The Ye Family was a top-notch aristocratic clan in the area, and their mansion was widely known. Meng Qi almost effortlessly found his way to its front.
Backed by a river running through the city, the estate stretched with continuous houses, shaded by lush trees, and echoed with birdsong. Compared to the noisy early market street, it was nearly like the countryside—a perfect retreat of tranquility amid the bustling city.
Nearly ten servants and guards stood at the entrance of the Ye estate, some broad-shouldered and muscular, others exuding visible vitality. The two leading them were both experts with four open acupoints, showcasing the family’s deep martial foundation.
Meng Qi circled the estate’s walls and found that the Ye family’s outer defenses were not as tight as those of the recently visited imperial palace and the Crown Prince’s residence. After all, their clan leader and key figures were all experts with eight or nine open acupoints, capable of handling most surprise attacks themselves. Therefore, they only needed to station guards and servants near them, set up heavy defenses around important courtyards, assign skilled protectors to accompany each young master, and conduct regular patrols within the mansion—there was no need to station acupoint experts every few steps along the outer walls.
—Besides, the number of their acupoint-level experts simply couldn’t afford such extravagance. The imperial palace and the Crown Prince’s residence had concentrated nearly half the nation’s manpower and resources.
Circling to a secluded, tree-shaded spot, Meng Qi listened carefully, then pushed off with his left hand, vaulting over the wall and landing behind a rockery.
Soon after, a group of servants passed by on patrol. Since dawn had only just broken, their formation was loose. Meng Qi didn’t even need to use the “Undying Seal Method” as he simply watched them walk away.
Activating the “Phantom Demon Steps,” Meng Qi transformed into a series of afterimages, rushing toward a nearby courtyard.
Inside the courtyard, a servant was practicing in the morning, his skin bronze-like, sweat streaming down. Suddenly, his vision blurred, and he saw a figure in a green robe appear before him like a ghost in daylight. Before he could even make out the intruder’s face or cry for help, he was struck by the “Melting Snow Acupoint Touch” and fell backward.
Meng Qi extended his spiritual perception, simultaneously forming hand seals and adjusting his posture, locking eyes with the fallen servant.
The servant saw only a pair of dark, profound eyes. At first glance, they seemed calm like a lake, but upon closer inspection, they swirled with vortexes, pulling in his very soul. The figure before him seemed to grow taller and larger, terrifying and majestic, like a god or demon.
Meng Qi sealed the servant’s mute point and calmly asked, “Which courtyard is ‘Ghost Shadow Sword’ Li Sui in? How do I get there?”
The servant, unable to resist with his internal energy, dazedly replied, “In the Orchid Fragrance Courtyard, surrounded by guest elders… cross the bridge ahead, then turn right at the third courtyard…”
He spoke in great detail, including that Li Sui was a seven-acupoint expert, and the surrounding guests were mostly above six acupoints. If discovered, he would be immediately surrounded.
Meng Qi had no intention of killing the innocent. After confirming the directions, he simply struck the servant’s sleep point and tossed him back into his quarters. With his green robe fluttering, he strode forward toward the Orchid Fragrance Courtyard.
Along the way, after cultivating the “Nine Mysteries Art” and the “Undying Seal Method,” Meng Qi’s senses had become sharper, and his spiritual power stronger. He always sensed patrolling groups ahead of time and avoided them in advance. Though moving quickly, he felt as leisurely as walking in his own home. Combined with the unique nature of the “Phantom Demon Steps,” anyone who glimpsed him would think it was just an illusion.
Before long, Meng Qi saw the plaque reading “Orchid Fragrance Courtyard.” Just as he was about to slip inside, a door from a nearby courtyard creaked open, and an elderly man with white hair stepped out.
At least a seven-acupoint expert, he had completely masked his aura and sound… Meng Qi took a step forward, his figure like a demon, shrinking space itself. His sword, still in its sheath, struck toward the old man.
The elderly man had never expected an ambush. He only saw a green shadow before finding the intruder already before him. The pale golden sheath reflected morning sunlight, creating dazzling golden reflections that confused the eyes. Combined with the sword’s constant shifting, every image was an illusion, every place an illusion—impossible to grasp or counter. For if one failed to perceive each illusion and every change, defeat and death would follow.
He had no time to call for help, fully focused on defending against that single strike. Sweat poured from his forehead as he retreated step by step until his back hit the door. At that point, he struck out with both palms, mirroring the sword’s movements, struggling desperately.
Suddenly, the sword shadows vanished. The blade returned to a simple, unadorned state, thrusting straight toward the old man’s palm.
The old man couldn’t stop his momentum and instead expelled palm force toward the sword tip.
His expression changed instantly. The sword felt hollow and weightless, as if his force vanished like rivers flowing into the sea, leaving no trace.
Thrown off balance by the lack of resistance, his body lurched forward. Suddenly, the sword surged forward with the force of crashing waves. The inner energy felt disturbingly familiar!
At this moment, his palm force had just been released, and a new force had yet to rise. The sword’s true qi surged into his body, swiftly sealing his major acupoints. With a thud, he collapsed.
Meng Qi didn’t hesitate. He quickly turned and leapt into the Orchid Fragrance Courtyard, heading straight for the left wing room, where only there did long, steady breathing indicate the presence of an expert.
