The Iron Cavalry halted, blocking the entire mountain road.
Upon seeing the group's attire, especially the emblem on their chests, all the passersby steered clear, not even daring to meet their gazes. Some wanted no trouble and departed quickly. Others couldn't restrain their curiosity and stopped to watch from a safe distance.
"Those⊠those are people from the City Lord's Mansion! What are they doing here?"
"I heard the City Lord's most pampered princess traveled all the way from Lingjing City and is now staying at the Xianlai Restaurant in Shisu Town. Countless young talents have flocked there, hoping to catch a glimpse of her."
"These Silver Armored Guards are probably here for Chen Yang."
The various discussions continued, but in uniformly hushed tones, as if terrified of being overheard by the guards. Whether speaking of the City Lord's Mansion or the young princess, their voices carried a mix of reverence and extreme caution.
The City Lord's Mansion was incredibly powerful. It wasn't just ordinary people like them; even the Three Valleys and Six Courts had to be wary. Only the nine great Sects could stand with them as equals.
"Don't tell me he's going to be wiped out right after leaving the Red Lotus Valley? If so, that Chen Yang fellow is incredibly unlucky."
"You're not wrong. These are the Silver Armored Guards from the City Lord's Mansion. How could any ordinary person stand against them?"
"Commander." A deputy named Zhu Mu flashed a fawning smile. "Aren't these nobodies underestimating us? Forget you, Boss, or the rest of the team; I alone could capture that Chen Yang fellow."
"Who cares about some nobody who came from who-knows-where? I don't care why he shouldered the blame for the Red Lotus Valley. This time tomorrow will be the anniversary of his death."
"Can't argue with that," Zhang Xiao said, tapping his forehead with a smile. "Why capture him alive? Just kill him."
"You're right, Boss." Zhu Mu immediately nodded, shamelessly promoting himself. "My strength has improved quite a bit. You'll have to give me a few pointers later, Boss."
He had barely finished speaking when the sound of approaching hoofbeats echoed from a distance. They instinctively looked up.
A group of four was heading their way, with one person in the lead and the other three following closely behind.
"Here they come!" A smile tugged at Zhang Xiao's lips.
Zhu Mu brandished his spear and patted his chest. "Leave it to me, Boss."
They had never seen Chen Yang, nor had they ever met Shen Shaotian. But how could they not recognize Liu Qingmei, the renowned beauty of Yuning Mountain?
At the same time, Shen Shaotian and Liu Qingmei frowned, their faces falling.
Silver Armored Guards... this...
They had considered countless possibilities but had never imagined that people from the City Lord's Mansion would appear here. More importantly, judging by their posture, they clearly came with ill intent.
"Are you Chen Yang?" Zhu Mu raised his spear, pointing it at the man in the lead. "Hand over the map fragment now," he said arrogantly, "or die!"
"Shen Shaotian, Liu Qingmei, if you don't want to die, step aside immediately." Zhu Mu spoke again, nudging his horse forward. "Of course," he added coldly, "if you wish to make an enemy of our City Lord's Mansion, then you are welcome to try!"
His voice boomed, dripping with killing intent. The sheer dominance in his words sent a shiver down the spine of everyone present. The reputation of the City Lord's Mansion was one thing, but to see their methods firsthand was something else entirely. Outside of the nine great Sects, who else would they deign to notice?
Shen Shaotian was about to speak when the unthinkable happened.
CLANG!
A sword left its sheath.
In the next instant, a piercing glint of cold light tore across the sky, flashing under the bright sun. Zhang Xiao had only seen Zhu Mu accelerating, raising his war spear to charge. Before he could even blink, a sliver of starlight descended from the heavens, its Sword Qi as sharp as frost.
"Watch out!" Zhang Xiao roared, but his warning came too late.
The immense Sword Qi crashed down from above like a thunderbolt striking the firmament. As it landed, the entire mountain road began to tremble violently.
BOOM!
A thunderous explosion erupted from within the ranks of the Silver Armored Guards. Then, the swordsman advanced as if they were completely unopposed, the slow, rhythmic sound of his horse's hooves echoing in the silence.
Zhang Xiao's eyes widened in horror. Everywhere he looked, the entire troop of Silver Armored Guards was thrown into chaos, with men and horses sent flying in a total rout.
Zhu Mu, who had been charging at the very front, was cleaved in twoâalong with his horse and his war spear.
It was all from a single sword strike.
And most importantly, he didn't even deign to look my way?
This... This sudden turn of events nearly sent Zhang Xiao toppling from his warhorse. His entire body trembled uncontrollably.
Even Shen Shaotian and Liu Qingmei, along with the curious onlookers who had stayed behind, were all completely dumbfounded and filled with disbelief.
"Since when were my belongings something the likes of you could take by force?"
The sword returned to its sheath as the figure walked further and further away.
WHOOSH.
A second ago, Zhang Xiao had been celebrating his survival, but now his chest was pierced by a beam of light. He fell to the ground, his eyes still wide with shock.
Even in death, he couldn't understand how their opponent was so powerful. He couldn't understand how someone in Yuning Mountain dared to defy the immense power of the City Lord's Mansion, wiping out an entire squad with his sword without a single word of warning.
The onlookers were just as bewildered.
Who⊠who in the world was this person?!
For a moment, countless people simply stared at each other, a cold chill running from the soles of their feet to the crowns of their heads.
This guy... he's practically defying the heavens.
Liu Qingmei and Shen Shaotian subconsciously exchanged a look, both seeing the same profound shock in each other's eyes. In that single, fleeting moment, they felt as though they had just witnessed the rise of a truly ruthless figure.
Far too ruthless.
ăEarly that spring.ă
An abrupt piece of news sent shockwaves through all of Yuning Mountain.
Chen Yang had cut down dozens of Silver Armored Guards with a single strike. He had cut through their ranks like a hot knife through butter, completely unopposed.
In a single confrontation, with a single strike, the Silver Armored Guardsâfamed for their tactical coordination and formidable armorâhad crumbled as if made of clay. Not a single one survived.
"Who is this fellow who appeared out of nowhere? To think he took out an entire squad of the City Lord's Mansion's Silver Armored Guards with one move!"
"A newborn calf that doesn't fear the tiger, eh? Does he not even have any regard for the mighty City Lord's Mansion?"
A tidal wave of discussion erupted throughout Yuning Mountain. At the same time, the news deterred a number of people who had been planning to murder him for his treasure. Anyone who still wanted to make a move on Chen Yang now had to seriously reconsider their own strength.
Shisu Town was, naturally, the first to bear the brunt of it.
The sky above was gloomy and oppressive, the blazing sun obscured by clouds. The cold wind cut like a knife, whistling without end.
Inside a tavern.
"What an arrogant bastard! How dare he touch people from the City Lord's Mansion? He's courting death!"
The young man, who was none other than Shen Shaokun, gripped a wine cup tightly. A cruel glint flashed in his eyes as he looked up, staring at the Xianlai Restaurant across the street, a slight smile playing on his lips.
If I were to take your head and present it as a gift to the little princess from the City Lord's Mansion, I'm sure she'd look upon me with favor, wouldn't she?
At this thought, Shen Shaokun let out a sinister laugh.