Chapter 82: Assassination

A chilling killing intent, like a viper lunging from the tall grass—silent, and aimed straight for his back!

In this life-or-death instant, Fang Han, though startled, remained composed.

After breaking through to the Inner Qi Realm, his Spiritual Sense was far sharper than ever before.

The very moment that killing intent erupted, warning sirens blared in his mind. The nascent wisp of Inner Qi within him began to churn with frenzied, instinctual speed.

SHING—!

The crisp ring of a sword tore through the air!

Before he had even fully turned, the Cyan Blade Sword was already out of its sheath, carving a vicious and cunning arc as it swung back with unerring precision.

A faint yet incredibly dense layer of cyan Inner Qi instantly coated the blade, radiating a bone-chilling edge.

CLANG—!

The jarring shriek of metal on metal erupted as sparks flew.

A sinister and piercingly cold Qi Force slammed into him through the blade, making his arm tingle with numbness. With a CRACK, the bluestone slab beneath his feet fractured.

He used the force of the blow to slide forward several steps, instantly creating distance. Only then did he spin around, his gaze as cold as ice, fixing on the attacker who had just appeared.

Only then did Fang Zheng and Lin Wan, who were standing nearby, finally react.

"Han’er!"

Lin Wan’s face was ashen. She cried out in alarm and instinctively moved to rush forward, only to be held back firmly by Fang Zheng.

"Be careful!"

Fang Zheng was just as pale, his voice trembling violently with terror.

The attacker was cloaked and hooded, his face buried deep in shadow. Only a pair of hawkish eyes glittered with a cold, uncertain light. It was Huang Kui, acting on the orders of Patriarch Lin, Lin Yaotian.

He had never imagined that his guaranteed-kill strike would be parried so cleanly.

What shocked him to the core was the power he had felt from the other’s sword at the moment of impact... It was clearly Inner Qi!

This Fang Han wasn’t in the Late Stage of Bone Refining as the intel had suggested. He was already an Inner Qi Realm Martial Artist!

"Inner Qi?! You’ve actually stepped into the Ninth Grade Inner Qi Realm?!"

Huang Kui’s voice, deliberately lowered and raspy, emerged from beneath his cloak, thick with unconcealable astonishment.

He had only heard of Inner Qi Realm cultivators this young in legends—true prodigies. He never dreamed he would actually encounter one in a place like Liangshui Town!

His astonishment was quickly replaced by a towering killing intent.

’This boy must not be allowed to live!’

’If he is allowed to develop, the Fang Family will completely dominate the Lin Family in the future. They’ll never have a chance to recover... They might even face annihilation!’

"Die!"

Huang Kui roared, and the Inner Qi he had spent years bitterly cultivating erupted from his body.

He executed a swift Body Technique, closing in on Fang Han like a specter.

The short saber in his hand became a blur of dark shadows, like the fangs of a rabid wolf. Every strike was vicious and cunning, aimed unfailingly at Fang Han’s vital points.

The wind from his blade was sharp, the Powerful Qi it generated scoring shallow gashes in the ground. It was clear that he, having been in the Inner Qi Realm for a long time, possessed far more profound power than Fang Han, who had only just entered.

’His Inner Qi is stronger than mine!’

Fang Han remained cool-headed in the face of danger, his eyes as placid as still water.

He knew his own reserves of Inner Qi were nowhere near as deep as his opponent’s, but battles weren’t decided by the depth of one’s Inner Qi alone; Martial Technique, experience, and even battlefield adaptability were all crucial factors.

SWOOSH—!

He instantly unleashed his Xunfeng Swordsmanship, which had reached the Great Success Level. His sword flashes were like a gale sweeping across the sky—swift, fierce, and unpredictable.

Though his Inner Qi was weaker, boosted by his exquisite Sword Skill, the combat power he unleashed was in no way inferior to Huang Kui’s, allowing him to meet every one of the man’s torrential attacks.

Simultaneously, he activated his Gale Step, which had reached the Perfection Level.

His movements became erratic, like a willow catkin drifting in the wind, always managing to deftly evade a killing blow by a hair’s breadth.

One moment he would vanish like a wisp of smoke, the next he’d reappear like a flash of cold lightning. His Cyan Blade Sword would always find the most unbelievable angles to strike from, posing a constant threat.

RIP!

After a dozen fierce exchanges, Fang Han’s sword flashed. The cloak on Huang Kui’s shoulder tore, and a shallow, bloody cut appeared.

Though the wound wasn’t deep, it was enough to leave Huang Kui aghast.

’How is this possible?!’

