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Chapter 44 - Watching the Show
Chapter 44 - Watching the Show
Chapter 44 Watching the Show
It was 6:30 pm.
Half an hour had passed. Many of the guests who had come to attend the banquet started to get impatient. If not for the fact that their elders were still present, they would have wanted to leave.
Li Tiancheng’s heart was bleeding as he looked at the members of other clans who appeared to be disinterested despite profiting without having done anything.
He was already feeling a little regretful. He did not know if the Li clan taking the initiative to retreat would invite a pack of wolves with a bigger appetite.
Not long after, heavy footsteps sounded from outside the hall.
A frail figure of about 1.75 meters walked into the hall.
The person who entered had a soft expression and a head of long hair. He was wearing a traditional white robe and a purple sword hung from his waist.
This person was not tall, but he gave off a sharp aura the moment he entered the room.
His sharp gaze swept across the room, and no one dared to look him in the eye.
When everyone in the hall saw the main guest arrive, they grew attentive and waited to see how the Li clan would deal with the troublesome issue of their sword technique.
“Lord Zheng, I’ve been waiting for you for a long time.” Li Tiancheng hurried over to welcome him.
“Cut the crap. Where’s the manual for the sword technique?” Zheng Qiming did not give him any face and cut straight to the point.
Li Tiancheng held his breath, and his body swayed. He almost embarrassed himself in public.
They had originally planned to use Zheng Qiming’s name to knock some sense into the clans who came to split the assets of the Li clan, so that they would not be too greedy after gaining those assets. However, Zheng Qiming did not seem to be cooperating.
“Third Brother, go get the manual.” Li Tiancheng turned around and gave out instructions.
“Big Brother…” Li Tianwen said in a low voice.
“Just do as I say!”
“Yes,” Li Tianwen replied and quickly left the hall.
In a corner of the hall, Chen Yiming asked Zhang Youde in a low voice, “Isn’t the Zheng clan famous for their fist techniques? Why does it seem like Zheng Qiming practices swordsmanship?”
“I’ll tell you secretly. Don’t spread this when you’re outside,” Zhang Youde said. “Rumor has it that Zheng Qiming is actually female and has been disguising himself as a man since he was young. His body is thin and weak, so he isn’t suitable for fist-fighting, that’s why he switched to swordsmanship.”
“Can such a thing be real?” Chen Yiming asked doubtfully.
“Zheng Qiming is a genius in the way of the sword. He’s only 22 years old now, and is already an expert who has undergone six transformations,” Zhang Youde explained. “If he can really break through to the warrior realm in the future, the Zheng clan might have a lineage that is able to go straight to the warrior realm based on swordsmanship. No one would be willing to see such a situation happen.”
They would have one more option, and there would always be a suitable candidate in the clan. In the long term, the clan’s foundation would definitely strengthen.
Before long, the manual was brought over.
“Young Master Zheng, the sword manual.” Li Tiancheng passed the sword manual over with both hands.
Zheng Qiming took the sword manual and flipped through it page by page. After confirming that there were no mistakes, he stuffed it into his clothes and turned to leave.
“Young Master Zheng, you promised…” Li Tiancheng quickly stepped forward to stop him.
If Zheng Qiming left without saying anything, he would have given the manual away for nothing.
Zheng Qiming stopped when he saw this. He glanced at Li Tiancheng and announced, “The sword manual is already in my hands. From now on, the Li clan will be under my protection.”
As soon as he finished speaking, he left.
This time, Li Tiancheng did not stop him and finally heaved a sigh of relief.
As long as Zheng Qiming did not try to play dumb and just leave with the sword manual, the Li clan would probably be safe.
This was because sword technique, even if it was incomplete, was left behind by those above the warrior realm. The most valuable part of breaking through the warrior realm was not something that ordinary disciples could replicate.
To the Li clan, although giving away the sword manual was equivalent to getting rid of a troublesome issue and drawing away the experts who were spying on the sword manual, it also meant that they would lose this sword technique forever.
When the people in the main hall saw that Li Tiancheng had handed over the sword manual, they quickly followed Zheng Qiming out of the main hall. Zhang Youde and Chen Yiming also joined the crowd. The only people who didn’t move were the Li clan members.
Everyone was waiting to see a good show. They wanted to see if anyone dared to offend the Zheng clan and attack Zheng Qiming openly. They wanted to see if Zheng Qiming was as powerful as the rumors said and if he could withstand all the attacks by himself.
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“Why do I feel that something is amiss? Isn’t the Zheng clan worried about Zheng Qiming?” Chen Yiming asked Zhang Youde as they walked.
“That’s not it. There must be experts from the Zheng clan nearby all the way,” Zhang Youde replied.
“Then who would dare to make a move? At the expense of their lives?” Chen Yiming asked in confusion.
“It should be the Zheng clan doing this on purpose. The Zheng clan’s experts will only intercept assassins above the level of the ninth transformation. It can be considered a form of training for Zheng Qiming,” Zhang Youde explained.
Chen Yiming finally understood.
His body had undergone three transformations, six transformations, and nine transformations, which were the three stages of qualitative improvements in the disciple realm.
Those who needed the incomplete sword technique were all below the ninth transformation. No matter how strong they were, they would not surpass Zheng Qiming by much. It was just right for Zheng Qiming to use the opportunity to verify his true combat strength. By the time the crowd arrived at a bridge by the river, Zheng Qiming had already started fighting with someone in front of the bridge.
The first to make a move was a masked man who was over two meters tall. He held a large sword in his hand, and it was clear that his fighting style relied on his strength.
The two sides had only just started to exchange blows. Before anyone could see clearly, the taller masked man was sent flying by a kick from Zheng Qiming. From the start to the end, his sword had remained at his waist, unsheathed.
Chen Yiming and Zhang Youde stopped with the rest of the crowd and maintained a certain distance from the fight.
“The masked man who was the first to attack was defeated without even taking one move?” Chen Yiming exclaimed.
He had thought that even if it wasn’t a fierce battle, at least they should have exchanged a few blows at the start.
“This is a common occurrence. Those who rush to make a move are all weak and just want to launch a sudden attack to try and snatch the sword manual,” Zhang Youde said with a smile.
“That masked man probably hasn’t even undergone six transformations. Otherwise, why couldn’t he withstand even a single blow?” Chen Yiming said.
“That’s right. There are always reckless people who are not afraid of losing their lives. After all, this incomplete sword technique is still much stronger than ordinary sword techniques. Using it can also increase one’s strength,” Zhang Youde replied. As the masked man was defeated in one move, the audience erupted into cheers.
Unlike the others who were focused on Zheng Qiming, Chen Yiming’s eyes were fixed on the masked man who had been kicked away.
The collar of the masked man’s shirt was stained with blood dripping out from the corner of his mouth. As he walked, his body was swaying a little. Clearly, that kick had not been easy to withstand, and he had suffered internal injuries.
Should he follow? Chen Yiming started to weigh the pros and cons in his heart. His opponent’s level was at most at the fifth transformation, and he had yet to reach the sixth transformation. His entire body had undergone a qualitative change to become as hard as steel, and he was severely injured.
Although he had only undergone three transformations, the third transformation to the fifth transformation only involved increasing strength. With his opponent injured, it shouldn’t be a problem for him to retreat even if he couldn’t defeat him.