Longevity Martial Arts: Obtain Golden Affixes at the Start

All eyes turned to Hong Lang, some with mockery, some with surprise, and some with schadenfreude.

Hong Lang felt a sense of relief; he had thought it was a huge deal.

Without saying a word, he took off his coat and handed it to Hehua.

Lotus took the coat, gently shook off the snowflakes, and draped it over Mo Wentian's shoulders.

Mo Wentian pulled his collar tighter and nodded in satisfaction: "Warm, indeed warm."

"Alright, you just stay here and watch."

Hong Lang clasped his hands in thanks and stepped aside.

Zhou Liang secretly regretted it. He had originally planned to use the competition as an excuse to kill the kid, and then say that he had lost control for a moment. Mo Wentian wouldn't do anything for a low-level martial artist who was already dead.

In martial arts competitions, death and injury are inevitable.

Who knew this kid would actually back out on his own initiative? His skin is as thick as a city wall.

Zhou Liang narrowed his eyes, but it didn't matter. If the contest couldn't kill you, there were other ways.

This time, he won't let that kid return to Hengjiang County alive.

The competition had already begun, with the two county magistrates locked in a fierce battle. The flashing of swords and the clash of blades created a spectacular display on the snow-covered plain, sending snowflakes flying everywhere.

Hong Lang watched with great interest from the sidelines.

The competition ended quickly.

In the end, a disciple of the Black Wind Sect won first place, Zhou Liang won second place, and Cheng Gui, the magistrate of Yulin County, won third place.

The banquet was held in the main hall of the prefectural governor's mansion, where people mingled and drank.

The county magistrates toasted each other, creating a lively and festive atmosphere.

Hong Lang sat at the last seat, drinking and eating by himself, quite at ease.

During the meal, Zhou Liang walked over with a glass of wine in his hand.

"Brother Hong, it's a real pity that we couldn't spar today," Zhou Liang said with a smile, raising his glass in invitation.

Hong Lang stood up, raised his cup, and said with a smile, "Magistrate Zhou is too kind. My meager cultivation is nothing to offer in front of you. Here, let me toast you."

The two clinked glasses and each drank it down in one gulp.

Zhou Liang patted Hong Lang on the shoulder, leaned closer, and lowered his voice, saying, "Brother Hong is a promising young man with a bright future ahead of him. When you have time, I will definitely invite you to visit my Longxiang County so we can have a good chat."

"Definitely, definitely." Hong Lang nodded with a smile, but cursed inwardly, "Damn it."

Zhou Liang turned and left, but after taking a few steps, he turned back and glanced at Hong Lang again.

That one glance was devoid of any smile, leaving only a chilling coldness.

Hong Lang remained expressionless, picked up his wine glass, and took another sip.

The next morning, the sky was overcast and the north wind, carrying snowflakes, stung people's faces.

Hong Lang and Mo Qiushui each rode a horse and embarked on their journey back to Hengjiang County.

Once outside Tianmu City, the official road is flanked by vast snowfields, with a few withered trees occasionally peeking out from the snow, their branches reaching towards the sky like ghostly claws.

All was silent except for the crunching sound of horses' hooves on the snow.

The two traveled in silence for about an hour, until they arrived at a dangerous place called "Eagle Beak Cliff".

To the left is a steep mountain wall, and to the right is a bottomless cliff. The official road is only wide enough for two riders to walk side by side.

Hong Lang subconsciously slowed down and scanned his surroundings.

This is a good place to set up an ambush.

The thought had barely crossed his mind when a muffled rumble suddenly came from ahead.

"Be careful!"

Hong Lang suddenly pulled on the reins. A dozen feet ahead, several huge rocks rolled down from the mountainside and crashed onto the official road with a loud bang, completely blocking the way.

Almost simultaneously, the same sound came from behind.

Their escape route was also blocked.

Hong Lang's heart sank. He exchanged a glance with Mo Qiushui, and the two of them dismounted and stood back to back.

"Now that you're here, why hide yourselves?" Hong Lang said in a deep voice.

