Martial Arts Longevity Begins with the Equipment Slot

Chapter 97 Swords and Guns, A New Crisis

When Wang Kui's body suddenly collapsed to his knees, the torches in the cave all flickered.

The blood flowed all the way down to his feet.

Chen Yu turned around, his gaze sweeping over the main mine tunnel strewn with corpses.

Sun Feipeng and Xue Linglong broke through the flank and arrived to provide support one after the other.

Sun Feipeng had a bleeding knife wound on his shoulder.

Xue Linglong's outfit was soaked in blood in several places, and her face was splattered with the enemy's blood.

The two stopped almost simultaneously the moment they stepped onto the main mine tunnel.

"Wang Kui is dead?"

Sun Feipeng's gaze immediately fell on the edge of the stone platform.

Wang Kui fell backward onto the pile of rubble.

The person was already dead, but was still bleeding profusely.

He gasped and turned to look at Chen Yu.

"Did you kill Wang Kui?"

"it's me."

Chen Yu nodded.

Sun Feipeng was a little surprised.

He had just been fighting with Wang Kui's two deputies on the flank.

Those two were only at the peak of the Tendon Refining stage; even combined, they weren't half as troublesome as Wang Kui.

But he fought with all his might to repel the man, and even got injured himself.

Chen Yu killed Wang Kui, who had mastered the Bone Refinement stage, and he himself was completely unharmed!

"Commander Chen, how—how did you do that?"

Sun Feipeng's voice trembled slightly involuntarily.

"I've seen Wang Kui's iron hammer before. If we really fought, I couldn't even withstand one blow."

Xue Linglong's gaze was also fixed on Wang Kui's corpse.

She understood what this meant better than Sun Feipeng.

He single-handedly killed Wang Kui, the third-ranked member of the Black Wind Nine Thieves.

Of the eighteen commanders in the entire hall, probably no one else could accomplish such a feat.

According to the original plan, Wang Kui should have been Pei Shifeng's opponent, and the commanders were only responsible for clearing out the miscellaneous soldiers.

Now Chen Yu alone has taken down Wang Kui?

Xue Linglong looked at the deer-slaying knife in Chen Yu's hand, her lips slightly parted, as if she was carefully considering her words.

"Commander Chen, your sword—it has truly shown its worth today."

Chen Yu did not answer.

Because the great war is not over yet.

Under Mei San Niang's double-sword attack, Pei Shifeng's defeat was already evident.

He was covered in sweat, panting heavily, and blood from the cut on his hand was flowing down the gun barrel.

"call!"

A gust of wind swept down from the stone platform, grazing the ground and passing in front of the three people.

A deep, bottomless crack appeared on the stone ground.

All three of them took a half step back at the same time.

"The deputy commander-in-chief won't be able to hold out for long."

Chen Yu gripped the hilt of his sword again and stepped onto the stone platform.

"Deputy Commander, it's me, Old Sun, coming to your rescue!"

Fearing that Chen Yu would steal the credit, Sun Feipeng rushed forward even faster than him.

"!"

Mei San Niang didn't even turn her head, but turned and kicked him.

"what!"

The kick landed squarely on Sun Feipeng's chest, sending him flying.

"not good!"

Sun Feipeng crashed into the stone wall, blood spilling from his mouth.

"Ahem, Deputy Commander-in-Chief—"

He stood up, supporting himself with his sword, and took another step forward.

He hadn't taken three steps when his knees buckled and he fell down again.

Sun Feipeng wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and gave a bitter smile.

"Damn it! I couldn't even catch one of her kicks!"

He leaned against the stone wall and looked at Chen Yu, then suddenly shouted something at the top of his lungs.

"Chen Yu, I saw you kill Wang Kui! I admit I'm not as good as you! Hurry up and make a move, don't let the Deputy Commander take the blame alone!"

"And what about me! Prepare to die, you thieving woman!"

Xue Linglong swung her sword from the side, intending to stab Mei San Niang in the waist.

"clang!"

Mei San Niang swung her sword backhand, directly knocking the longsword away.

"What? My sword!"

