Ten Directions Sword Master

Chapter 72 Killing One Person in Ten Steps

The two silver-clad captains were of similar strength to Jiang Linhai, both being in the early stages of Foundation Establishment.

However, their martial arts and weapons are completely different.

One is a rising star of Yuelu Academy. Even if he only makes it to the first round of the rankings, he would still be a highly valued disciple in any sect.

The upbringing he received from childhood, the guidance on his cultivation path, and the timing of his martial arts application were far superior to those of a captain who had struggled through the martial world and luckily established his foundation before entering the bandit-catching department.

However, the Silver-Clad Captains are dedicated to catching thieves and maintaining order, and they have a wealth of experience in life-or-death battles, having seen blood on their hands every day.

Adding to this, Jiang Linhai was hesitant to use his full strength to hurt anyone, resulting in a fierce and evenly matched battle.

"Get out of my way, you useless thing!"

Seeing that his subordinates couldn't subdue the man after a long time, the silverfish envoy felt he had lost face and cursed loudly.

With a quick movement, she moved close to Jiang Linhai like a ghost, her hands interlacing like flower petals to grab his arms.

A flash of malice crossed his face, and with a forceful thrust of his ten fingers, he pierced through flesh.

Ten bloody holes caused Jiang Linhai excruciating pain, turning his face deathly pale.

The silver fish tamers of the thief-catching room have all accumulated years of experience and reached a perfect foundation.

One must either start from the bottom and cultivate one's way up with the help of the imperial court's resources, going through countless battles and trials before accumulating enough merit.

Some people with certain backgrounds wouldn't choose this route.

Another type consists of wandering knights or disciples of third-tier sects who, unable to achieve better development in their original environment, voluntarily join the bandit-catching unit.

Regardless of the type, they are all seasoned warriors with a wide range of skills.

Jiang Linhai's limited practical experience seemed incredibly naive to others.

Coupled with the huge difference in their cultivation levels, he was defeated in a single move.

"You're disciples of Yuelu Sect, aren't you? What I hate most are you successors of major sects—you're all so arrogant, looking down on us. What do you say today?"

Silverfish, with a face full of scars, stepped on Jiang Linhai's face, listening to the wails of pain, and bent down.

His resentment towards people like Jiang Linhai, coupled with his fear of being ordered to surround the powerful figures on the Earth Ranking, caused him to completely lose his composure.

The image of a colleague having his head smashed open by a copper nail was too shocking, and I was still immersed in panic.

Only by using the most violent and rude actions can one avoid being exposed out of fear.

"Two men, disarm him, tie him up, and set him aside—the rest of the disciples, do the same!"

He still had a sliver of reason left, knowing that he couldn't allow these academy disciples to suffer irreversible casualties; he, a mere Silver Fish Envoy, couldn't bear such a burden.

Only the scribe can decide the fate of these people.

Judging from the cooperation of the academy's experts, they will probably be released without charge.

But what can Yuelu Academy do to him with minor humiliations and physical injuries?

The Privy Council was a separate entity, and officials in the court could not interfere with it.

In addition, Yuan Guanyu, the Divine Eagle of the Southeast, also came from a rough and unruly background and was extremely protective of his subordinates. Few people were willing to offend this powerful figure on the Earth Ranking who was loyal to the Chu Emperor.

Lu Li, on the hill, witnessed the entire conflict between Jiang Linhai and the Silver-Clad Cavalry of the Thieves' Bureau.

His former adversary's performance made him frown, his expression complex.

"Hesitation will only lead to your own downfall!"

As fellow disciples of the four academies, even if they hadn't gotten along before, seeing Jiang Linhai's fate inevitably evoked a sense of shared sorrow.

Seeing several silver-clad captains take away Jiang Linhai's weapon and then roughly tie him up, his face turned even uglier, and his fingers touched the hilt of his sword.

With the Cicada's Cry and Raging Waves as his weapons, the Heavenly Escape Mirror hanging on his chest, and the Seven Aperture Exquisite Sword Heart, which is likely the most valuable item in the Crimson Fire Secret Realm, Lu Li would never be willing to let anyone take it away.

If the money is embezzled along the way, even if Bailu Academy steps in, the thieves' office will throw out two corpses, saying that Baobing was sold to the black market by the two men and could not be found.

Those who violated the rules have been executed as a warning to others.

At that time, who could he turn to for justice?

Moreover, he could never accept surrendering and handing his life over to someone else, leaving his fate entirely to the other party's whim.

"But, this quantity—"

Lu Li counted and found that there were still about eighty Silver-Clad Captains and three Silver Fish Envoys left.

With this kind of situation, I really don't have the confidence to break through.

"However, half of them were collecting the bodies of their dead comrades, and some were tending to the horses and bandaging the wounded captains—only a dozen or so silver-clad captains and one silver fish envoy were actually surrounding the mound."

"Kill him, seize a horse, and escape from here—without orders, they will not dare to launch a large-scale pursuit, so abandon the original plan."

"If I just change my clothes and hide in the countryside, who can catch me? If all else fails, I can use the compass to teleport around the world, and I'll be safe once I get back to Yuzhang!"

Lu Li suppressed the cicada's chirping, a sharp blade at his side, his killing intent rising spontaneously.

Regardless of what other disciples think, one's own destiny must be in one's own hands.

"I will kill that wicked Silver Fish Envoy who has killed people—you two be careful, they should be more sober after someone dies, and the thief's office won't dare to do anything to the academy's disciples."

As Lu Li approached Nan Henshui and Song Yuming, he spoke calmly.

It's as natural as saying you're going out for a walk.

"Senior brother, don't act impulsively!"

Nan Henshui was shocked and quickly tried to dissuade him.

