Chapter 73 - 72: On the Mandarin Duck Tower

All the surrounding clamor had nothing to do with Xu Guang. His eyes carried a hint of distraction; the momentum had faded.

But his Six Returning Mountain Spears had not broken through to Mastery. It was as if the strike from a moment ago was merely an illusion.

He stood in place, reminiscing for a long time, yet he could no longer grasp the elegance of that previous strike.

Pulling out the Big Spear planted in Yang Sha’s body, he noticed there was no blood on the spearhead. This was a new ability born after the Blood Eye evolved once more: he could perform Blood Refining through mediums like Weapons.

The abilities of the Blood Eye were becoming increasingly mystical.

Perhaps one day, he would be able to control others’ blood with a single glance.

What a pity that the Six Returning Mountain Spears still hadn’t reached Mastery. He still couldn’t fully grasp the Spear Intent.

With a sigh, Xu Guang vanished from the arena.

He was still missing a few materials for the Bright God Pill. Once he gathered them all, he would find a volcanic crater and try taking the Elixir Pills to comprehend his Martial Intent.

***

Mandarin Duck Tower was an establishment in the Outer City that combined Jichun Tower, a restaurant, and a brothel into one location. It was an important property of the Han Family in the Outer City.

"Greetings, Marshal Xu!"

Xu Guang looked at the approaching man. He looked familiar, but Xu Guang didn’t know his name.

Li Xiao looked at Xu Guang, who wasn’t even as old as his own son, with a hint of emotion in his eyes. He hadn’t gone to watch the arena battle. He had merely received orders that whoever came to Mandarin Duck Tower would be the Marshal. Since Xu Guang was the one who arrived, he was naturally the Marshal.

Xu Guang nodded and walked forward, carrying his Big Spear.

"Marshal, are we making a move now?" Li Xiao asked.

"I’ve waited a long time for this moment. You all... Stand by!" Xu Guang commanded.

His voice gradually dissipated in the wind.

***

Inside Mandarin Duck Tower.

The place was packed with guests, but today’s clientele made the waiter feel that something was off. In these people’s eyes, he saw a kind of Evil Qi—a look that only a Martial Artist about to commit slaughter possessed.

In his earlier years, when he went outside the city to receive goods for his boss, he had encountered bandits. The ferocity in the eyes of those bandits was exactly the same as these people.

Trembling, the waiter served wine to a few shouting customers, quietly asking if they wanted to order more food.

"Get the hell out of here! You’re in the way!" a burly man yelled, forcefully shoving him aside.

Suddenly, a strong hand supported the waiter from behind.

Turning his head, he saw a very young and handsome man. Knowing the background of his restaurant, the waiter had the fortune of seeing this kind of aura on Young Master Han Po.

So he hurriedly turned around and was about to kneel, but the man reached out and stopped him.

"Th-thank you, My Lord," the waiter stammered, somewhat moved. He hadn’t expected the noble in front of him to be so easygoing.

"Do you know Han Qing?" the man asked.

"Is My Lord referring to Miss Han? She is upstairs. She just arrived this morning." The waiter wasn’t supposed to disclose such information, but facing Xu Guang, he blurted it out involuntarily.

"You’re looking for Miss Han?" Hearing their conversation, a burly man from an adjacent table suddenly stood up and asked.

Xu Guang remained calm and composed, his gaze indifferent. "I have a matter to settle with Miss Han."

"Settle? Brat, I’ve seen plenty of guys like you. Get the hell out of here."

The burly man’s scolding didn’t provoke Xu Guang’s anger. He merely looked at him quietly. "Friend, in this day and age, meddling in other people’s business will get you killed."

His tone was ordinary, and his words were polite, but their implication sent shivers down one’s spine.

"You’re courting death!"

SWISH!

Xu Guang’s spear was faster.

A sky full of silver shadows transformed into a canopy, instantly turning the first floor of Mandarin Duck Tower into a living hell. With an invulnerable body, Xu Guang’s performance against low Realm Martial Artists made him look like a monster.

Xu Guang’s dispute with Yang Sha had caused a massive uproar. Among those who navigated the Martial World, some recognized Xu Guang and were now terrified out of their wits. They immediately opened their mouths to beg for mercy. "Spare us..."

