldly said, "You need not concern yourself with this matter; I will arrange it myself. Hmph, just a mere Xihui Guard!"
"How could I not know you?" Qiu Yingxuan said breathlessly, "You are the student with the worst qualifications in the history of Lingjiu Academy; you must have entered through some backdoor. There are also rumors that you know the current emperor's brother-in-law, and that is certainly why you got into the academy. Everyone is talking about you."
To be honest, facing this situation, Su Jian also really wanted to just run away with those idle men on the street, but after being humiliated by Cao Liang just now, he couldn't step back.
Without a word, the silver-haired youth in purple attire is none other than his classmate—the legendary Prince Lei Bingfan of the Heavenly Snow Kingdom
Su Jian suddenly raised his head and saw that the two extremely ferocious assassins were simultaneously covering their necks with their hands
At the moment of falling, Su Jian looked up and saw that the assailants were not one person, but two individuals in black clothing
In reaffirming his beliefs, Su Jian still harbored some youthful fantasies. He thought that after all, he had helped the senior sister of the academy out of a predicament today, which could be considered as a hero saving a beauty; surely, Senior Sister Qiu Yingxuan would repay him in some way for this
Just now, there was a conversation between Qiu Yingxuan and Su Jian, and he caught the end of it. When he approached, he saw that it was Su Jian. Cao Liang immediately became happy and shouted without any restraint, "Who did I think it was? Isn't this Su Jian? You, a small guard from Xihu, should know your place and step aside. Move quickly and don't delay the good things of Master Cao!"
While speaking, she did not wait for Su Jian to respond and hurriedly ran towards him from behind
As for Cao Liang, he is currently a student at the Dragon-Slaying Academy in the city, strutting around the streets with an air of arrogance all day long, and Su Jian, who often patrols the streets, is well aware of this.
It turned out to be just him. For some reason, seeing that it was not a master or an enemy taking action, Cao Liang actually breathed a sigh of relief
Upon seeing this, Cao Liang's first reaction was one of relief, but his second reaction was one of extreme embarrassment: it turned out that the mournful and high-pitched cry of "Oh my!" was still echoing through the nearby streets!
"Exactly!" the butcher exclaimed as he struck the meat cleaver, "I should quickly call my eldest nephew and have him apply to Lingjiu Academy!"
Isn't this obvious?" The duck vendor looked at the two of them with disdain and said, "It must be that Young Master Cao Er is ticklish, which is why he lost his strength!
Though he spoke in such a manner, Su Jian's heart at this moment was exceedingly clear.
So it was you, Brother Lei! Su Jian quickly got up and said with immense gratitude, Thank you, Brother Lei, for saving my life
"Hehe, kid, you have quite a strong spirit," Cao Liang said with a cruel smile. "Now I want to see whether your bones are hard or if the brick wall of this house beside you is harder."
Is it possible that my romantic prospects are limited to that ethereal goddess in my dreams? At the moment of this lamentation in my heart, Tang Qiu was still by my side, gazing at the beautiful female students who walked by, drooling, with his face as lewd as ever
"Stop being so happy!" Qiu Yingxuan looked at his expression, both amused and exasperated, and called out, "Is this something to be happy about? Don't be foolish. As a fellow classmate, help me block that Cao Liang behind us."
By the time Cao Liang reacted again, he had already fallen to the ground, and a foot was also stepped on his chest
Su Jian obtained the Blood Song Sword and immediately felt a surge of courage. He then raised the sword and made a few feigned slashes across Cao Liang's face, shouting loudly: "Cao Liang, not only do you dare to harass young girls in the street, but you also have the audacity to attack public officials. Do you not wish to live any longer?"
Haha, do you really think of yourself as a chivalrous youth? You are nothing more than a lowly black dog clad in black leather! I, Lord Cao Er, will crush you to death just like squashing a stinky bug!
Originally, Su Jian intended to pass his days in a peaceful and uneventful manner, avoiding unnecessary troubles. However, unbeknownst to him, even without seeking out trouble, it soon found its way to him.
No," Lei Bingfan shook his head and said somewhat despondently, "Before the future of Huaxia, I had long heard of the great name of the Four Spirits Legion; especially the Xuanwu Guard, whose duties are unique, embodying the patience of the tortoise and the venom of the snake. I thought it would be something extraordinary. Who would have thought that upon seeing it today, it is nothing more than this.
