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The short knife shot toward Lu Sheng’s chest, slicing cleanly through the fabric of his robes.
Behind his mask, Lu Sheng remained completely still, staring straight at Zhang Jundong as if paralyzed by fear.
A sly grin spread across Zhang Jundong’s face.
“Don’t blame me. Blame yourself for provoking someone you never should have crossed!”
The blade pressed forward, cutting deeper—just enough to scratch Lu Sheng’s skin—
Bang!!!
In that instant, Lu Sheng leaned back and, with a swift motion, drew a coiled black object from behind his waist. It wasn’t a belt. It was a Broadsword.
The blade whipped around with astonishing force, crashing into Zhang Jundong’s short knife. The strike landed with such speed and power that it shattered Zhang’s feeble attack, launching the smaller weapon into the air.
Without pause, Lu Sheng flipped the sword and unleashed his move—Tiger’s Wrath.
The blade came down like the fury of a beast.
Whoosh!
Wind screamed as it tore through the air, carrying with it a faint, eerie tiger’s roar. Zhang Jundong’s pupils contracted in terror.
His instincts screamed. His hair stood on end.
He had never imagined that this pampered young master—guarded and sheltered—could erupt with such deadly, overwhelming power.
That reaction… that speed...
“Not good!!”
He spun around and bolted, feet tapping the ground in rapid succession—seven, eight steps—as he tried to escape.
Chi!
Too late. The tip of the Broadsword pierced through his chest. Blood welled from the wound and slowly dripped down.
Chi!
Lu Sheng stepped forward, calmly pulled the blade from Zhang Jundong’s lifeless body, and wiped it clean on the corpse.
“Let’s go. Take me back.”
He turned without a glance, climbed into the carriage, lowered the curtain, and departed—leaving behind three stunned guards and the two stationed at the gate.
The five men, along with the coachman, stood silently around the corpse on the ground.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQWkHgUEhj7
Not a word was spoken.
The three guards looked especially pale, their faces drained of color. One after another, they climbed into the carriage without saying a word.
"Go!"10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPoshZP5IaT
The coachman snapped the reins. The carriage began to roll forward slowly.
For a time, the only sound was the dull rhythm of wooden wheels turning against the earth.
Inside, the three guards sat across from Lu Sheng, the silence heavy between them. Eventually, unable to bear the oppressive stillness any longer, they excused themselves one by one. With folded hands and downcast eyes, they stepped off the carriage and began walking beside it.
Soon, only Lu Sheng remained inside.
He sat upright on a simple cloth mat, his expression unreadable. Eyes half-closed, he appeared to be dozing.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhKVClIUPNm
But only he knew the storm that was raging within.
He had killed someone.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdV4zfA6wku
He had actually killed someone...
In neither his previous life nor this one had he ever harmed another person—let alone taken a life.
And yet, just moments ago, he had acted entirely on instinct.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn6BMO1PajD
The moment he saw Zhang Jundong trying to flee, his body moved without hesitation. He had raised the Broadsword and thrown it forward without thought.
Thanks to the modified Tiger’s Might technique, the muscle memory carried him through the second move seamlessly. The Broadsword flew from his hand with lethal precision—10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG9PI5jZ3pJ
—and struck the man’s back dead-on.
Just like that, it was over.
The entire scene played again and again in Lu Sheng’s mind.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyxEJ29pv7J
That man hadn’t been bluffing. He had truly intended to kill him.
And Lu Sheng’s instinctual response had been to eliminate the threat completely.
It had worked. The danger was gone.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeXEOw4QmjE
But now... his strength had been exposed.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoYdA3GyPNJ
And more than that—he had killed a man.
"Fortunately, the characteristics of the Black Tiger Saber Technique are distinct. A little digging will trace it back to Uncle Zhao. That’s fine. Just need to be more careful moving forward..."
The carriage rolled onward, leaving the village behind.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaJTGLqD8c4
Half an hour passed in silence as the road stretched into the distance.
