Chapter 40: Sixfold Saber

Night.

Under the bright moonlight, two figures clashed swiftly with dull blades in hand. Their weapons struck against each other, ringing with sharp clangs.

Lin Zheyu's saber technique was ordinary, so he had to rely on the Golden Goose Technique to circle around Han Mo. Han Mo, however, remained rooted in place, his saber movements dense and seamless, changing freely with his body.

In recent days, as the outside world grew more chaotic, Lin Zheyu had developed the idea of learning saber techniques. Compared to fists and kicks, saber techniques indeed offered more advantages in killing an enemy. Under Han Mo's instruction, after more than ten days of practice, his Sixfold Saber had begun to take proper form.

Clang!

Han Mo found a gap in Lin Zheyu's defense and struck with a fierce slash, forcing Lin Zheyu back several steps.

"Senior Brother, you're incredible!" exclaimed Lin Zheyu in admiration.

Han Mo had cultivated the Sixfold Saber to an extraordinary depth, the weapon moving in his hand as naturally as an extension of his arm.

"I have practiced the saber for over ten years. If I were to be surpassed by you this quickly, how could I live that down?" Han Mo said with a smile. "But your comprehension is remarkable. I can't help but feel a bit envious."

Lin Zheyu laughed heartily as he replied, "

Haha

. I'm nothing special, nothing special."

After that, the two sat down at a stone table, enjoying side dishes and sipping wine. In recent times, Han Mo would come every few days to spar with Lin Zheyu.

"Tomorrow I will be heading out to suppress bandits. I may be away from Songyi City for more than half a month, so I won't be able to come and train with you," said Han Mo.

"You're going to suppress bandits? Then why have you been coming here these past few days instead of staying home with your wife?" asked Lin Zheyu.

"My wife...

sigh

, don't mention her. I'd rather not talk about it," sighed Han Mo as he raised his cup and drained it in one gulp.

"You see. I've always said there's nothing good about getting married. Life is much happier alone," said Lin Zheyu with a shrug.

"That's because you don't understand. Married life has its joys and sorrows. That's life. Nothing can ever be all joy and no worries," said Han Mo.

"Yes, yes. You're absolutely right. You should hurry home to accompany your wife. You're about to head out to suppress bandits, yet you still came running here. Drink less, or she will scold you when you get back," said Lin Zheyu. He snatched Han Mo's cup and dragged him toward the door.

"You brat, give me back my cup. I'll leave after I finish drinking," cursed Han Mo with a laugh.

Han Mo was a man of few hobbies. He never touched women, gambled, or did drugs; he only enjoyed drinking. Lin Zheyu, on the other hand, only refrained from gambling and drugs.

"Another one is leaving. Songyi City is becoming more and more boring," muttered Lin Zheyu as he watched Han Mo's departing back.

His master had just left not long ago, and now Han Mo was going out to suppress bandits. Now, the only ones he was familiar with in Songyi City were Jia Yanyong and a few others.

***

The next day, outside of Songyi City. Lin Zheyu stood silently, watching Senior Brother Han Mo depart. With this farewell, it would be at least half a month before they met again. He hoped Senior Brother Han would return safely from this journey.

Han Mo treated Lin Zheyu well. Though they had not known each other for long, Han Mo often came to spar with him, carrying himself like a true senior brother.

"Kind sir, please have mercy. I haven't eaten for over ten days," said a refugee on the road, begging for food from a passerby.

The passerby kicked the refugee aside with a cold expression, his gaze filled with disgust. He spat at the refugee and hurried away.

The temperature had dropped again last night. Han Mo had just mentioned that this morning, they had dealt with more than a hundred corpses. In the days to come, the number would only rise. As time went on, more and more people would fail to endure and perish.

Human life is as cheap as grass!

Lin Zheyu felt compassion, yet he was powerless to help. He was just an ordinary man struggling to survive in this chaotic world. He did not linger outside the city. Once Senior Brother Han Mo had vanished from sight, Lin Zheyu turned and left.