Although it is a small and somewhat remote path in the mountains, this area is in the suburbs of the capital. Generally speaking, even in chaotic times, what could possibly happen here?
"So now you know fear?" Looking at Su Jian's pale face, Cao Liang sneered, "You know fear now? I thought you were a tough nut to crack. What a pity, what a pity, it's too late to be afraid now!"
In the past, he found such menial tasks very dull; however, now, compared to the feeling of being detached from the mainstream crowd of Lingjiu Academy, the trivial matters of the marketplace have made Su Jian feel quite endearing
Upon hearing this, Cao Liang immediately understood that the young man was trying to scare passersby into helping him retrieve his sword
Speaking of Cao Liang, although his name means "good," he is truly without virtue; when he dragged Su Jian up and was about to throw him out, several thoughts crossed his mind: "I could smash him against the wall to make him suffer! Wait, that direction I’m throwing him in, isn’t his head going to hit the brick wall? Oh dear, if he dies so quickly, that would be no fun—though it would be interesting to see this stubborn kid's brains splatter, that would be quite enjoyable!"
As a young adolescent, it is quite normal to harbor such beautiful and romantic fantasies. However, it is unfortunate that reality often differs greatly from imagination. In the following days at the academy, Su Jian indeed encountered Qiu Yingxuan.
Although the men in black were all masked, Su Jian could still perceive their fierce expressions from the hazy outlines behind the veils
Who knew that with this grab, he would end up grabbing nothing! It was only then that he remembered that he had fallen so far away and the Blood Song Sword had long been thrown away, but he didn't know where it had been thrown.
However, just as Cao Liang confidently threw a punch and charged forward, he suddenly felt a cold gleam flash before his eyes, instinctively sensing that something was not right.
Unexpectedly, Su Jian had only been on the mountain road for a short time when a sudden rush of wind came from behind his head!
At this point, she glanced at Su Jian, as if recalling something, and added, "Although your skills are extremely poor, as long as you can hold them off for a moment, I will naturally be able to escape."
Su Jian was completely unaware of the conspiracy between the Cao father and son
As he gazed at the gradually fading figure in the vast twilight, Su Jian found himself momentarily at a loss for words
Life or death depends only on the speed between the front lines. However, if this move fails, the short and stout killer will not suffer fatal injuries, but Su Jian will have to pay with his life.
"You little rascal, now you've seen the methods of Mr. Cao Er, haven't you?" Cao Liang's twisted and ferocious smile appeared in Su Jian's field of vision as he lay on his back.
This stone pillar appears to be thick and large, but it is surprisingly agile when swung. Even though Su Jian is agile and flexible, he cannot avoid it no matter what. So, only a "thump" sound is heard, and the young man standing with a sword has already fallen one zhang away!
Fuhua Tower is one of the prominent large restaurants in the capital city. As a member of the Black Guard, Xihui Guard, Su Jian is naturally well-acquainted with it
Among the onlookers, there were also quite a few illegal vendors who had been driven away by Su Jian. Seeing the bully Cao Liang about to beat up "Black Dog" Su Jian, these people took pleasure in other people's misfortune, thinking to themselves that this was a case of dogs biting each other.
However, Cao Liang, who approached with great momentum, did not share this view.
At this moment, Su Jian's feelings are a mix of shock and anger
It turns out that Luo Xueqiong hails from the "Sacred Gate of Spirit Mountain" located in the northwestern border of the Heavenly Snow Kingdom, and she is the eldest daughter of the gate's master. The Sacred Gate of Spirit Mountain existed even before the Heavenly Snow Kingdom retreated to that area; although the Heavenly Snow Kingdom is the second largest human nation after the Huaxia Kingdom, it did not dare to provoke the Sacred Gate of Spirit Mountain, which had been there since the time of the great retreat after the Human-Dragon War. Instead, it proactively designated that region of snow-capped mountains as a forbidden area for the Heavenly Snow Kingdom, prohibiting any military or civilian disturbances.