"You said it yourself, these lackeys won't dare to do anything to us, we just have to bear with it—"

"Senior brother, are you confident? That's the Silver Fish Envoy, isn't it?"

Having witnessed Lu Li's performance in the Crimson Fire Secret Realm, Song Yuming became much calmer.

One, two —

Lu Li did not answer, but paced forward, silently counting in his mind.

"Hey, I'm calling you! Stop right now, hand over your weapon, and squat over there obediently, or you'll suffer some physical pain!"

Having just tied Tian Ren up, the thief-catching team dared not underestimate Li Xunzhen, a powerful cultivator at the Refinement Realm. They found a stretcher and lifted him up, only to see him still shouting forward.

Five, six —

Silverfish, with a face full of scars, stood with his hands behind his back, his eyes twitching, lost in thought.

ninety!

Hearing his men shout, he turned around and saw a young man walk between two silver-clad captains, two streams of blood shooting out.

What a cold and beautiful sword light!

The thought had barely crossed his mind when the sword light was already upon him. He clapped his hands together at his waist, and a pair of judge's pens appeared.

With a flick and a thrust, a spiraling force was generated, and a vortex of wind rose up in front of him.

Anyone who enters the attack range of the Judge's Pen will be affected, and their moves will inevitably be distorted.

This was something he had earned over several years in the thief-catching department, using all his merits to exchange for it in the martial arts department, and then incorporating it into his own martial arts skills.

Even martial artists of equal skill level would find these judge's pens a headache.

He pressed forward aggressively, focusing on the eight extraordinary meridians.

They create distance, like two butterflies dancing among flowers, drawing people into a vortex from which they cannot escape.

He did not look down on the academy disciple because of his low cultivation level; instead, he revealed a cruel smile.

You took the initiative to attack, and if I don't kill you, I'll just cripple both your arms, and Lord Shi will still praise me for my self-control.

puff!

The sword tip struck the vortex squarely, its chill penetrating to the bone, a fraction faster than two judge's pens.

His internal energy, which had reached the peak of Foundation Establishment, was pierced by a sword. He let out a painful cry, and then it felt as if a needle had been stabbed into his chest.

He took a step back, swayed like someone who was drunk, and then crashed to the ground with a thud.

The silver-clad captains were stunned for a moment before they realized what was happening, as if they had just woken up from a dream.

Several went to help the Silver Fish Envoy, while others drew their weapons to chase after the academy youths who had leaped onto their horses.

For a moment, even the elite thieves from the thief-catching unit, who usually work together seamlessly, were caught off guard and confused.

"Junior Sister Song, pinch me—am I seeing things? Senior Brother Lu killed the Silver Fish Envoy with a single sword strike?"

Nanhenshui was stunned, speechless with disbelief.

"You read that right. I forgot to tell you, Senior Brother Lu advanced to the Foundation Establishment Realm in the secret realm and even killed that old ape—"

But I underestimated their strength.

Song Yuming sighed, her eyes curving into silver crescents.

"I even said that Senior Brother Lu would be able to challenge the Human Ranking within a few years, but he clearly already has the strength to be on the Human Ranking—no, he can get into the top twenty!"

Once he realized what was happening, Nan Henshui's eyes burned with fervor, and he roared out.

Since Lin Chuge, no other young talent has emerged in the entire Yuzhang County!

Bound tightly by his limbs and unable to move, Jiang Linhai burst into wild laughter upon seeing this scene, his face covered in blood: "Well done, a satisfying kill—killing one person in ten steps, so this is the Twenty-Four Solar Terms Sword Technique!"

Startled by the commotion below the mound, the remaining two Silver Fish Envoys rushed over to inquire about what had happened.

Upon hearing what the captains said, the two looked at each other in disbelief. Who would have thought that such a vicious person was hidden among the four disciples who were surrounded?

These Silver Fish Envoys may not be as talented as the geniuses on the Human Ranking, but they have more than ten or twenty years of cultivation time. If they were to actually fight, they do not think they would lose to the young talents in the middle or lower ranks of the Human Ranking.

"From Bailu Academy? A single sword strike killed him instantly; a subtle chill severed the blood vessels near his heart, even freezing his heart's blood—"

The silverfish had a long, thin face. It opened the corpse's clothes and touched the wound with its hand.

"Old Jiang, what do you think? I've never heard of such a ruthless person at Bailu Academy. Are you sure you're not mistaken?"

"The chilling aura of metal, the deadly intent of cold dew, is the sword technique of the Twenty-Four Solar Terms—White Deer Academy has produced an extraordinary disciple. I'll write a report and send it to the martial arts department later."

The silverfish surnamed Jiang has a plump body and looks somewhat old.

"Furthermore, issue wanted posters and send them to all the prefectures along the route to Yuzhang—no matter the reason, killing someone from the thief's office cannot go unpunished!"

"Alright, I'll have the artist draw it right away—but what about the other academy students?"

His companion stood up and nodded in agreement.

"Untie them all. The adults haven't given any orders on what to do with them. Just keep them confined to the hill and don't let them leave."

The silverfish envoy surnamed Jiang glanced at the corpse on the ground again, sighed deeply, and continued to work on the compensation documents.

To him, it was just the death of another annoying colleague.

Lu Li rode on horseback, galloping wildly.

The worst-case scenario anticipated—the horses refusing to run—did not occur, and they successfully escaped the area.

"Following the route we came from, to return from Wucheng to Yuzhang, we must first take the waterway and then the official road—but I'm going to do the opposite, taking a roundabout route and only taking the official road, so that even if the thieves' station gives chase, they will miss us."

After sketching out the return route, Lu Li found a secluded forest and tied the horse directly to a tree.

This horse bears the stamp of the police station, and even its saddle is specially made. If you use it to travel, you'll be recognized at a glance, so it's better to just walk.