A storm of shock raged in Huang Kui’s mind.

’My Saber Technique was honed over many years, through countless life-and-death battles! My skills are renowned for their ruthless cunning! And with my profound Inner Qi, I can’t even take down a junior who just entered the Inner Qi Realm? Instead, *I’m* the one who got wounded?!’

’I tried to be cautious, but I still underestimated him.’

SWOOSH—!

His eyes hardened. He changed his Saber Technique, his assault growing more frenzied and brutal. He was trying to overwhelm Fang Han with sheer power, relying on his superior Inner Strength to force a direct confrontation.

"Who on earth are you?"

But Fang Han gave him no opportunity to overwhelm skill with brute force.

His Sword Momentum remained as fluid as the wind. At times, the Cyan Blade Sword was like a gentle, elusive breeze; at others, it was a swift and savage bolt of cold lightning.

He refused to clash head-on, instead seeking out openings to advance, his sword tip aimed squarely at the subtle flaws in Huang Kui’s technique as he transitioned between moves.

Combined with his Perfection Body Technique, he weaved left and right, his movements so erratic that he actually managed to put Huang Kui on the defensive, stifling his attacks.

For a time, the narrow alley was filled with crisscrossing Sword Qi and flashing saber light. The shrill clash of metal was incessant, and the overflowing Qi Force kicked up clouds of dust that filled the air.

Nearby, Mr. and Mrs. Fang Zheng watched with their hearts in their throats. Their palms were slick with cold sweat, but they didn’t dare make a sound, terrified of breaking Fang Han’s concentration. All they could do was stare, transfixed, at the perilous battle.

’He’s a monster...’

The longer Huang Kui fought, the more shocked and frustrated he became.

He realized he was completely suppressed by his opponent’s bizarrely unpredictable speed and Swordsmanship!

’His Inner Qi may be weaker, but the sophistication of his Swordsmanship and Step Technique is far beyond what I anticipated. If this keeps up...’

SWISH!

The thought had barely crossed Huang Kui’s mind when a cold light flashed in Fang Han’s eyes. He had precisely spotted the minuscule opening revealed after one of Huang Kui’s powerful slashes.

His footwork shifted mysteriously. His body accelerated like a phantom, and in an instant, he cut through his opponent’s central guard!

"Xunfeng Pierces the Sun!"

The Cyan Blade Sword let out a sharp hum, its condensed Sword Force focused into a single point as it thrust toward Huang Kui’s weapon hand!

Aghast, Huang Kui desperately swung his saber back to parry.

CLANG!

A tremendous force surged through the blade. The flesh between his thumb and forefinger split open, and blood gushed out. The short saber was nearly knocked from his grasp as he staggered backward, his guard completely broken!

Seizing the advantage, Fang Han showed no mercy. His sword flashed again, aiming for the kill—straight for the throat.

The shadow of death fell over him. With a strange cry, Huang Kui forgot all about his mission.

The Inner Qi in his body erupted madly as he wrenched his body around. At the same time, he flicked his left hand, sending three glossy black Bone-Piercing Nails shooting toward Fang Han’s face in an attempt to halt his advance.

Fang Han’s heart jumped. His sword became a spinning blur of light, deflecting all the Hidden Weapons with a series of sharp CLINKs. The action, however, caused him to pause for a fraction of a second.

Seizing the fleeting opportunity, Huang Kui spun around without a moment’s hesitation. He pushed off the ground with his toes and, like a startled bird, covered dozens of meters in just a few bounds, fleeing frantically toward the city outskirts!

’Trying to run?!’

Fang Han’s eyes were like ice, his killing intent undiminished.

’This man is ruthless. He was clearly trying to kill me. How can I let him get away?’

’Besides, I have to catch him and force him to reveal who’s behind this!’

"Dad, Mom, get inside Grandpa’s house and lock the doors! I’ll be right back!"

He shouted the words to his parents and, without waiting for a reply, shot off in pursuit of Huang Kui. His body moved like a bolt of cyan lightning tearing across the sky.

Fang Zheng opened his mouth to speak, but as he watched his son’s back vanish into the distance, the thousand words on his tongue turned into a single, worried sigh. He pulled his still-shaken wife into a tight embrace.

WHOOSH!

Fang Han pushed his Gale Step to the absolute limit. His speed was astounding, and he stayed glued to the tail of the pathetic figure fleeing before him.

One chasing, one fleeing, the two of them were like a pair of gales. They soon swept past the bustling streets and into a thrilling chase across the complex network of alleys and rooftops of Liangshui City.