Chapter 308: Chapter 206: Forcing_1
Upon hearing this, everyone fell silent, the atmosphere growing heavy.
Eventually, it was Li Feihong who took the lead and said, “Since the senior insists, I have no choice but to ask for guidance.”
With that, he leaped up from the small boat, drawing his treasured sword from its sheath. Although there was no three-feet-long Sword Qi, the forceful blade gleamed menacingly as he aimed straight for the old fisherman on the boat.
As he had said before, the matter of the Spirit Fish in Wuzhe Lake was of great importance. It wasn’t just his family’s private interest, but the common interest of all the major powers of the Three Mansions of Wuzhe, as well as a share belonging to the imperial court.
As the local power in Jiangning Mansion, the Le Family held a considerable share and naturally had to stand at the forefront when issues arose. Otherwise, how could they command respect?
Thus, even though he knew the opponent was extraordinary, Li Feihong had to summon his courage and make a move.
He gave it his all from the very first try, and the Feihong Sword flew out of its sheath as fast as lightning.
However…
At the bow of the black-awning boat, the fisherman didn’t move, still sitting in his fishing pose, he merely pointed with his fishing rod in hand.
The fishing rod was one and a half meters long, tapering from thin at the top to thick at the bottom, and had a fishing line on it. It didn’t look suitable as a weapon at all.
Yet in his hands, it was like a spear or sword, a casual point and stab…
“Bang!”
With a clang and a spark, Li Feihong tumbled back onto the small boat, making it sink slightly, water rippling around it. He took several steps back from the center of the boat to the stern, barely managing to arrest his momentum and avoid falling into the lake.
Even so, his face still wore an expression of extreme shock, and the hand holding the sword trembled uncontrollably.
In just one move, his pride in his Feihong Swordsmanship was shattered.
It wasn’t just the difference in swordplay techniques, but a crushing disparity in foundational strength.
In the collision, the power unleashed by the opponent completely overpowered him.
Had it been a heavy weapon like a long spear or halberd, such might could be understood.
But this was a fishing rod, thin and flexible like a whip at the front end, which had unleashed such force.
That could only mean…
Li Feihong’s face turned pale, and cold sweat dotted his forehead. The chilling night breeze blew over him, jerking him fully awake.
“Senior’s martial arts are transcendent, I cannot compare!”
“I apologize for any offense, please forgive me!”
“Farewell!”
After saying that, he bowed with his hands together, pushed off with his feet, and the small boat quickly retreated.
“Farewell!”
The rest of the group, upon seeing this, first fell into silence and then all acted in unison.
As quickly as they came, they retreated just as swiftly, and shortly the bright lights vanished into the darkness.
However…
No sooner had they left than a fiery red light appeared from the darkness.
A beam of red light, intense as fire, came hurtling through the air, reaching the center of the scene in an instant.
“Li Suhong of the Le Family acknowledges your prowess,” a soft voice called out as the red light approached, revealing a stunningly beautiful figure.
“Mana?”
“Cultivator?”
Xu Yang’s eyes narrowed, his expression unchanged, he whipped his fishing rod like a lash, directly aiming it at the oncoming sword light.
“Bang!!!”
Though it was a direct and blunt move, it was unavoidable. As the bamboo tip met the tempered sword edge in collision, sparks flew, and a shadow flipped, slashing out with another sword strike.
But she was fast, and her opponent was faster.
As soon as her Sword Qi emerged, the fishing rod, whipped like a lash, lunged straight forward in a stabbing motion. The slender tip of the bamboo rod, like a spear turned into a sword, flashed by in an instant, breaking through the Sword Qi and injuring her body.
“Puh!”
A muffled sound was followed by a spray of blood.
Li Suhong let out a stifled groan, then turned and fled, transforming into a sword light that flew away.
“Well met!”
She came hastily and left just as quickly, disappearing without a trace.
Xu Yang smiled, did not pursue her, and reeled his fishing rod back in to continue fishing.
Not far away, Qing, who had been stunned, came to her senses and, seeing the fisherman resume fishing, dared not disturb him. She shakily maneuvered the oars, steering the boat away from this troublesome place.
Elsewhere…
“Bang!”
The red light, like a fire, swept back and landed on the brightly lit large ship, revealing the stunning figure once again.
It was Li Suhong.
“Miss!”
“How did it go?”
As soon as Li Suhong landed, people crowded around her, asking with anxious concern.
“This person is unfathomable; don’t act rashly; just let him be for now!”
Li Suhong dropped these words, paying no heed to the stares and left with a cold face.
“What…”
The rest looked at each other, unsure of what to do next.
But this was no concern of Li Suhong, who couldn’t care less at that moment.
Hastily returning to her room, she shut the doors and windows behind her, collapsing to the floor with breaths coming in gasps.
“Heh, heh…!”
With every breath, she tore open her clothing, revealing the skin of her upper body.
On the smooth, jade-like shoulder, there was a bloodstain that punctured through the flesh.
The wound was in the shape of a sword, implying a keenness concealed within. Amidst the blood-red flesh, fibrous tissues sprouted rapidly, seeking to entangle and seal the wound, but they were suppressed by the Sword Qi. The tissue spilled blood and writhed as if alive.
“Heh, heh!”
After catching her breath for a while, Li Suhong propped herself up, looking at the terrible wound on her shoulder with a touch of hesitation in her eyes. Finally, she gritted her teeth and took out a jade bottle from her bosom.
The bottle was greenish, clearly of fine quality, and the scent that wafted out upon opening the stopper was out of the ordinary.
Li Suhong turned it upside down and a radiant, jadelike Elixir rolled out.
Looking at the Elixir in her hand, Li Suhong’s eyes flickered with disgust and resistance, but in the end, she closed her eyes tightly, raised her head, and swallowed the Elixir down.
“Gurgle!”
As the Elixir slid down her throat, it began to take effect immediately, dispelling much of the demonic irritation.
Li Suhong steadied herself, summoned her Mana, and her left shoulder, where the sword wound was, immediately glowed red as fire.