She has long black hair that carries a mysterious purple sheen, and her face resembles exquisite white jade, remarkably pure; coupled with her attire of a snow-white dress, she appears as if she is naturally imbued with a refreshing breeze that descends from the snow-capped mountains
However, it is evident that he is not easily able to escape the current crisis. Cao Liang's eyes, blurred with dust, saw the young man turn his face and angrily shout, "Xuanwu Guard! If you are in charge, quickly bring me the sword on my side!"
Su Jian lifted the black veils of the two individuals, and as expected, their faces were unfamiliar. Even Su Jian, a member of the Xuanwu Guard, had no recollection of them at all
However, despite being furious, given the current situation, Su Jian really cannot publicly execute Cao Liang on the spot.
However, he showed no signs of panic and continued to pretend to be confused, saying, "Offend someone? As an ignorant young man, a mere servant, how could I offend anyone?"
However, the incident on Chang Street today reminded him once again: in such turbulent times, having strong abilities is extremely important!
So, Su Jian always reminds himself that he must complete the tasks assigned by his boss. Whether he should approach Luo Xueqiong or not, he needs to be cautious about his personal safety.
Who did I offend? It's none other than Cao Liang! Considering recent events, it's only this arrogant and unscrupulous rich young master who could commit such a heinous act of hiring someone to murder.
During the days of shuttling between Lingjiu Mountain and Jinghua City, time passed by calmly without any waves.
At the sight of this, how could Su gradually not know what was going on? Hearing the sound of wind behind him, he no longer cared about maintaining his balance and leaped forward with all his might. With this action, he had already exerted all his potential, but he still heard a "sizzle" sound, and his clothes on his back were cut open. A sharp pain came, and he felt as if his back was being roasted by several branding irons, which was extremely painful.
Cao Liang's idea is very simple. Anyway, he knows all about Su Jian's details. But Su Jian is just a powerless miscellaneous servant of the Black Guards. With this fierce blow, he will knock him unconscious on the ground, and then he can freely punch, kick, and trample on him as he pleases.
"Bastard," Caodejing became even more angry, "I'm not angry at you causing trouble."
Thus, apart from attending classes loosely, Su Jian returned to Jinghua City every day, where he engaged in a battle of wits and courage with street vendors occupying the sidewalks and thieves, chasing people, fighting, or being chased and beaten by others
After expressing his gratitude, Su Jian, disregarding the pain in his body, immediately stepped forward to examine the two assassins on the ground
Is that so? Su Jian is rarely the center of attention, whether it is a rumor or not, he exclaimed in surprise and delight, "I didn't expect to be this famous, you better not be lying to me!"
"Damn it," Cao Dejing shouted, "This incident has brought disgrace to the Cao family!"
After giving this order, he turned his face to look at Su Jian with a smirk and said, "I thought it would be fun to tease that little girl, but I didn't expect to encounter someone who doesn't know any better and end up with an even bigger amusement. All of you, get out of here!" He suddenly turned around and shouted at the crowd of onlookers on the street, "Get out of here quickly, or you might get splashed with blood!"
Consider this carefully, Su Jian looked at the furious Cao Liang and sneered: "Cao Liang! In public, be careful with your words!"
However, unlike ordinary people, Lei Bingfan seemed to have no interest in these accolades. He waved his hand to interrupt the young man's words and briefly asked: "Are you from the Xuanwu Guard?"
Before he could react much, he forcefully shifted his body to the side, and while he was still trying to stabilize himself, he saw a black iron claw brush past him.
"Upholding justice?" Cao Liang couldn't help but laugh in anger upon hearing this.
However, that Cao Liang was unexpectedly brutal; he frightened away the onlookers and, without any preamble, launched a swift punch directly at Su Jian's head!
It is easy to understand his anger; what astonishes him is that, recalling just moments ago, if it had not been for the moment when Cao Liang grabbed his arm, triggering his unique skill of "Blood Eye and Heart Eye," he would likely have already become a corpse on the street.
"Then how do we say it?" asked the vegetable vendor and the butcher in unison
He seemed not to recognize Su Jian at all, staring for a long time before suddenly bursting into a harsh, maniacal laugh: "Hahaha! I thought I had mistaken the person, but this is indeed Su Jian! Hahaha—I'm telling you, Su Jian," Cao Liang's laughter abruptly ceased, and he glared at Su Jian with malice, saying, "I know all about you; you are nothing but a useless servant, right? You can scare some vendors, but in the eyes of your master Cao, you are even worse than a dog! You dare to talk about upholding justice? Get out of my sight!"
