Reverse kill

Lu Shi passed away peacefully.

He had once been an assassin who relied on the legacy of the Seven Killings, roaming in the shadows of the night. In his lifetime, he had killed not thousands but at least hundreds, his hands soaked in blood.

As the number of his victims grew, he gradually drew the attention of the Nine Heavens and Ten Lands, forcing him to lay down his blades. He concealed his identity and arrived at the Marquis Ding Mountain’s residence, becoming a retainer in the household, protecting the young marquis while carrying out tasks that could not see the light of day.

For someone like him, this was a fitting end. Nothing required of him posed much difficulty.

For instance, today, he was to kill a cultivator from Shu Mountain at the Divine Intention realm—and a fish.

He believed that his hidden technique, the Seven Concealed Killing Body, would guarantee a kill with a single strike. A sixth realm assassin attacking a third realm target, and with his specialty of ambush—it should have been foolproof.

Yet, the Shu Mountain disciple was unexpectedly alert and promptly summoned a defensive artifact. The artifact managed to block his attack just enough for the disciple to escape with his life, much to Lu Shi’s surprise.

What stunned him even more was that the peculiar defensive artifact not only protected but also carried the fish away, soaring into the sky.

Lu Shi’s face darkened with rage.

Perhaps he had grown accustomed to an easy environment these past years, and some of his former ruthlessness had faded. After missing the first blow, he should have immediately followed with a fatal second strike… Speaking to a living enemy was a cardinal sin for an assassin.

Now, with one out of two targets escaping, it was an unforgivable failure in his eyes.

But what shocked him even further was that the remaining Shu Mountain disciple dared to look up and threaten him.

How could he have the audacity?

Hearing Chu Liang’s words—“Who told you that?”—Lu Shi felt utterly baffled. He raised his hand, ready to draw his blade and finally claim the soul of this arrogant wretch.

But at that moment, he saw Chu Liang summon an ancient, unadorned flying sword.

He still dared to attack him?

Indeed, a true disciple of Shu Mountain—determined to die standing.

Wait.

Something was wrong with this sword.

As Chu Liang performed the sword technique, Lu Shi thought he was merely struggling in vain. The gap between the third and sixth realms was vast, and killing him should have been as easy as crushing an ant.

But as the flying sword traced a silver rune through the air and surged toward him with the grandeur of wind and thunder, Lu Shi realized something was amiss.

It was clearly a standard rune sword technique—Wind and Fire Dual Rune Sword.

Why was its power so immense?

The sound of its sword energy hurt his ears!

No, this was wrong!

Something bizarre was happening. How could a third realm cultivator unleash a sword strike powerful enough to kill someone at the sixth realm?

He immediately withdrew his blade, formed a seal with his hand, and his figure faded from sight.

But it was already too late…

Had he treated Chu Liang as an equal, he could have fled at the moment the technique was unleashed, and the sword would never have struck him.

But when Chu Liang began his sword technique, Lu Shi didn’t show enough respect. When the strike descended, he tried to dodge—

But he was just a fraction too slow.

As his body faded halfway, becoming almost transparent, the blazing fire dragon, accompanied by a mighty heavenly wind, crashed down with unstoppable force. It seemed intent on destroying heaven and earth, and killing him was merely incidental.

As the sword energy struck, Lu Shi lifted his head high, his eyes still filled with shock and disbelief.

A third realm cultivator had unleashed a strike that could slay someone at the sixth realm—where did such power come from?

Then, within the sword energy, he felt a hint of judgment.

It was as if fate itself.

The guilty will be punished; those who scorn life will be sentenced to lose theirs. Those burdened by resentment will ultimately be consumed by the karmic retribution their own hatred has gathered.

He understood now where this power came from.

It was born from himself.

...

Thunder roared—

Seeing the tide of wind and fire, conjured by the Dual Rune Sword, engulf Lu Shi completely with no hope of survival, Chu Liang finally let out a breath.

In that fleeting moment, he had faced a choice.

