Tumor Sword Immortal

Chapter 65 Dead Man
Xu Chengfeng did not die. According to Xueyan Sect, the old sect leader was seriously injured and is still unconscious.

This incident, which occurred on what should have been a birthday celebration, has enraged the entire Xueyan Sect, who are now conducting a tense manhunt for the assassin.

The group of outsiders who had gathered at Nestlé Hill to celebrate the birthday were strictly forbidden from moving around.

Officially, it was only said to be for the protection of distinguished guests.

But in reality, everyone knows that this is a sign of suspicion towards them.

The group of people in the Tiger Crane Sword Pavilion courtyard looked at each other in bewilderment.

The most bewildered was Feng Xi, the most indifferent was Lu Li, and the most nervous was Xu Shangxin.

The eldest brother looked at Pei Xia and whispered, "Going down the mountain?"

It seems that something bad has happened to Xueyan Sect. If they can't capture the assassin in a short time, then once they start investigating outsiders, Pei Xia and the others' identities will be easily exposed.

In situations like this, it's best to stay out of trouble and leave as soon as possible.

But Pei Xia shook his head, looking at the thin, water-like light screen above his head: "We can't escape."

To allow the younger generation to fully showcase their talents in the pre-birthday competition, Nestlé Hill has already activated its protective measures this morning.

The grand formations of a sect must be set up by a specialized master, and some of the highest levels even require the participation of a Qi observer.

Its formation is based on "momentum," similar to that of military strategists, but it is connected to the "spiritual sea" or "qi track," making it powerful and profound, far beyond what an ordinary cultivator could match on his own.

Pei Xia himself was a master of the Su sect, so he naturally recognized that the Xueyan Sect's grand formation was an extremely strict isolation formation. Once the formation was closed, no one was allowed to enter or leave.

Xu Zhuofeng, who was playing the role of an attendant, pushed the door of the courtyard to close, turned to look at Pei Xia, and asked with a serious expression: "Did you have something to say just now?"

Pei Xia had suddenly asked Xu Chengfeng about his cultivation level, and not long after, news came that Xu Chengfeng had been assassinated.

But Pei Xia shook her head again: "Since he has at least the cultivation level of the Opening Mansion Realm, then my previous concerns no longer exist. Apart from you, among the outsiders who came up the mountain this time, where is there a master of such a level?"

Lu Li peered out and unusually offered a very constructive suggestion: "Is it possible that it was done by a sorcerer or a divination master?"

Once a Su Shi advances to the fifth realm, no one can say for sure what kind of techniques they will be able to master.

If you encounter something supernatural, the old sect leader might kill someone while you're making a voodoo doll from miles away, and you'll have no recourse.

The art of observing qi is even more mysterious. The first level is "seeing with the eyes," the second level is "observing with the mind," and the third level is "picking with the hands." At this level, one can change one's fortune and qi, and unexpected wealth or bloodshed is possible.

Xu Zhuofeng thought for a moment: "Qi observers are already extremely rare. Their path of cultivation is bound by the heavens. Once they reach the Hand-Picking Realm, they must be extremely cautious about contacting the Qi Tracks. It's unlikely."

Pei Xia agreed with Xu Zhuofeng's view: "Even a Su Master doesn't have much of a chance. It's not easy to become a Su Master at the Fifth Realm. Although the myriad techniques are strange and unpredictable, it's precisely because there are so many techniques that it's very difficult to find a suitable supernatural power."

Moreover, Xu Chengfeng is, after all, a cultivator who has just opened a mansion. A fifth-level Su Shi is only equivalent to a top-tier Tong Xuan. He faces many limitations when trying to use supernatural abilities and techniques on someone who has just opened a mansion.

Just like Lu Li, she could easily prove her supernatural powers against ordinary people in the Feathered Army, but against Zhang Guohan, or even Luo Xiaojin who was at the Refining Cauldron Realm, it would depend on luck.

After considering this, Pei Xia's gaze involuntarily drifted to Xu Zhuofeng: "You didn't do this, did you?"

Xu Zhuofeng knows Xueyan Sect and Xu Chengfeng very well, and his cultivation is extremely high. If it really is him, it is reasonable that he can come and go without a trace.

Xu Zhuofeng spat dismissively: "If I really wanted to teach Xu Chengfeng a lesson, would I need to do it secretly in private?"

Also.

The young镖头 (bodyguard/escort) standing to the side was no longer in the mood to criticize these two people who were spouting nonsense. He shrank his neck, looking uneasy: "We've been together the whole time, we can vouch for each other, so it should be fine, right?"

“What if it was a gang crime? No one could testify for us last night, on the way we left this morning, or on the way back,” Xu Shangxin said, then looked at Pei Xia. “Besides, I have a feeling something’s not right.”

Pei Xia raised an eyebrow at her: "What's wrong?"

“What a coincidence,” she said.

Pei Xia and Xu Zhuofeng exchanged a glance.

Yes, what a coincidence.

When they heard yesterday that the mountain-protecting formation was to be activated, they felt it was making a mountain out of a molehill. Why activate the formation and waste resources when two sect elders could handle it?
Then today, when Xu Chengfeng was assassinated, the mountain-protecting formation that was activated immediately came into play.

As long as the formation remains intact, the assassin must still be on Nestlé Hill.