When checking the lives and deaths of the two individuals, Su Jian immediately gasped in astonishment upon seeing the wounds on their throats
So it was him! With just a glance, Su Jian recognized who he was
In addition to Luo Xueqiong, there was another person in this class of peers who caught Su Jian's attention
I still feel dizzy!" Holding a meat cleaver, the butcher looked at the disheveled figure of Cao Liang being supported by the house servant as he left, and he couldn't help but exclaim, "Clearly, Young Master Cao had the upper hand, so how did he end up being trampled underfoot by Su Jian?
Under the gaze of the multitude, Su Jian did not linger, turning around and departing with determination
When leaving, wherever Su Jian went, the cunning street vendors who had long ignored warnings and occupied the roads were now hurriedly packing up their stalls, all wearing identical sycophantic smiles.
Fortunately, in addition to his covert role at the Lingjiu Academy, Su Jian also had to balance his identity as a member of the Black Guard, returning to Jinghua City to perform his duties when not in class
Tianxue Country, located in the northern snowfield region, is the second largest nation after Huaxia. From various rumors heard, Lei Bingfan is very likely one of their princes. This also indicates that Lingjiu Academy is indeed filled with elites.
He cupped his hands in salute, once again expressing his gratitude for the life-saving favor, and then continuously praised Lei Bingfan's extraordinary swordsmanship
Seeing this, Cao Liang, who had always been accustomed to arrogance, roared in his heart: "This matter is not over!"
Su Jian was absolutely intelligent; in an instant, he understood Cao Liang's intention—he was going to strike with lethal force!
He, disregarding the mud and grime on his face, looked up and saw the frail youth he had just toyed with, now resembling a deity, standing on his chest, with eyes blazing with fury, looking down upon him.
Upon hearing these words, Su Jian, who had just narrowly escaped causing harm, felt an even greater bitterness in his mouth
The two men in black exchanged glances, and the taller one suddenly spoke in a hoarse voice: "Look at you, a half-grown youth, yet you remain composed in the face of adversity. Let me tell you one more thing: we have not mistaken our target. Su Jian, it is you who has offended someone!"
Only after he saw the chubby face of the person handing over the sword did he realize that it was the owner of a restaurant across the street, who was in direct competition with his own Fu Hua Lou.
However, Su Jian had to feign ignorance. While speaking, he quietly raised his aching hand and reached for the hilt of the Blood Song sword at his waist
At this moment, let alone counterattacking, Su Jian's sudden leap just now was precisely at the moment when his forward momentum had been exhausted and his backward momentum had yet to build. In the blink of an eye, his body tilted, his foot slipped, and with a loud "thud," he fell heavily to the ground
That night, after the Fuhua Restaurant closed, in the inner room of the backyard, the restaurant owner, Cao Dejing, father of Cao Liang, erupted in anger at Cao Liang.
As he stood up from the ground, supported by his own servant, Cao Liang felt a surge of courage. Seeing that he was unscathed, he immediately thought that Su Jian's leniency towards him was not out of kindness, but rather because he truly could do nothing to him
Others may not know, but Cao Liangtai understands his father well. In the intricate and complex city of Jinghua, how could he have built such a large restaurant without some connections in both the legitimate and underworld?
The phrase "ten fingers connected to the heart" describes Cao Liang's intense pain as he saw blood flowing, instantly filled with unimaginable terror, fearing that his fingers had been severed. He was so frightened that he involuntarily exclaimed, "Oh my!" However, this high-pitched cry of pain was only halfway out when he realized something was amiss. Upon closer inspection, he found that only a layer of skin had been scraped off the joints of a few fingers.
Suddenly, Su Jian became fully aware of his surroundings here
Before he could comprehend what was happening, this hunter had already become the prey. Once his vital point was breached, at least for that brief moment, all his spiritual energy became stagnant, his strength completely dissipated, and his combat power, if not reduced to zero, had become exceedingly feeble
After scolding for a while and feeling that the pent-up anger in his chest had been mostly released, he moved the sword aside, kicked Cao Liang hard, and shouted: "Get lost!"