A maid carrying a copper basin suddenly saw a green shadow flash by in the courtyard, only to vanish the next moment.
Even in daylight, a chill ran down her spine, her scalp tingling. Was it a ghost?
—Had he not been in the courtyard, Meng Qi would have certainly struck her acupoint to avoid alerting Li Sui.
Bang!
The door was kicked open. She stared and saw the green shadow flash into Master Li Sui’s room.
Li Sui was sitting cross-legged in meditation, circulating energy, a narrow, thin sword resting across his knees. Upon hearing the door crash open, he gripped the hilt and prepared to leap up.
At that moment, a cold sword stabbed toward a point five inches above his head. It seemed to miss entirely, attacking empty space, yet Li Sui was deeply shocked—for as he leapt, his forehead would “collide” with the sword tip, akin to suicide.
He quickly used the “Thousand Catties Descent” to suppress his upward motion, swinging his sword horizontally to drive the enemy back.
Blades flashed, vague and shifting. The real sword, however, was hidden in the shadows, living up to its “Ghost Shadow” name.
Meng Qi’s sword tip suddenly dipped downward, “propelling” him into the air, headfirst, feet upward, dodging the horizontal slash and thrusting toward Li Sui’s Baihui point.
His posture was bizarre, like an evil demon.
Bad! He had just used the “Thousand Catties Descent” to anchor himself. Facing an attack from above, he could no longer adjust. Gritting his teeth, he used the momentum of his swung sword to tilt his body forward, diving out.
At that moment, Meng Qi released his sword, accelerating. With a “plop,” it pierced through the back of Li Sui’s head, pinning him to the ground.
His figure twisted, landing gracefully. Meng Qi pulled out the sword, flicked his foot to catch Li Sui’s sword, and dashed out the door.
The duel had lasted barely a breath. The maid hadn’t even reacted, watching helplessly as Master Li Sui fell dead before she snapped out of her daze:
“Intruder!”
Her sharp scream alerted the guest elders in nearby courtyards. Some exited their rooms, others ceased cultivation, all straining to determine the sound’s direction.
Meng Qi dashed past the maid, fleeing the courtyard without looking back. His green robe fluttering, he fully activated the “Phantom Demon Steps,” ghostlike and demonlike, slipping past patrolling servants and returning to the rockery where he had entered.
Only now did the guest elders arrive at the Orchid Fragrance Courtyard. They saw only a terrified maid and Li Sui’s body sprawled in the room, blood and white matter slowly spreading.
Nothing else in the room was disturbed.
“Where is the assassin?” Some checked the body while others urgently asked.
The maid was so frightened her soul seemed to leave her body. She stammered, “He left after killing Master Li.”
“When was he killed?” One guest pressed.
“I saw him kick open the door and kill Master Li when he shouted…” The maid’s answer was somewhat off-topic.
The elders were deeply shaken. They had rushed over immediately after hearing the maid’s scream—within just a few breaths of time, the assassin had killed “Ghost Shadow Sword” Li Sui? He was a seven-acupoint expert with exceptional sword skills, having just begun to form his inner world!
“Pursue!”
“Quickly report to the clan leader!”
The elders split into two groups. Those chasing Meng Qi only realized after exiting the courtyard that they had no idea which direction to go!
They quickly questioned nearby servants, but none had seen a green-robed figure.
Meng Qi vaulted over the outer wall, slipped into a nearby alley, stowed Li Sui’s sword into the bag containing the Evil Tribulation, secured the Ice Tower, and strode calmly toward the Wufeng Pavilion. The streets were growing busier as the morning market bustled with noise and activity.
After walking a few steps, startled cries and urgent questions echoed from the Ye estate, footsteps rushing outward in chaos.
Heh heh, Meng Qi chuckled, his pace unhurried, turning into the main street leading to the Wufeng Pavilion.
By the time the Ye family had organized their search and chased out of the estate, Meng Qi’s figure was long gone. The streets were filled with scholars in green robes, swords at their sides.
Carrying braised beef and pig’s head meat, Meng Qi soon returned to the Huahua Rice Shop nearby, while the Ye family had yet to search this area, still checking green-robed swordsmen near their estate.
“There, a package for you,” Meng Qi cheerfully greeted, tossing a specially wrapped bundle of meat to the shopkeeper and apprentice.
The shopkeeper and apprentice hurriedly thanked him, thinking that Master Qi’s cousin was far more generous than his nephew.
Entering the courtyard and pushing open the door, Meng Qi found Qi Zhengyan wiping dust off a wine jar, clearly an aged vintage.
He lifted the red paper seal. A fragrance of osmanthus and wine wafted out, making Meng Qi inhale deeply.
“Back so soon?” Qi Zhengyan casually asked, thinking Meng Qi, unfamiliar with the area, would need time just to find his way.
Grinning, Meng Qi put down the pig’s head meat and braised beef, sat down leisurely, poured himself a bowl of osmanthus wine, drank it in one gulp, then took a slice of pig’s head meat and braised beef, chewing slowly. One was fatty yet not greasy, the other full of chewy texture—truly delicious.
“Great wine! Great meat!” he praised, then unfastened his bag, took out Li Sui’s sword, and placed it on the table. Smiling, he looked at Qi Zhengyan and said, “I picked up a sword on the way back.”
Qi Zhengyan carefully examined the sword on the table. His gaze instantly froze, his pupils constricting.
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