Chapter 243 - 41: Bone Fragment

Chapter 243: Chapter 41: Bone Fragment

"Young Master Yan!"

Upon seeing Lin Yan, one of the Fourth-Time Skin Smoothing Martial Artists hurried over to greet him. Lin Yan recognized the man as one of the three Fourth-Time Skin Smoothing Martial Artists in Lin Mingye’s group, with the surname Sun.

"What happened? Where’s Mingye?" Lin Yan’s gaze swept across the scene, his brows furrowing slightly.

"Young Master Mingye saw someone fleeing toward the mountain ridge and went after them alone."

Sun Heng noticed Lin Yan’s gaze fall upon the corpses on the ground. Before Lin Yan could ask, he explained, "We didn’t kill these people. We found these bodies when we arrived. Young Master Mingye believes it was internal strife among the Roving Bandits. Someone killed their companions and tried to flee. Since they hadn’t been dead for long, Young Master Mingye had us send a message while he gave chase."

Hearing Sun Heng’s words, Lin Yan glanced at the bodies on the ground. He knelt and examined one for a moment, and he quickly understood the situation.

Lin Yan was already quite familiar with corpses.

Mingye’s judgment was correct. These people had been dead for no more than two hundred breaths. Factoring in the time it took for him to arrive, the killer must have just left when Mingye got here.

Two of the five bodies had their throats slit by a dagger, while the other three had been stabbed in the chest. It seemed this group had indeed turned on each other, and the final assailants numbered two.

Furthermore, judging from the wounds, the killers’ strength was likely at the First or Second Blood Exchange Realm, and their Cultivation Technique Realm was not high.

If they had grasped a Mental Realm, the wounds wouldn’t look like this.

’I can catch them!’

"You all continue to stand guard here. Inform anyone who arrives of the situation. I’m going after Mingye."

Without another word, Lin Yan flickered and reappeared several dozen feet away.

Sun Heng’s vision blurred for an instant, and he saw Young Master Yan’s figure appear deep within the dense forest ahead. He subconsciously squinted, trying to get a better look, but by the time his eyes focused, the figure had already vanished without a trace.

"That... was incredibly fast!"

A Third-Time Skin Smoothing Martial Artist behind him couldn’t help but exclaim in a low voice, "Young Master Yan’s speed is much faster than Young Master Mingye’s."

"Shut up. It’s not our place to comment on the young masters of the main family."

Sun Heng turned and rebuked him in a hushed tone. His gaze then drifted back involuntarily to where Lin Yan’s figure had disappeared. Though he was also somewhat surprised by Young Master Yan’s speed, he wasn’t overly shocked.

’Did you really think several True Gang Realm elders would mobilize for just any random clan member?’

’In this world, no one is given importance for no reason.’

’For Young Master Yan to receive such attention from the Third Branch, he must naturally have his own extraordinary qualities.’

"Everyone, stay sharp! Hold this position and wait for the other young masters to arrive before we decide what to do next."

Sun Heng retracted his gaze and gave the order in a low voice. He then positioned himself beside the corpses, his right hand resting on the hilt of his saber as he scanned the surroundings vigilantly.

Although it was unlikely the killers would return, he still had to remain on high alert.

...

...

「On the mountain peak.」

The clang of metal on metal rang out.

The Longsword in Lin Mingye’s hand vibrated continuously. Infused with his Blood Gang, the edge of the Spiritual Weapon hummed deeply. By himself, he forced two men, both also at Blood Exchange First Transformation, into a steady retreat.

One man, one sword, overwhelming two opponents of the same Blood Exchange First Transformation. His Sword Momentum was fierce, and every thrust sealed off his opponents’ escape routes.

This was the difference between a disciple from a great family and an ordinary Blood Exchange Realm Martial Artist.

The Innate advantage in Qi Blood, the superiority of a Spiritual Weapon, and the sophistication of his Cultivation Technique.

With these three factors combined, fighting two opponents of the same Realm posed no problem at all.

"Talk. What are you plotting in the East River Waters? Tell me, and I’ll give you a quick death."

Lin Mingye’s Sword Momentum never faltered as he pressed them coldly with his words.

The two men in gray robes didn’t respond. They merely exchanged a look, and each saw a ruthless glint in the other’s eyes.

Delaying would only lead to certain death; reinforcements from the Lin Family could arrive at any moment.

Rather than be trapped, it was better to risk it all.

"Go!"

One of them shouted, and both men erupted at once. They abandoned all defense, lunging at Lin Mingye with a life-for-life tactic.

The man on the left swung his long saber horizontally, its blade cutting through the air straight for Lin Mingye’s neck. There was nothing fancy about the strike; it was all about pure speed.

The man on the right lunged forward, his five fingers forming a claw as he aimed directly for Lin Mingye’s heart.

Lin Mingye snorted coldly. ’These two think they can risk their lives against me? What a joke.’

Stepping back twice, Lin Mingye prepared to dodge the lunging man while swinging his Longsword to strike the saber-wielding man on his left.

’How could his opponent’s ordinary long saber possibly compare to the Spiritual Weapon in his own hands?’

However, just as Lin Mingye swung his Longsword, the man lunging toward him, still in mid-air, flipped his right hand, and three long, thin black needles slid out from his sleeve.

The bodies of the needles were jet-black, but a faint, Dark Red pattern was visible on their tips.

SWOOSH!

Three streaks of black light shot out silently, heading straight for Lin Mingye’s face.

Lin Mingye’s pupils contracted. He hadn’t expected his opponent to have prepared a sneak attack with hidden weapons. The tips of the three thin needles shimmered with red light, clearly designed specifically to counter the Blood Gang of a Blood Exchange Realm Powerhouse.

With no time to think, Lin Mingye’s Sword Momentum changed. His Longsword drew a half-arc in front of him, and he pushed his Blood Gang to its absolute limit, weaving a barrier of sword light.

CLANG! CLANG!

The first two black needles were deflected by the sword light, but the third pierced through a gap and embedded itself in his left shoulder.

The moment the needle pierced his flesh, Lin Mingye felt a bone-chilling cold explode from the wound. The Blood Gang in his left arm instantly collapsed like a popped balloon.

"Die!"

Despite being ambushed, Lin Mingye’s Qi Blood was ultimately abundant. With a furious roar, he swung his Longsword again, completely ignoring the saber-wielding man and thrusting directly at the man before him.