"Do you want to kill me?" shouted the one who stepped on him, "Is that all you've got?"
Unfortunately, with a sharp shout from Su Jian, nearby sycophantic merchants hurried over, picked up the Blood Song Sword, and carefully cradled it in their hands, following closely as they presented it to Su Jian.
Little did he know that after walking half a street, Su Jian heard a commotion ahead, followed by a woman's panicked cries: "Help! Help! Don't come over!"
"Completed." Upon hearing the name "Su Jian," Su Jian knew that today was going to be disastrous
He wondered, "Hmm? That's not right. I am not familiar with this scream; it shouldn't be my voice!"
Although Luo Xueqiong possesses extraordinary beauty, her temperament is exceedingly aloof. Her demeanor is distant and unapproachable, and when she does speak, it is often only a few terse words, delivered in a chilling tone, with a piercing gaze that frequently sends shivers down the spines of her listeners
What did you just say? You asked if I dare to step on you? What a joke!" Su Jian let out a cold laugh, "Cao Liang, you are nothing but a young man from a tavern and restaurant. I, Su Jian, am a dignified member of the Xuanwu Guard. If I can't step on others, stepping on you is guaranteed to succeed!
Upon hearing this, Su Jian finally understood that this prince from the Tianxue Kingdom had come to conduct military intelligence research
However, at such a critical moment concerning life and death, any complaints against fate are futile; in this crucial moment, Su Jian was also resolute and fierce, immediately casting aside all thoughts and reaching out to grasp the Blood Song Sword
"Who sent you here?" In a desperate situation, Su Jian shouted, "I have no grievances with you in the past, nor any enmity recently. Have you mistaken me for someone else?"
At this moment, even the unscrupulous vendors who wished to see Su Jian being beaten and humiliated could not help but cover their mouths and laugh as they looked at Cao Liang
"There is no need for that," Cao Dejing said, waving his hand calmly. "Liang'er, after all, you are still a student of the Dragon-Slaying Academy. Constantly causing trouble outside may provoke the displeasure of the academy's instructors"
It must be said that Cao Liang's idea is not without merit. Those onlookers who were watching from a distance, familiar with the comparison of strengths between the two parties, naturally believed that if Cao Liang delivered his old punch, the slender young man would fall in response, leading to a brutal one-sided trampling that would follow
One of them wields a long knife, while the other holds an iron claw, both of their faces covered with black cloth, as they lower their heads to gaze at themselves from just a short distance away
So it is you! Originally, Su Jian caught sight of the bully who came rushing in with several servants and recognized him as the second young master Cao Liang of the Fuhua Restaurant
Seeing him so arrogant, Su Jian felt angry yet somewhat afraid. After all, Cao Liang seemed to have been studying at the Dragon Slaying Academy for more than two years, and in any case, his skills were not something Su Jian could compare to.
"Come on!" The person next to him scoffed, "With your family's pig slaughtering skills, you might as well apply for a job in the kitchen of that academy."
In the dim twilight, a young man stood tall and slender on the mountain path. His silver hair danced in the wind, resembling snowflakes swirling in the breeze along the shadowy trail
"Oh, am I really that famous? I haven't provoked any young ladies, have I?" As Su Jian was lost in thought, the young girl ran closer.
People often say that even ants cherish their lives; how could he, a promising young man, not fear death? In an instant, various fearful thoughts surged into his mind
Upon hearing her say this, Su Jian was taken aback: "Could it be from Lingjiu Academy? But I don't have any impression of it."
Is it like this? The people around, after hearing this explanation, felt that something was not right, but they couldn't come up with a better explanation.
Hearing him curse, the once arrogant Young Master Cao Er, who used to be full of bravado, remained silent, not daring to utter a single word in response
"Is someone teasing a common woman?" Su Jian immediately perked up, drawing his Blood Song Sword and rushing towards that direction
As soon as these words were spoken, the bustling Chang Street in the capital suddenly fell silent.
You wouldn't understand this!" A duck vendor nearby leaned in and said mysteriously, "I have the sharpest eye; I clearly saw Su Jian reach under the second young master's rib!
