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Chapter 34: Qin Shou? Beast!

Yang Yanguang was cultivating his breath and energy. At his level, he could remain perfectly still while listening intently to his surroundings. Yet at this moment, his ears twitched slightly.

“Who’s there?” Yang Yanguang shouted loudly. With that, he drew his treasured sword and leapt out through the window.

Duán Míngyù and Xú Zǔyè suddenly heard Yang Yanguang’s voice and knew something was wrong. A heavy sense of dread settled in their hearts. They understood all too well what such an unexpected event meant at such a sensitive time. Despite this, they did not panic. Duán Míngyù tucked the key safely away, and Xú Zǔyè secured the blood-written letter before hurriedly following after him.

The man in black wore a grim expression, surprised to find such a master here. Judging from the other’s alertness, this old man’s martial skill was clearly superior.

Without further words, the man in black moved like a galloping horse, swiftly dashing into the courtyard. He was fast, but Yang Yanguang was faster. If the man in black was a horse, Yang was a gale-force wind. Clad in a suit of martial garments and recognizing the other’s formidable skill, Yang threw off all restraint, feet barely touching the ground as the distance between them quickly closed.

Duán Míngyù, now with keen perception, had just reached the back gate when she saw Yang Yanguang and the man in black enter the courtyard one after the other. Xú Zǔyè could only watch from a distance. Against ordinary men, he could take on two or three, but this opponent was skilled in martial arts; charging in would only cause trouble. Duán Míngyù said nothing more—this matter was of grave importance. This man must die.

Immediately, Duán Míngyù began to regulate her breath using the cultivation method Yang Yanguang had taught her. With astonished eyes, Xú Zǔyè watched her charge forward.

The man in black heard the faint rush of wind and turned to see two figures hurtling toward him like shooting stars.

His heart jolted—this old man was incredibly fast. Now they were only a dozen paces apart.

A surge of fierce anger rose in the man in black’s chest. He flipped his hand, suddenly revealing five or six flying darts. With a sharp flick, he launched them while continuing his forward rush without turning back.

Yang Yanguang saw the darts coming and his sword flashed cold light. With several clear metallic clangs, the darts lost momentum and fell powerless.

Seeing the man in black widen the gap, Duán Míngyù, whose hand had somehow acquired a throwing knife, wasted no time and threw it. This was the first time in her life she had thrown a knife while actively using her martial energy.

The man in black heard the slicing sound as the knife tore through the air. The technique and force far exceeded his own. Just one step more and he could have escaped the courtyard. Gritting his teeth, he took a daring leap upward.

“Shhhk!” The throwing knife struck the man in black’s ankle, continuing its momentum through the flesh and embedding deep into the wall behind.

The man in black groaned, feeling his internal energy leak away, and collapsed into the corner. Yang Yanguang was already waiting, his slender sword suddenly stabbing with lightning speed straight at the man’s chest.

Cornered with no room to retreat, the man in black leapt to the left. A hiss echoed as the sharp blade slashed a long cut across his arm. Though not a severe injury, it was enough to shock and anger him, causing his fighting spirit to falter.

Yang Yanguang seized the moment, his swordplay relentless and fluid, like a spectral serpent quivering without end. Though the man in black drew a dagger in defense, he soon sustained multiple wounds, overwhelmed and unable even to curse.

Duán Míngyù watched Yang Yanguang’s sword techniques shift and flow like a ghostly dance, feeling dizzy and terrified. She had never imagined his swordsmanship to be so exquisite.

As the battle raged, droplets of blood occasionally splattered beyond the courtyard’s confines. The man in black, sensing his life was in peril, let out a fierce shout and leapt high into the air.

Yang Yanguang’s pupils contracted sharply. He stepped back two paces, sheathed his flexible sword at his waist, and turned away.

The man in black landed and immediately collapsed, a spray of blood shooting upward like a fountain from his neck—beyond any doubt, he was dead.

Duán Míngyù clearly saw that as the man in black leapt, Yang Yanguang had thrust a sword strike at him, so fast it took only a blink.

Only after kicking the man twice to confirm he was truly dead did Xú Zǔyè shamelessly come out, spitting twice on the corpse. “Pah! With this little skill, you dare to eavesdrop? If Yang Yanguang hadn’t acted so quickly, I’d surely have made you suffer.”

Duán Míngyù ignored Xú Zǔyè and approached Yang Yanguang, who was squatting on the ground examining something. She saw that he was inspecting the throwing dart the man in black had used.

The dart was about forty centimeters long, with a handle at one end and a pick-shaped tip. Unlike other darts, this one had shallow blood grooves on both sides, and upon closer inspection, a small character “Qin” was etched on the handle.

Duán Míngyù casually picked up a dart and asked, “Master Yang, what can you tell us about this dart?”

Yang Yanguang narrowed his eyes. “The opponent is no small player. From my many years of experience, this dart is unique to the Qin Sect!”

Xú Zǔyè asked curiously, “Which path does the Qin Sect belong to?”

Yang Yanguang glanced strangely at them. “Perhaps you don’t know the Qin Sect, but you must have heard of Qin Shubao. Qin Shubao rendered great service to the Tang Dynasty. The Qin Sect rose alongside his fame. After more than two centuries of heritage, this sect has grown beyond what people can imagine. The current head is Qin Zongquan, former governor of Caizhou. A few years ago, when Huang Chao’s rebellion was at its peak, Qin Zongquan allied with him. Though Huang Chao has since fallen and fled to Shandong, Qin Zongquan has wielded the sect’s power, centered on Caizhou, recruiting and expanding aggressively. Qin Zongquan’s strength ranks among the top three in the world. So tell me, which path does the Qin Sect walk?”

Duán Míngyù hesitated. “Master Yang, isn’t it a bit hasty to conclude the intruder is from the Qin Sect based solely on this dart?”

Yang Yanguang produced a waist token with a flourish. “I found this on the man in black. The two pieces of evidence together leave little room for doubt.”

Duán Míngyù took the token and saw the name “Qin Shou” inscribed on it. Her face twitched involuntarily. The man’s name was “Qin Shou”—a fitting name for a beast.

A knot formed in Duán Míngyù’s heart. No sooner had she learned the cause of the great official Wan’s death and uncovered a glimpse of the aristocratic secrets than the Qin family had come knocking. They came not as friends but as foes. It seemed the Qin family’s bastards were determined to seize the Wan family’s fortune.

Xú Zǔyè, having roamed the martial world for many years, was astute and clear-minded. Hearing Yang Yanguang’s words, his thoughts became as transparent as a mirror.

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