Xue Linglong looked down at her right hand.

His hands were empty, except for a few knife wounds that were slowly bleeding.

"Commander Chen! You go! I can't take it anymore!"

Xue Linglong's voice trembled.

She was completely unlike the aloof female commander she usually was.

"Sun Feipeng and I can't get involved. You're the one who's capable; if you're so capable, you do it!"

Just as she uttered those words, Chen Yu had already stepped onto the stone platform.

The tip of the deer-slaying knife dragged on the stone ground, leaving a trail of intermittent sparks.

"Deputy Commander, let me help you."

Amidst the clash of swords and spears, the effects of the Deer-Slaying Knife gradually returned, and he finally found his chance to strike.

"drink!"

Mei San Niang's twin swords had already slashed down from above.

The blade strike was heavier and faster than before.

She glanced at Chen Yu out of the corner of her eye.

"Boy, you killed my third brother! I can't let this opportunity for revenge go unpunished!"

"call out!"

Mei San Niang slashed at Pei Shifeng's face with her twin swords crossed.

Pei Shifeng parried with his spear.

"clang!"

The moment the swords and spears clashed, he was forced to bend his knees slightly by the powerful force.

"Take the deer!"

Chen Yu slashed down from the blind spot.

The blade cut through the air silently.

Mei San Niang didn't even turn her head; she used her left hand to parry his knife.

"Ding!"

The blades clashed, sending sparks flying.

At that very moment, Mei San Niang suddenly exclaimed "Eh!"

She found that after blocking the knife, the strength in her arms inexplicably weakened by half.

This is precisely the "Deer Stealing" effect of the Deer-Slaying Knife, which temporarily steals 10% of all attributes.

The sudden drop in power made her involuntarily panic.

Pei Shifeng also sensed something was wrong.

Taking advantage of the opening in the attack, he stepped back half a step.

Mei San Niang's rapid attack just now left him breathless.

Now that Chen Yu has played a role, his situation has greatly improved.

The two looked at each other without saying a word.

Pei Shifeng moved to the right, Chen Yu to the left, one with a spear and the other with a knife, simultaneously closing in.

"This is bad!"

Mei San Niang's expression changed drastically.

She handled Pei Shifeng's shot with relative ease.

But if Chen Yu were to deliver another blow, things would be hard to say.

"Bloodthirsty Twin Blades!"

Mei San Niang crossed her twin swords, blocking Pei Shifeng's full-force spear thrust.

The moment the blade deflected the spear's momentum, Chen Yu's blade slashed down from her right blind spot.

"laugh!"

Mei San Niang was unable to dodge in time, and a three-inch-long gash was slashed on her right arm.

Blood droplets splattered everywhere.

"That was a powerful strike!"

Mei San Niang let out a muffled groan.

"But it's still not as powerful as my Bloodthirsty Blade!"

boom!

With a single, powerful slash, Chen Yu was forced back three steps.

"Pei Shifeng, where did you pick up this kid?"

She smiled and licked away the blood splattered on the corner of her mouth.

Zuo Dao pressed down on Pei Shifeng's spear thrust.

The right-hand sword forced Chen Yu's sword path back.

"He seems to have more potential than you! If you're not up to the task later, let him take the position of Deputy Commander-in-Chief!"

"The people chosen by Pei are not worth the trouble of the second-in-command."

"7

Pei Shifeng's breathing was heavy, the tip of his spear still locked on Mei San Niang's throat.

When he fought Mei San Niang alone just now, every second felt like walking a tightrope on the edge of a cliff.

Now that Chen Yu has taken away 30% of the pressure, his shooting style has gradually shifted from defense to offense.

Chen Yu didn't reply, he just kept slashing in with his sword.

"Swish swish swish swish!"

Every strike was aimed directly at the weakest point in Mei San Niang's dual-sword rhythm: the hand-changing interval.

More than twenty moves later.

Mei San Niang gradually felt that she was finding it increasingly difficult.

It's too difficult to fight two opponents at once.

Their stamina was rapidly depleted under the alternating attacks of the two.