Completed! Not having captured the sword, recalling the power of Cao Liang's earth spirit spell, Su Jian was instantly filled with despair.
"Get lost?" Su Jian's gaze flickered, his heart filled with rage, yet he tapped into the forbearance characteristic of the Xuanwu, and said slowly, "I will not get lost, what do you intend to do? As for you, Young Master Cao, I wonder why you are here barking madly, which greatly affects the decorum of this place."
"If I die, then so be it—" Just as this thought crossed his mind, Cao Liang focused his energy and suddenly shouted, "Rock Palm Technique!" Before the words had even left his mouth, a loud cracking sound erupted from the ground in front of him, and soon several stone spikes shot up, gathering like fingers of a hand; before Su Jian could react, the stone spikes, resembling fingers, struck towards him like a human hand.
From Lingjiu Mountain to Jinghua City, there was originally a spacious avenue, although it was somewhat circuitous. Su Jian, seeking a shortcut, took a remote mountain path midway.
For Su Jian, it is indeed time to prioritize his studies. The tasks assigned by Commander Xuanyuan Hong are not urgent at the moment; moreover, the private work entrusted by Gai Yingwei is even less likely to be completed now
Upon this, Cao Liang became even more indignant, cursing inwardly: "Scoundrel! Scoundrel!"
Who would have thought that this woman, who was teased and chased down the long street, looking quite disheveled, would appear in the academy as a solemn and dignified fairy? Su Jian brushed past her several times, and Qiu Yingxuan would merely nod and offer him a faint smile, indicating their acquaintance
Bright red blood flowed between their fingers, a constant "gurgling" sound emanated from their throats, and their bodies collapsed weakly
Hearing that familiar roar, Cao Liang was so frightened that he shuddered all over
However, in the moment of inner trepidation, Su Jian grasped the hilt of the Blood Song Sword, which added a measure of confidence.
Seeing a friend like this, Su Jian's mood became even worse
Before coming here, Su Jian still held a glimmer of hope about completing the task assigned by Gai Yingwei. However, after attending a few classes with Luo Xueqiong, he realized that the notion of an "unapproachable ice beauty" truly exists in this world
How do you speak like this? Su Jian became angry as soon as he heard it, and also shouted, "Originally, I didn't plan to interfere in your affairs, but who knew what tricks you gentlemen and ladies were playing? But since you speak so impolitely, I really have to uphold justice."
When Su Jian saw him, his long fingers were gently caressing the bright blade of the sword, and the coldness was evident on his handsome, otherworldly face as he coldly gazed in Su Jian's direction
Su Jian was immediately in awe of Lei Bingfan, completely bowled over by admiration
"Misty Snow Mountain, no trespassing for the living," this was the first impression that Luo Xueqiong gave to Su Jian. He could not yet imagine what kind of relationship he would have with this ice mountain snow woman in the future
In the struggle against the grassroots non-mainstream laborers, he rapidly assimilated the knowledge acquired at Lingjiu Academy, and unknowingly enhanced his own abilities in the process
From this point, it is evident that the Ling Mountain Sacred Gate sounds like a sect, yet it resembles an infinitely potential religious force even more. No one knows its origins, nor is there any knowledge of how long its history truly is; according to rumors, the Ling Mountain Sacred Gate may actually be inherited from the long-extinct Crystal Spirit Era of ancient times
"Indeed, what is it?" Su Jian said enthusiastically, "So it turns out that Brother Lei is also aware of my identity. Could it be that Brother Lei has an interest in our Black-clad Guards as well?"
Originally, these two sword marks were neither deep nor shallow, but just fatal. It seems that the person who wielded the sword did not want to waste even half a bit of energy. What's particularly special is that the angle and direction of the sword marks are almost exactly the same!
Seeing Su Jian still in a daze, the young girl urgently called out: "Su Jian, I am your senior sister, Qiu Yingxuan!"
At this moment, the setting sun hangs low in the west, the mountain path is shaded from the sun, and the cold wind whistles, adding to the desolation. The pitch-black iron claws appear particularly eerie in the twilight, growing larger and larger in Su Jian's eyes
What a lack of backbone! Cao Liang, upon witnessing this situation, was utterly heartbroken.
