Inside the mansion.

The fierce-faced Tian Xiong was sharpening his blade.

SCRAPE SCRAPE~~

The blade grated against the whetstone, letting out a piercing sound.

BANG~

Suddenly.

A knock came from outside the door.

As a Martial World Thief, Tian Xiong’s expression immediately grew wary.

"Who?"

Tian Xiong asked coldly.

But there was no response from outside, only the continued knocking.

Tian Xiong immediately frowned.

’Could the Government Office have found me?’

’No... If the Government Office had found me, they would have secretly surrounded the mansion and waited until nightfall to make their move.’

’Who would just knock on the door in broad daylight?’

The more Tian Xiong thought about it, the less it made sense.

This whole thing was truly strange.

However, as a Martial World Thief, he had some nerve.

Hiding two long sabers behind his back, Tian Xiong walked to the entrance and pushed the main door open.

A tall, powerful figure appeared before his eyes.

"And you are...?"

Tian Xiong looked at the young man, his expression puzzled.

He was sure he had never seen this person before.

"I am Han Yuan of the Observatory."

"I’ve come specifically to take your head."

Han Yuan said with a slight smile.

"Han Yuan, the Overseas Dragon?"

"How did you find me here?"

Tian Xiong’s expression was one of horror.

He never expected this particular man to come knocking.

’No wonder he came knocking in broad daylight.’

’So he was certain he could take me.’

"Go ask King Yama."

Naturally, Han Yuan wasn’t going to mention Zhai Mu.

"To be able to experience your Blade Technique, it wouldn’t be so b—"

As Tian Xiong spoke, he suddenly threw a handful of lime powder with his right hand.

Han Yuan drew his saber and slashed out directly.

Eight Extremes Shattering Wind Slash!

SWISH~

The airflow was ripped apart, and the lime powder was scattered by the wind from his blade.

Tian Xiong roared, drawing the twin sabers from his back with lightning speed and viciously swinging them in a cross-slash at Han Yuan’s neck.

This was his killing move, the Life-taking Double Blade Slash!

Its specialty was its element of surprise, designed to instantly obliterate the opponent’s neck!

But this time.

His opponent was Han Yuan.

With a flick of his wrist, Han Yuan sent the Cold Blade arcing upward from below.

Eight Extremes·Rising Moon Slash!

CLANG!

Tian Xiong’s twin sabers were instantly and violently knocked aside by the Cold Blade.

Almost simultaneously, Han Yuan raised his right leg high, kicking Tian Xiong squarely on the chin with precise and savage force.

Kuixing Kick!

With a loud THUD.

Tian Xiong’s entire body was sent flying.

Just as he was about to land, a thick, powerful arm struck out with immense force, hitting Tian Xiong in the heart like a mountain-shattering sledgehammer.

THUD!

Tian Xiong’s chest burst open, and he died on the spot.

After killing the man, Han Yuan’s expression was calm.

He first scanned the surroundings to make sure no one had been disturbed, then dragged Tian Xiong’s body into the courtyard and began to search it.

Tian Xiong was indeed carrying a good amount of silver—a full five or six thousand taels—and a Sword Manual.

It was for the Interlocking Double Sabers, a Second-Class Blade Technique.

Han Yuan took it, planning to sell it at the Black Market next time.

Afterward, he went inside the house to search, found several thousand more taels of silver, then cut off Tian Xiong’s head, wrapped it in black cloth, and left coolly.

Missions to hunt masters on the Black List were usually like this: see the person if alive, see the corpse if dead.

After returning to the inn to retrieve his horse, Han Yuan didn’t even pause, immediately setting off back toward Cangshui County.

.......

He rode hard all the way.

After nightfall, his horse seemed to tire, its pace slowing.

Han Yuan had no choice but to stop and find a place to rest by the side of the pitch-black official road.

He first fed his horse some fodder, then started a bonfire and took out some meat patties to roast.

Soon.

The rich aroma of roasting meat began to spread through the wilderness.

Naturally, this kind of behavior was very dangerous in the wild.

