Eternal Saber-Chapter 402 - 9: Siege

Mei Zhenyu entered the dense forest and immediately detected a faint scent of blood.

He gradually slowed his footsteps, observing in all directions and listening intently, with his sword drawn, and a vigilant expression, moving towards the source of the blood scent.

Before long, Mei Zhenyu arrived at a relatively open area.

A disheveled and bloodied person was impaled through the abdomen by a long saber, pinned firmly to a tree trunk, unable to move, with blood soaking through his clothing and slowly dripping down the tree.

As if hearing footsteps, the person struggled to lift his head and looked over.

The person had a ferocious knife scar on his face, it was none other than ’Blazing Flame Frenzy Saber’ Luo Shixian!

Mei Zhenyu was furious, his eyes reddening with anger.

This was not a normal slaughter.

It was a brutal murder!

The opponent had pinned Luo Shixian to the tree trunk, suspending his body in the air, forcing him to constantly feel his life slipping away and endure this torture of death!

Meanwhile, Luo Shixian, recognizing Mei Zhenyu, gritted his teeth and, as if using the last of his strength, shouted, "You should leave, don’t mind me!"

"It’s already too late."

A somewhat familiar voice came from behind.

At the same time, three figures descended from the surrounding tree trunks.

Hearing this voice, Mei Zhenyu bristled with alertness and slowly turned around to face the newcomers.

Although this person’s face was covered and he was dressed differently, Mei Zhenyu still recognized him.

"Jiao Zhan, it’s you!"

Mei Zhenyu’s voice was low, filled with anger.

"Heh..."

The man chuckled softly, reaching up to remove the cloth covering his face, revealing himself as Jiao Zhan.

Since he had already been recognized, there was no need to continue the facade.

After all, he had no intention of letting Mei Zhenyu leave alive.

The other three also removed their face coverings; they were the three attendants following Jiao Zhan.

Jiao Zhan sighed lightly and said, "I advised you before the parting not to meddle, but it seems you didn’t listen."

Mei Zhenyu’s expression was icy as he slowly asked, "What deep hatred lies between you?"

"None."

Jiao Zhan shrugged, his tone indifferent.

Mei Zhenyu questioned, "If there is no deep hatred, why strike to kill?"

"Haha!"

The other three let out a mocking laugh.

Jiao Zhan shook his head and said, "You Jianghu folk speak without restraint, slandering the Court’s dignitaries with unforgivable offenses. What more can be said?"

"I’ve never heard that the Great Xia Court has such a law?"

Mei Zhenyu spoke solemnly, "Even if they broke the law, it should be judged and sentenced by the Government Office, what does it have to do with your Garrison Army!"

"What sounds good to say is merely to vent personal grievances; knowing they are in the wrong, they hide their identity."

The laws of Great Xia are relatively lenient, unlike Qian Country, where a wrong word could cost a head.

Jiao Zhan and his companions in the Garrison Army have no authority to charge and sentence someone.

Earlier in the teahouse, if they had acted openly to arrest someone, it would have caused an uproar in Jianghu, making it hard for them to exonerate themselves.

If pressured by Jianghu forces, the Garrison Army might not protect them.

Thus, the four of them conspired to the remote forest, changed clothes, covered their faces, and killed Luo Shixian and Wei Kai.

One of them said coldly, "So what if we’re venting our grievances? They called us dogs, so they shouldn’t blame us for being impolite!"

Jiao Zhan said, "Since you have stumbled upon our affair, we can’t let you go!"

After saying this, Jiao Zhan leaped forward, slashing towards Mei Zhenyu with his saber.

The other three also drew their blades, advancing and looking for an opportunity.

Clang!

Blade and sword clashed, sparks flying.

Both sides separated upon contact, roughly assessing each other’s cultivation.

Both were in the Inner Qi Realm.

However, Mei Zhenyu only had a Small Success in the Inner Qi Realm.