"Who dares to block the way here?" With this extremely arrogant remark, Su Jian turned his head and immediately recognized the person.
This is correct! Immediately, a vendor slapped his thigh and said, "I have long heard that in recent years, the Spirit Vulture has surpassed the Dragon Slayer. Isn't Cao Liang from the Dragon Slayer Academy? As expected, he has lost!"
This feeling became even more intense after he learned about Luo Xueqiong's background information from the periphery
Perhaps due to her noble birth, Lei Bingfan's temperament is also extremely aloof, almost rivaling that of Luo Xueqiong. However, unlike Luo Xueqiong's "keep your distance from strangers," Lei Bingfan's demeanor is characterized more by a sense of arrogance
Upon hearing these words, Cao Liang, who was originally like a frostbitten eggplant, suddenly felt that wicked energy surge up again
The assassin fell, revealing the true identity of a mysterious young man behind them
However, Su Jian suddenly felt that something was amiss. He suddenly heard two heart-wrenching screams.
"What a stinky thief, dare to mess with you, Lord Cao Er?" At this point, Cao Liang's composure could no longer hold, and he shouted, "Bastard, do you think that just because you have a good sword, you can scare Lord Cao?"
Cao Liangru, as if granted a great pardon, hurriedly scrambled to his feet. At that moment, several house servants who remained behind rushed over to support their young master.
He immediately retracted his fist, but only felt a sharp pain in his fingers. Upon closer inspection, he saw that his thick knuckles were bleeding profusely, having already sustained an injury
On the long street, such unreliable discussions arise one after another
He suddenly turned his face and shouted at a few servants who had been watching the commotion: "What are you looking at? Hurry up and chase that little wench, how dare she make a fool of me."
"Father is right; the child should not cause trouble on the streets". Cao Liang, covered in dirt and dust, did not dare to retort
This person is named Lei Bingfan. As a man, he is exceptionally handsome; he has a striking head of silver hair, which, according to Tang Qiu, is a characteristic of the royal family of the Northern Heavenly Snow Country
Cao Liang? Watching Senior Sister flee in a disheveled state, Su Jian mulled over this name, feeling that it was somewhat familiar.
"Everything will be arranged by father." Looking at the cold smile on his father's face, Cao Liang immediately understood that his father had likely already harbored murderous intent and was about to seek help from friends in the underworld.
Cao Liang believed he had a clear understanding of the situation, yet he did not anticipate that in this brief moment, Su Jian also realized that although he was merely a pawn of the Grand Commander, he nonetheless represented the dignity of the Xuanwu Guard and the Grand Commander himself
In this class, Su Jian discovered that apart from Tang Qiu and himself, indeed, the others were either wealthy or of noble status. Even attempting to get close to these individuals was already quite difficult, let alone the extraordinary Luo Xueqiong. After careful observation, Su Jian made a very wise decision: it would be best to focus on refining his martial arts first; if he did not achieve significant progress in martial arts and could not ensure his own safety, it would be better not to provoke Luo Xueqiong lightly.
Before he could reach that side, Su Jian saw a girl in a yellow dress running towards him in disarray.
In the moment of life and death, amidst the eerie and dim surroundings, Su Jian suddenly saw a glimmer of bright light. It flew in from the heavens, like a flash of lightning, instantly tearing apart the boundless darkness of the wilderness.
"Huh?" Cao Liang looked at him in disbelief, "You really dare to retort? Alright, alright!"
The individuals of the Sacred Gate of Ling Mountain are all exceptionally skilled in martial arts, with personalities as cold as ice and snow, eccentric tempers, and a propensity for violence, making them one of the most mysterious, fearsome, and bloodthirsty sects among the human races in the current world. From this perspective, Su Jian also realized that the private task entrusted to him by Gai Yingwei was essentially no different from setting him up.
Having said that, Lei Bingfan did not glance at Su Jian again, but turned around and gracefully floated away in the direction of Lingjiu Mountain
As he spoke, Cao Liang bent down and reached out to grab the young man. His idea was quite good; after all, Su Jian was already half-dead from the fall, so he certainly had to "have some fun with him".