But the spear in Xu Guang’s hands showed no mercy.

A moment later, Xu Guang emerged from a pile of corpses. His footsteps seemed to hammer directly into the heart of the waiter, who had long been scared silly. There were many corpses, and a lot of blood had splattered across the floor. However, the corpses themselves were completely clean, as if they had been drained of all their blood.

"It’s fine. Don’t be afraid," Xu Guang said.

His tone remained gentle, making one feel as if bathed in a spring breeze. He raised his head slightly, an inexplicable emotion welling up in his chest. His footsteps maintained an even pace as his gaze locked onto the top of the stairs, climbing step by step. His line of sight seemed to pierce through spatial barriers, landing directly on the woman sitting cross-legged in that room.

"Han Qing..." The name, spoken calmly yet laced with other emotions, quietly slipped from Xu Guang’s moving lips.

The waiter, trembling, raised his head and looked at the pile of bodies with their stomachs ripped open and heads smashed by the spear shaft. His stomach churned violently. He forcefully suppressed his nausea and looked at Xu Guang, who was still clad in white linen. Despite killing so many people, his clothes remained completely spotless.

"Take me to see Miss Han."

"You are quite arrogant, aren’t you." Han Po appeared at the staircase, looking as handsome as ever. His posture was elegant and his expression carefree, as if he hadn’t even noticed the corpses littering the hall. As he walked, he cracked his neck and adjusted his clothes, fully adopting the mannerisms of a noble young master.

Xu Guang narrowed his eyes slightly. The Big Spear in his hand let out an involuntary hum.

Han Po coldly snorted. The folding fan in his hand instantly flew out, shooting toward Xu Guang like a boomerang.

CLANG!

The Big Spear knocked the iron fan away. Taking advantage of the momentum, Han Po flipped his long robe back and sat on the staircase banister, attempting to slide down with the utmost flair. While in mid-air, as if he had eyes on the back of his head, he flawlessly caught the returning iron fan.

However, before he could even slide down, a loud SQUELCH rang out.

Agonizing pain instantly assaulted Han Po’s entire body. With a look of utter disbelief, he forced his head down to stare at the spearhead that had impaled him.

"Urgh... you! You have no martial honor!" Han Po choked out.

Xu Guang’s expression didn’t change in the slightest. He pulled out the Big Spear, and the blade-like section of the spearhead slashed out with the motion. A perfectly good head flew into the air and was caught by Xu Guang.

Originally, according to their agreement, Han Po’s head was supposed to be severed by Song Tao. But Han Po had been acting too pretentious just now, and Xu Guang couldn’t hold back. He had probably been spoiled by sparring with indulgent experts in his own home.

Xu Guang raised his head once more, his heart becoming exceptionally calm. He didn’t rush upstairs to kill; instead, he walked toward the stairs at a leisurely pace. Clad in long white robes and holding his silver Big Spear, he looked like an ascetic on a pilgrimage.

One step at a time, unhurried and steady, just like his years of hard work. All his cultivation had relied on himself alone. Enduring the harsh winds and pouring rain, he had finally made it to today.

The word "revenge" sounded so light, yet it weighed a thousand catties.

Standing at the foot of the stairs, Xu Guang looked up and gazed at these ancient steps that had existed for who knows how many years. He slowly closed his eyes. Faintly, a subtle spear hum seemed to drift down clearly from the top, echoing quietly in the stairwell like a ringing bell, intoxicating the mind.

After a long moment of silence, Xu Guang opened his eyes. He lightly hefted the Big Spear in his hand and stepped forward. His foot finally landed firmly on the stairs, which were slightly wet after beheading Han Po. This hatred, suppressed for years, would finally be settled today!

The instant his foot came down, Xu Guang could sense that his very soul seemed to exhale a breath it had been holding back for several years.

Over the past few years, ever since his father was severely injured and bedridden, his mother had carried the burden of the family on her frail shoulders. To improve their living conditions and buy medicine for his father, Xu Guang had narrowly escaped death several times. Everything—absolutely everything—originated from that day his father died, causing his mother to age before her time...