Enveloped by the Green Leaf artifact, his right chest pierced and gravely wounded.

Cultivators, in their lives, always face unexpected dangers. The choices made in times of crisis reveal one’s true nature.

The safest option for him would have been to activate the artifact and let it carry him away.

But if he did, Liu Xiaoyu, left behind, would certainly be slain by the villain.

In a brief instant, he made his decision—he opened the artifact and sent Liu Xiaoyu away instead.

Of course, it wasn’t pure self-sacrifice, for he still had a chance to fight.

The Red Name Sword.

Faced with great evil, it had been thirsting for vengeance!

This choice was hardly secure, but it was the only way to save them both—rescue one, then risk himself for a single strike.

He knew he would only have one chance.

Only by relying on the enemy’s arrogance and catching him off guard could he hope to kill him unexpectedly.

The most powerful single-target technique was the rune sword; instead of the riskier Ice and Fire Dual Rune Sword, he chose the surer Wind and Fire Dual Rune Sword.

He had to succeed in one blow.

He did.

This was the power of the Sword of Justice!

The blast from the explosion sent the young marquis, who was near Lu Shi, flying a dozen yards away, landing heavily.

Bang.

The young marquis bounced up again upon landing, but the psychological shock far outweighed his physical pain.

What was this?

He’d brought Lu Shi with him and still lost?

This had to be some terrifying illusion.

But when he saw Chu Liang, blood-soaked, carrying his ancient sword, emerge from the smoke, his mind cleared in an instant.

It wasn’t an illusion.

He had actually killed Lu Shi.

And in a single instant!

This Chu Liang was a terrifying demon!

“Ah…” The young marquis let out a trembling cry from his throat, then turned and leapt up, fleeing for his life!

He had to escape!

Even though Chu Liang was severely wounded, he didn’t dare spare him a glance!

“Trying to run?” Seeing the young marquis fleeing, Chu Liang gritted his teeth, ignoring the pain in his wounds, and sprang after him!

The other truly meant to kill him—if not for a sliver of luck and myriad methods, he would already be dead and sinking into the river.

How could he let him escape so easily?

A streak of sword light, like a meteor, rapidly closed the distance between them.

“Father… save me…”

At that moment, Xia An’s mind was consumed by a single thought: escape. Flee toward Southgate City, toward crowds, toward his father—

Flee, flee, flee...

He raced onward, reaching the hillside outside the city, where crowds had gathered—half the citizens of Southgate were there.

Xue Lingxue's concert was about to begin. Everyone was waiting for the musicians to take the stage, anticipation high.

In a private box atop the hill, his father, the current Marquis Ding Mountain, was present as well, surrounded by skilled guards and a formidable cultivator himself.

Never before had Xia An been so grateful for his father’s decision to cultivate immortality.

Father!

Save me!

As he vaulted onto the high platform, Chu Liang’s sword light was closing in fast. Before he could catch up, a streak of red light shot out.

Whoosh—

The red light twined around Xia An like a snake or lightning, instantly binding him and sending him crashing to the ground.

Bang!

Xia An’s body slammed down from midair, landing heavily on the empty stage prepared for the performance, triggering a wave of astonishment!

Chu Liang landed as well, grabbing him by the collar.

The countless spectators below now saw clearly: the figure, bound in turtle-shell fashion with crimson rope, kneeling in disgrace, was the young marquis of Marquis Ding Mountain’s household!

A revered royal kinsman!

What was happening?

And who was the blood-soaked young swordsman?

The crowd erupted in thunderous uproar.

The tumult was like the sea.

Chu Liang looked down at the throng, realizing where he stood, and knew he couldn’t strike rashly here.

So he dragged Xia An’s head up, raised his right hand holding the Red Name Sword, and proclaimed loudly: “Marquis Ding Mountain’s household in Southgate City—trafficking women, reckless with lives, guilty of heinous crimes! Chu Liang of Shu Mountain, today takes him captive!”

“Heaven’s justice is clear!”

“Xia An, do you confess your crimes?”