She was accidentally stabbed by Chen Yu again.

The knife struck his left rib, penetrating three-tenths of an inch into the flesh.

Blood trickled down the armor, and the thick, pungent smell of blood in the cave grew even stronger.

Mei San Niang glanced down at her wound and suddenly grinned.

"Great! Excellent!"

She used the back of her knife to deflect the tip of Chen Yu's blade.

At the same time, he turned sideways to avoid Pei Shifeng's spear.

He pushed off the stone platform with his toes, and his whole body rose into the air.

"Pei Shifeng, you've got a good knife! Kid, your name is Chen Yu! I'll remember that!"

"Next time we meet, I'm going to fight you one-on-one! You're going to live with me, don't let someone else kill you first!"

After Mei San Niang finished speaking, she turned over and crawled into the ventilation opening at the top of the cave.

"Trying to escape?"

Pei Shifeng took two steps to catch up.

Mei San Niang swung her sword backhand and slashed at the rock wall at the cave entrance.

"Bang!"

Large amounts of gravel poured down.

Chen Yu stepped to the side, blocking Pei Shifeng.

His back was hit in several places by rocks.

Pei Shifeng was completely shielded by him and was not injured.

Mei San Niang's retreat took away the last of Black Wind Stronghold's morale.

In the main mine tunnel, the remaining bandits cried out for their parents and rushed towards the various branch tunnels.

Weapons and armor were scattered all over the ground, and some people even knelt down and hugged the legs of the sword guards, begging for mercy.

Sun Feipeng clutched his chest and propped himself up from the stone wall.

"Chase them! Don't let them burn down the grain depot!"

The sword guards split into three groups.

They searched for and wiped out the remaining bandits, counted the prisoners, and extinguished any remaining fires in the mine tunnels.

The cave gradually quieted down, with only sporadic commands heard in the distance.

The sun was already high in the sky outside.

A few rays of golden light leaked through the gaps in the ventilation vents, illuminating the rubble and bloodstains scattered on the ground.

On the stone platform, Pei Shifeng, supporting himself with a gun, knelt on one knee, panting heavily.

The army pharmacist stepped forward to bandage his wound.

He waved his hand, used his gun to support himself as he stood up, and walked up to Chen Yu.

Chen Yu was sitting on a piece of gravel.

The pharmacist was applying hemostatic powder to his left shoulder.

He looked up and was about to stand up and bow when Pei Shifeng grabbed his right shoulder.

"Sit down."

Pei Shifeng's voice was a few decibels lower than usual.

Gone was the lazy arrogance he used to display when issuing orders.

They also lacked the shrewd composure that comes with calculating pros and cons.

He looked down at Chen Yu.

The scrutiny in his eyes gradually faded, replaced by a solemnity he had never shown to any of his subordinates before.

"You killed the third leader, Wang Kui, and the second leader, Mei San Niang, also took a real blow from your knife."

"7

"I, Pei Shifeng, am able to stand here and speak today, and half of that is thanks to you risking your life."

He paused, then pressed his fingers firmly on Chen Yu's shoulder.

"I've always liked to settle scores later, but you're different."

"You killed Cai Zhongtie and overturned my chessboard. From today onwards, all these things are wiped clean."

"From now on in the Sword Guard Hall, you will be my most capable person! You can speak directly to me without having to consider anyone else's feelings."

""

Chen Yu remained silent for a moment, then looked up at Pei Shifeng.

He rescued Pei Shifeng mainly so that he could successfully complete his mission.

Pei Shifeng, a martial artist who had achieved the Great Perfection of Bone Refinement, was the strongest among them.

If he is captured, then this mission can be declared a failure.

Moreover, he was also the deputy commander-in-chief, the head of an army.

If he is killed, the morale of the army will surely be thrown into chaos.

In the midst of the chaos, no one could withstand a powerhouse like Mei San Niang.

If Mei San Niang were allowed to go on a killing spree, everyone would die here.

Even I cannot escape it.

Thinking of this, Chen Yu's tone calmed down.

"You flatter me, Deputy Commander. I was just doing my duty."