Clip-clop.

Clip-clop, clip-clop, clip-clop.

Urgent hoofbeats sounded behind Lin Zheyu. He turned his head and saw an armored soldier galloping toward him on a fine steed. Frowning slightly, he activated the Golden Goose Technique, nimbly dodging out of the horse's path.

"Whoa~!"

The soldier yanked the reins, turned the horse's head, and lashed its haunch with a sharp crack of his whip, driving it toward Lin Zheyu again.

What is this guy trying to do?

Anger flared in Lin Zheyu's heart. He activated the Golden Goose Technique again, and his steps shifted to evade far away.

The horse thundered past. Its speed was too great to stop, and it crashed into the crowd of refugees, trampling several to death. Witnessing this scene, Lin Zheyu's eyes grew cold. That man was far too callous toward human life. In that man's eyes, those refugees were worth less than pigs or dogs.

Whoosh.

The man clamped his legs, and his warhorse charged at Lin Zheyu once more. He swung his halberd with fierce momentum, splitting the cold air with a whistling roar as it came crashing down toward Lin Zheyu's head.

An Organ Forging Realm expert! What a dense, murderous aura!

Lin Zheyu's eyes narrowed slightly. From the man, he sensed a baleful qi no weaker than that of Senior Brother Han Mo. Such a formidable baleful qi could only be forged by someone who had survived countless life-and-death struggles, rising from mountains of corpses and rivers of blood.

Lin Zheyu tapped his toes lightly and retreated swiftly. Relying on the speed and agility of the Golden Goose Technique, he maneuvered around the man. Fighting atop a warhorse was not good for one-on-one combat. The steed lent ferocity, but lacked agility. The man's fierce strikes were repeatedly evaded with ease by Lin Zheyu.

Bang.

Lin Zheyu stamped his foot hard, retreating rapidly. After pulling back more than ten meters, he said in a deep voice, "Who are you, and why have you attacked me?"

"

Haha

, you really do have some skill!" shouted the man as he pulled back the reins, laughing loudly. He did not strike again.

Clip-clop, clip-clop.

Behind him, another sturdy young master in a brocade rode up on a fine steed.

Xing Jinglong!

thought Lin Zheyu as his eyes narrowed slightly. He quietly stepped back a few paces toward the city gate. Seeing the two together gave him a faint sense of unease.

"Brother, didn't I tell you this kid had skill? I heard he has been practicing martial arts for barely a month, yet he already possesses such ability. His natural talent is extraordinary," said Xing Jinglong with a laugh.

After witnessing Lin Zheyu's strength last time, he had specifically instructed the Wuding Gang to watch Lin Zheyu's movements and report immediately if he left the city. He had not expected Lin Zheyu to step outside the city so soon on his own, however.

"You do have some ability. Boy, what realm has your strength reached?" said the man on the horse as he removed his helmet, revealing a face Lin Zheyu recognized.

Xing Penghai and Xing Jinglong... Are these two brothers? What a narrow road for enemies to cross paths...

Lin Zheyu stared at them silently, thinking grimly that this was not good. He knew he had been targeted. Otherwise, there was no way he would just happen to encounter the two of them like this.

"I am Lin Zheyu. I greet you, sir." Lin Zheyu clasped his fists toward Xing Penghai and said, "I am only at the Bone Forging Realm. Please forgive me for making a fool of myself."

"

Eh

, you look somewhat familiar, boy! That's right, you were that youngster by Han Mo's side last time, weren't you?" Xing Penghai thought for a moment, then recalled where he had seen Lin Zheyu.

Lin Zheyu did not respond but only watched the two of them warily. From the corner of his eye, he observed the situation at the city gate. If anything went wrong, he would immediately activate the Golden Goose Technique and dash into Songyi City. As long as he got inside the city, Lin Zheyu did not believe this man would dare to act recklessly.