While Jiao Zhan was almost at the peak of the Inner Qi Realm, ready to step into the Opening Acupoints Realm at any time.

In terms of strength, Jiao Zhan had the upper hand.

Jiao Zhan was invigorated, gripping his saber with both hands and executing a ’Powerful Split of Hua Mountain,’ a mighty attack aimed at Mei Zhenyu’s skull.

Mei Zhenyu remained calm, choosing not to clash directly with Jiao Zhan. Instead, he brandished his long sword, and with a flickering sword shadow, he unleashed a move ’Sparse Shadows Diagonal’ from the Cold Plum Sword Technique, dissipating most of the saber’s force and brushing aside Jiao Zhan’s blade from the side.

Jiao Zhan suddenly felt a lateral force coming from under his blade.

His saber somewhat out of control, veering away to another direction.

Before he could change techniques, Mei Zhenyu’s sword move had already transformed!

Swish!

There was no overt motion, just a slight tremor and rotation of the wrist, and the long sword had already shifted, thrusting forward at high speed, emitting a piercing chill!

This was another move from the Cold Plum Sword Technique.

Following Sparse Shadows Diagonal was ’Fragrant Floating’!

"How formidable!"

Instantly, Jiao Zhan’s body bristled with goosebumps, feeling threatened, and he quickly withdrew his saber and retreated.

In terms of strength, he had an advantage.

But in terms of sword techniques, he was far beneath the opponent.

As Mei Zhenyu was about to advance and pursue, the three attendants behind him swung their blades at him from different directions.

Mei Zhenyu had to abandon chasing Jiao Zhan, regretting the missed opportunity.

If it was a one-on-one duel, he could have pressed the advantage with his exquisite sword moves, caught up with Jiao Zhan, and possibly defeated him with relentless attacks.

Now, he had to prioritize his safety, turning back with a sword in hand, conjuring three swirling sword flowers around him.

Plum Blossom Three Plays.

To master this move, creating three sword flowers instantly is required for Great Success!

Among the younger generation of the Plum Blossom Sword Sect, he was the only one to cultivate this technique to this level.

Clank, clank, clank!

The long sabers of the three attendants were about to strike Mei Zhenyu, but three sword flowers suddenly appeared before them.

As their sabers collided with the sword flowers, the three attendants shuddered, involuntarily taking a half-step back, their arms going numb.

These three were only at the peak of the Postnatal stage and hadn’t cultivated Inner Qi.

Swish, swish, swish!

Seeing Mei Zhenyu about to give chase, the three quickly fired sleeve arrows while retreating.

After all, being comrades-in-arms in the military camp, they showed great coordination in advancing and retreating.

Clang, clang, clang!

Mei Zhenyu swiftly swung his sword, slicing down several sleeve arrows.

This delay impeded him from pursuing the three, and Jiao Zhan charged back at him from behind.

Unhurried, Mei Zhenyu turned and met Jiao Zhan with his sword.

Clang, clang, clang!

The two clashed once again, engaging fiercely.

However, within a few moves, Mei Zhenyu leveraged his exquisite sword technique to gain the upper hand again, forcing Jiao Zhan to retreat continuously.

Mei Zhenyu thrust with his sword, the sword tip flickering.

Jiao Zhan felt three deathly acupuncture points on his body simultaneously tingle with an unusual sensation.

This was a move from the Cold Plum Sword Technique, ’Fallen Plum Like Snow.’

If cultivated to Great Success, one thrust could simultaneously envelop seven acupuncture points in front of the opponent, making it an extremely deadly strike.

Mei Zhenyu hadn’t yet reached Great Success, but he was more than adequate.

At that moment, Jiao Zhan swung his saber horizontally, barely defending two of his death acupoints at the front, leaving his chest vulnerable.

"Take this!"

Mei Zhenyu’s eyes gleamed brightly, letting out a soft shout, thrusting his sword straight forward!