While pondering, someone in the crowd suddenly murmured: "I heard from a relative of the Black-clad Guards that Su Jian returned from the Silent Forest with his life, and was granted mercy by the Grand Commander, who sent him to Lingjiu Academy for studies. Could this be related?"
At dusk on this day, Su Jian came down from the Lingjiu Mountain, stepped on the slanting sun, and hurried towards the Jinghua City in the west.
However, Su Jian never expected that one day he would be able to meet him on equal terms as a student of the Lingjiu Academy.
Not to mention the distant ones, even if we talk about the near ones, just casually patrolling a broken street, we can still encounter ruthless bullies who can take lives.
When he grasped the hilt and lifted it up to strike, the short and stout assassin also raised his iron claw and swung it towards Su gradually's throat.
Don't be afraid of him, don't be afraid of him, even if you are trampled into the dust, Cao Liang is still cheering for the passersby in his heart. "He Su Jian is just a low-level servant who bullies others by flaunting his powerful connections. Don't be intimidated by him."
At this thought, just like a dead dog, Cao Liang immediately became arrogant again and shouted at Su Jian, "Little black dog, dare you step on your Cao Er Ye?"
Su Jian, save me!What he didn't expect was that the disheveled girl running from afar would call out his name.
Is this the glory of heaven? In the blink of an eye, Su gradually began to wonder, "Did I make a mistake? So it turns out that after death, one truly flies towards the starry crystal river above. This bright radiance is so similar to the starry river on the dome."
Caught! Cao Liang's hand grabbed Su Jian's arm and immediately half-dragged him up.
Su Jian immediately recalled the sharp sword light from earlier and suddenly understood: Lei Bingfan had killed these two fierce individuals with just a single sword strike from beginning to end
Oh no! At the moment of intense pain, Cao Liang's heart was filled with immense fear. "How could this happen? I, Cao Liang, possess profound skills. The only vulnerable spot is the area below my ribs, the size of a copper coin. How could it suddenly hurt like this? Could it be that I was ambushed by a formidable enemy?"
Am I not dead? Is it the assassin who has died?
On this day, Su Jian came down from Lingjiu Mountain and entered Jinghua City. He wanted to go to the street he was in charge of and check the public security situation.
"I said, did I not have blurred vision before?" A vegetable vendor asked the butcher at the neighboring stall in surprise, "So Su Jian actually managed to turn defeat into victory?"
At this moment, Cao Liang also saw the Bloodsong Sword shining brightly in Su Jian's hand, but he was not afraid. Instead, he kept cursing, "You damn black dog! You filthy thief! Who do you think you're scaring with that sword? I only wanted to make you suffer, but I didn't expect you to dare to hurt my second grandfather, Cao! Fine, since you don't know any better, today I'll let you witness my mastery of slaying dragons!"
What? Cao Liang looked at him in astonishment, thinking he had gone crazy.
Dad is right! He shouted, "Actually, what happened this afternoon was just a momentary slip-up on my part, taken advantage of by a little thief. Dad, don't worry, I will go and reclaim our reputation from Su Jian!"
According to Tang Qiu, this Prince Lei is not only noble and aloof in demeanor but also a martial arts genius. Therefore, Su Jian can fully understand that with such a noble background and astonishing talent, it would be unusual for him not to be arrogant
Upon closer inspection, he realized that the two fierce individuals who had just moments ago appeared menacing and threatening were now completely motionless, dead beyond any possibility of revival
At this moment, Cao Liang heard the crowd of onlookers exclaiming in surprise, which made him even more pleased. Who knew that at this moment, he suddenly felt a sharp pain coming from his ribs!
Looking at the beautiful face of the woman running towards him, he blurted out, "How do you know me? I don't seem to know you."
"Ah?" Cao Liang looked at his father in astonishment.
When Su Jian's tall figure disappeared from the street corner, the roadside vendors were all so shocked that they couldn't close their mouths, thinking about what had just happened.
Oh no!As a member of the Black Guard, Su Jian is particularly sensitive to illegal activities. Upon hearing the unusual sound from behind, he knew something bad was happening.
苏渐 is quite satisfied with this kind of life. The fairyland-like Lingjiu Academy and the bustling Jinghua Market are just a kind of mutual adjustment, so as not to make life too boring.