It could easily attract wild beasts.

Sure enough, it wasn’t long before a few hungry wild wolves were drawn in. They stared at the bonfire, drooling.

It was unclear whether they were coveting Han Yuan or his roasted meat patties.

Of course... it was probably both.

Sensing the wolves’ approach, Han Yuan picked up a pebble from the ground and flung it.

WHOOSH!

The pebble slammed into one wolf’s eye and buried itself in its head.

The wolf let out a pained howl as it collapsed to the ground, twitching before going still.

Seeing this, the other wolves were terrified and fled in a panic.

"Your Qi Power is truly impressive."

A voice suddenly called out.

Han Yuan turned to look and saw a mysterious figure emerge silently from the shadows to his left.

He was a tall, thin man with an aquiline nose, carrying a Hooked Scythe Spear on his back. He had a gloomy air about him.

"Hm?"

"And you are?"

Despite someone suddenly appearing late at night, Han Yuan wasn’t overly guarded and asked casually.

"I am Gao Jun."

The tall, thin man said with a smile.

"Gao Jun... Never heard of you."

Han Yuan shook his head.

"I am but a nameless nobody. It’s only normal that you haven’t heard of me."

Gao Jun nodded.

"A True Qi Realm Martial Artist, and you call yourself a nameless nobody?"

Han Yuan chuckled, then handed a piece of the roasted meat patty to Gao Jun. "Freshly roasted."

Gao Jun smiled, took the meat patty, and sat down opposite Han Yuan.

"Good timing. I was getting a little hungry."

"I’ve been waiting here for you all day."

Han Yuan then passed him a wine flask.

The two of them began to chat as they ate meat and drank wine.

"So, was it the Bai Family who hired you this time?"

Han Yuan asked casually.

"No... I am the Great Protector of the Wangling Sect in Cangshui County."

"Last time, you destroyed the Wangling Sect’s stronghold in Wushan County and ruined our grand plan."

"The Priest has no intention of letting you go."

Gao Jun said flatly, taking a sip of wine.

"So that’s how it is..."

"Speaking of which, the Wangling Sect is so secretive and cult-like. Why did you join?"

Han Yuan asked curiously.

"I had no other choice."

"There is something I must ask of the Wangling Sect..."

Gao Jun said softly.

"I understand."

Han Yuan nodded.

The two of them slowly drank their wine.

After the time it takes an incense stick to burn, the wine was finished.

"Let’s begin."

"Let me see how strong this Overseas Dragon,"

"truly is."

Gao Jun stood up.

Han Yuan smiled slightly. "You know, I’ve never fought a True Qi Realm Martial Artist before."

The two men walked out onto the pitch-black official road, standing five meters apart.

This was the custom of the Martial World.

Excitement gleaming in his eyes, Han Yuan drew his Cold Blade and assumed the stance of the Eight Extremes Demon-slaying Saber technique.

"You... you were born for the martial arts."

Gao Jun couldn’t help but marvel at the sight of Han Yuan.

’But in the Martial World, one’s fate is not their own.’

’Tonight, only one of them was destined to survive.’

Gao Jun took the Hooked Scythe Spear from his back, spread his legs, sank into a low stance, and gripped the spear with both hands.

This was the Flood Dragon Emerges from the Sea Style!

The next moment!

Gao Jun’s feet flashed forward, and his Hooked Scythe Spear transformed into a streak of silver light, aimed straight for the vital point on Han Yuan’s chest.

Han Yuan’s eyes narrowed. He caught the glint of cold light and swung his Cold Blade out in a furious slash.

BOOM!

The friction between the blade and the air actually produced a sound like rolling thunder.

CLANG!

The Cold Blade chopped down viciously onto the spearhead.

Gao Jun flicked his wrist, and the tip of his spear suddenly began to vibrate.

The Cold Blade shuddered violently, but Han Yuan suppressed the vibrations with sheer, immense force.

"Little Ghost Nods Three Times!"

Gao Jun seized the opportunity, unleashing a killing move!