What do you mean by coincidence?
Pei Xia immediately thought of the gaunt figure sitting on the terrace of the waterside residence. He stroked his chin and slowly said, "Do you think it's possible that Xu Chengfeng is deliberately creating a diversion?"

There was nothing they could do; everything Pei Xi of the Prime Minister's residence had done was still fresh in their minds.

Xu Zhuofeng nodded: "It makes sense, but what is the purpose?"

Xu Chengfeng made the decision to activate the mountain-protecting formation, and immediately afterward, he was attacked in the heavily guarded main hall of the sect today, despite his cultivation level being only at the Opening Mansion Realm.

"If he really orchestrated this scheme himself, then sealing off the formation must have been to facilitate subsequent actions. In other words, his purpose should gradually become clear over time."

The Xu family patriarch untied his pipe from his waist, snapped his fingers to light it, and then fell silent.

His inaction meant he wanted to see what Xu Chengfeng was up to. Pei Xia turned to look at Xu Shangxin and Lu Li, a hint of relief in her eyes.

Regardless of the circumstances, Xu Zhuofeng being here is the safest trump card.

So for the entire afternoon, no one left the courtyard of Tiger Crane Sword Pavilion.

Pei Xia checked the supplies she had prepared, while Xu Shangxin practiced her sword in the courtyard, with Xu Zhuofeng, who was smoking a pipe, occasionally giving her pointers.

The young镖头 (bodyguard) had no desire to sleep today, so he simply became Xu Shangxin's sparring partner.

As a镖局 (bodyguard agency) member who had passed the Four Gates and was wearing a three-colored sash, Feng Xi's cultivation level was lower, but he still had some martial arts skills, making him a perfect sparring partner for Xu Shangxin at this stage.

As evening approached, Pei Xia came out of the house and saw that the young镖头 (bodyguard) was so exhausted that he was slumped on the ground, panting heavily. On the other hand, Xu Shangxin, although his hair was wet with sweat, looked radiant and seemed to be in good condition.

"They've made very rapid progress," Xu Zhuofeng commented.

"Oh?"

Pei Xia smiled and said, "Then let me give it a try?"

As he spoke, he broke off a short, thin branch from the flowerbed next to the courtyard.

Xu Shangxin practiced all afternoon and felt that he had a basic grasp of how to fight others. In addition to being serious, there was also a bit of confidence in his eyes.

"Come!"

Pei Xia shouted, stepped forward, and used a wooden branch as a sword to stab Xu Shangxin in the face.

Unlike slashing, there's no way to parry a rapier; you either dodge or parry—that's what she learned from Feng Xi that afternoon.

So she brandished her long sword, as thin as a cicada's wing, and was about to parry Pei Xia's wooden branches.

Xu Shangxin knew Pei Xia was formidable, so he used great force when he drew his sword.

Then, to her astonishment, she witnessed a seemingly inevitable scene: her sword sliced ​​through the wooden branch in Pei Xia's hand as easily as cutting paper.

Pei Xia held the broken branch up, thrusting one arm straight in and pressing it against Xu Shangxin's throat.

The girl was surprised and confused: "Is this...is this right?"

Shouldn't the wooden branch you're holding be equivalent to a sword? Shouldn't I parry your sword, and then we'll continue our duel?

“There’s nothing wrong with it,” Pei Xia said, pinching a small twig and gently patting her older brother’s rosy cheek. “I just told you this morning that when facing an enemy, you should adapt your tactics to the situation.”

So you see, it's hard to learn just by talking and listening; some things you have to experience for yourself.

Letting Xu Shangxin lower her head to think, Pei Xia sat down at the stone table and glanced at the pipe that Xu Zhuofeng had already knocked clean.

Xu Zhuofeng had just seen him teach Xu Shangxin, which once again refreshed his understanding of this young man.

He couldn't help but say, "Your cultivation level is just a bit low, otherwise, in this corner of the martial world, I'm afraid there wouldn't be many people who could subdue you."

Pei Xia found these words familiar, and he smiled, "I try my best not to break through so that others can control me."

"What if you encounter an unavoidable situation?"

Just like in the warehouse in Beishi City, when Han Youzhi was about to take action without saying a word.

Pei Xia shrugged: "We'll see when that time comes."

He took a sip of tea, glanced at the darkening sky in the distance, and asked, "Has nothing else happened today?"

Xu Zhuofeng shook his head: "I asked outside the hospital not long ago, and nothing happened."

How can Xu Chengfeng remain so calm?
The thought had barely formed when a sharp scream suddenly rang out from a guesthouse courtyard a short distance away: "Senior Brother—"

Pei Xia and Xu Zhuofeng exchanged a glance, then immediately pushed open the courtyard gate and rushed out.

Two courtyards away from the Tiger Crane Sword Pavilion, in a guesthouse belonging to the Well Gang, stood two Snow Swallow Sect disciples with frosty faces.

Beside them was a stretcher with a man lying on it. Several monks from the Well Gang were throwing themselves on the man and wailing.

Xu Zhuofeng rushed in without saying a word, with Pei Xia following closely behind.

They immediately noticed that the man on the stretcher was no longer breathing.

What's impossible not to notice is his wound.

There were five sharp, bloody gashes, cutting through his flesh from the top of his head down to the bone, running all the way down to his eyes, lips, teeth, and abdomen, leaving his intestines ripped open!

Do you have any monthly passes?... Monthly passes... Passes... Ah...

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(End of this chapter)