Two figures emerged from behind the mountain wall.

Both men were dressed in black and their faces were covered, with only their eyes showing.

Looking at the two figures, Hong Lang already had a clue that they were probably the two Qi Opening Realm martial artists beside Zhou Liang.

It seems Zhou Liang can't wait any longer and intends to take care of himself halfway there.

The masked man sneered, "Young man, we'd like to borrow something from you."

"What is it?"

"Your life!"

The masked men in black, one on the left and one on the right, worked together seamlessly, clearly not for the first time committing this kind of murder and robbery.

The man on the left was tall and imposing, his palm strikes fierce and powerful, heading straight for Hong Lang's face.

The man on the right slid a short knife out of his sleeve and aimed it straight at Mo Qiushui's shoulder.

It's not the vital point.

Hong Lang's mind raced, and he instantly understood the other party's intention.

They wanted to kill themselves; as for Mo Qiushui, they were merely "holding her off."

They didn't even dare to hurt her.

Who dares to touch Mo Wentian's daughter?

"Insolence!" Mo Qiushui shouted coldly, drawing her long sword from its sheath. The sword light shone coldly under the snow and blocked the short knife with a "clang".

On Hong Lang's side, the tall, masked man struck out with a palm, the wind from which snowflakes swirled, creating a terrifying aura.

A full-force attack from a martial artist at the Meridian Opening Realm is far beyond what a Marrow Cleansing Realm cultivator can withstand.

The masked man slapped him on the shoulder, and Hong Lang groaned as he flew through the air, crashing heavily into the snow and sliding several meters away, spitting out a mouthful of blood.

"Hong Lang!" Mo Qiushui caught a glimpse of him out of the corner of her eye, tightened her sword stance, forced back her opponent, and was about to rush towards Hong Lang.

The masked man wielding a short knife immediately stepped in front of him, his tone tinged with helplessness: "Magistrate Mo, please don't get involved. We just want that kid's life."

Mo Qiushui said coldly, "That depends on whether you have the ability."

The sword light surged, and she launched a fierce attack on the masked man.

With his full power at the peak of the Marrow Cleansing Realm, he managed to force his opponent to retreat several steps.

Hong Lang climbed out of the snow, his shoulder aching terribly, and he could barely lift his left arm.

Fortunately, I had broken through to the Lesser Completion of the Marrow Cleansing Realm, which improved my speed; otherwise, that palm strike would have hit my head instead of my shoulder.

He glanced at the blocked escape route, then at the bottomless cliff, his mind racing.

A direct confrontation is impossible; the gap between the Meridian Opening Realm and the Marrow Cleansing Realm is stark. If he were to suffer three more blows, he would surely die.

The only way to survive...

Hong Lang's gaze fell on Mo Qiushui, and he gritted his teeth.

I'm sorry, Magistrate Mo.

He staggered towards Mo Qiushui, shouting, "Magistrate Mo, save me!"

Mo Qiushui was locked in combat with the masked man wielding a short knife when she saw Hong Lang charging towards her. She frowned and said, "Get behind me!"

Without saying a word, Hong Lang darted behind Mo Qiushui, his movements so fast that he didn't seem injured at all.

The tall, masked man caught up and struck with a palm. Hong Lang shrank back, his entire body almost pressed against Mo Qiushui's back.

If this palm strike lands squarely, it will hit Mo Qiushui first.

The tall, masked man's expression changed, and he abruptly stopped his palm strike. The force of his palm deflected and slammed into a nearby rock with a loud "boom," sending shards of rock flying everywhere.

"You!" The tall, masked man's eyes blazed with rage, but he dared not make a move rashly.

Hong Lang peeked out from behind Mo Qiushui's shoulder, grinning, "Come on, why did you stop fighting?"

The masked man wielding a short knife whispered, "This kid is using Magistrate Namo as a shield."

"Come out if you dare!" the tall, masked man gritted his teeth.

"Come in if you dare!" Hong Lang said confidently.