Sun Feipeng climbed up from under the stone wall, clutching his chest, and limped towards Chen Yu.

His face was still pale from being kicked away by Mei San Niang.

But his expression was more open than ever before.

"Brother Chen Yu, I was just being petty about what happened before."

Sun Feipeng suddenly took a step back and clasped his hands in a deep fist salute to Chen Yu.

"I'm not as good as you. I can't beat Wang Kui, let alone Mei San Niang. Your strength is indeed formidable. I, Old Sun, acknowledge that," Xue Linglong said, walking up to Chen Yu last.

She pulled her longsword from the stone wall, her steps a few paces slower than usual.

When she reached Chen Yu, her face had regained its usual composure.

His thin lips curved slightly, and his eyes held just the right amount of a smile.

"Commander Chen, after today's battle, I finally see things clearly."

Xue Linglong sheathed her longsword, her voice gentle and steady.

"It is a blessing for the Sword Guard Hall to have a sword like yours, Deputy Commander. If you ever need anything from me, Xue Linglong, just ask!"

""

Chen Yu nodded.

Xue Linglong smiled, turned around, and walked back to her team.

The moment she turned around, the smile on her lips vanished.

The gentle light in his phoenix eyes vanished, and his thin lips pressed into a cold, hard line.

She was standing under the stone platform just now.

Mei San Niang kicked Sun Feipeng away and knocked her sword away with a single blow.

The feeling of being casually discarded is worse than being stabbed.

All the people saw was Chen Yu shielding the deputy commander from the falling rocks.

What she noticed, however, was that Mei San Niang specifically requested that his life be spared.

Mei San Niang was known for her bloodthirstiness and killing prowess, so for Chen Yu to say such things meant that his influence was immeasurable.

To catch up with this person in the future, it will be more than just a matter of merit.

Pei Shifeng watched the two return to their unit, then his gaze fell back on Chen Yu.

"I saw it all; your swordsmanship is truly impressive!"

When it was just the two of them talking, Pei Shifeng made no attempt to hide the admiration in his tone.

"No wonder the young master specifically asked for you. After today's battle, no one in the Sword Guard Hall will dare to question you anymore."

"You killed Wang Kui on the spot. For that alone, you deserve top honors when you return to the manor!"

"And then there's the second-in-command, Mei San Niang. She specifically asked for your head. You've really earned me a lot of face!"

Chen Yu placed the deer-slaying knife across his lap.

After listening to Pei Shifeng's words, he slowly replied.

"Deputy Commander, Wang Kui is easy to kill, but Mei San Niang is not so easy to force back."

"Today's battle was not a victory for us against Black Wind Stronghold, but rather because Black Wind Stronghold only sent two leaders."

He paused, his gaze fixed on the depths of the cave.

The area was illuminated by flickering torchlight.

"What if four come?"

Pei Shifeng's expression turned somewhat serious.

He wasn't afraid when he fought for his life against Mei San Niang's blade.

At that moment, Chen Yu uttered a single sentence, yet it sent a chill down Chen Yu's spine.

Chen Yu continued speaking, his tone remaining calm.

"Black Wind Stronghold mobilized at least two of its branches at Niutou Mountain this time, with Wang Kui and Mei San Niang both present."

"But the Black Wind Nine Thieves actually consist of nine people, and none of the core figures, such as the leader Li Tianlong and the fourth brother Zhang Siyu, have shown up."

""

"In terms of strength, Mei San Niang is already a top fighter in the village who can stand alone, but she is only ranked third. There are two stronger ones above her."

Pei Shifeng leaned against the edge of the stone platform, wiping his gun.

Upon hearing this, he stopped applying the gun oil after it was only halfway applied.

When she looked up at Chen Yu, the appreciation in her eyes had reached its peak.

Perhaps the excitement of surviving a disaster was too intense.

For a moment, these problems were overlooked.

Fortunately, Chen Yu reminded him.

He agreed with Chen Yu's analysis and realized that the crisis at the mine was not over yet.

Neither Black Wind Stronghold nor the Huang family will let this go easily.