Ding-a-ling...10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOum3Kk9Ci3
Ding-a-ling...
At some point, in the quiet darkness behind them, the crisp sound of a bell began to echo faintly.
The coachman turned his head and saw another carriage catching up from the rear—white, sleek, and closing in at an astonishing speed.
It appeared to be heading in the same direction—toward Jiulian City.
The three guards also noticed the approaching carriage.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ28wsRVkrYb
Drawn by two tall, pure white horses, the exquisite carriage shimmered with silver patterns. A faint, elegant fragrance drifted with the wind as it neared.
The guards exchanged glances, each quietly placing a hand on the hilt of his sword.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8TOYEiTgGP
They had already failed once to protect their charge and nearly paid the price. If trouble arose again, the Zheng family would never spare them.
Though their injuries hadn't fully healed, their arms could still muster 70 to 80 percent of their strength. That was enough.
All three were seasoned veterans who had served in the army. Together, they could form a compact formation—more than enough to overwhelm a small group of attackers.
A white carriage, even a luxurious one, wasn’t unusual.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMzjOGWuoYD
But what unsettled them was this:
The carriage had no lanterns.
Tonight, the wilderness outside the city was shrouded in gloom. With no moonlight, the roads were pitch-black. Under normal conditions, traveling without lights would be impossible.
Yet this carriage moved swiftly—even faster than if it had lanterns guiding the way.
"Something’s off," one of the guards murmured.
Lu Sheng lifted the curtain and looked back.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmQbTKztcsK
He saw the white carriage speeding silently through the darkness.
The driver was a man with refined, handsome features—10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpn9MawLXbD
The same man he had seen at the Black Auction, standing quietly beside that woman.
The white carriage didn’t stop. It glided forward and began to pass theirs at a slow, steady pace.
"Ajiu, stop for a moment."10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHO412980qF
A soft, melodic voice came from within the white carriage—pleasant and clear like the chime of silver bells.
The white carriage slowed, coming level with Lu Sheng’s.
The curtain was drawn aside, and a beautiful face appeared in the lantern’s glow—delicate features framed by a faint frown.
It was her again.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQvsssTmbyo
Duanmu Wan.
Lu Sheng remained still, casting a calm glance at the other carriage.
"The road is dark tonight. Sir, would you be willing to use your lantern to light the way? That way, we can look after one another."
Duanmu Wan’s smile flickered through the shadows as she met his gaze.
"…Miss Duanmu, please do as you wish," Lu Sheng replied coolly, his tone flat. He began lowering the curtain.
But before it could fall completely, her voice came again.
"Sir, I have one more small—perhaps unwelcome—request."
She spoke without giving him the chance to retreat.
"The teapot in my carriage was overturned. Everything inside—the cushions, the futons—is soaked. Would it be possible for me to…"
Lu Sheng’s eyes narrowed slightly. A flicker of suspicion rose in his heart.
Her appearance had been strange to begin with. The white carriage racing silently through the dark, without lanterns... And now this?
Her excuse sounded casual, but something about it didn’t sit right.
Still, she had clearly come looking for him, and her tone—though polite—suggested she would not be easily turned away. Refusal might not end the matter here.
After a brief pause, Lu Sheng spoke again, his voice calm but firm.
"If you don’t mind my carriage being a bit plain, then please, come in and rest."
He was far from defenseless now. The Black Tiger Saber Technique had been honed in real combat—twice already—and each time, he had come out on top.
His mastery of the fourth level had given him explosive power—possibly greater than even Uncle Zhao, one of Jiulian City's top experts.
Though still lacking in experience, in a short-range fight within a confined space, even Uncle Zhao might not have a clear advantage over him.
Even if Duanmu Wan was hiding something, he was confident in his ability to protect himself.
"Thank you kindly, young master."
At his word, the coachman brought the carriage to a slow halt, the lantern’s light casting long, flickering shadows on the road.
The white carriage came to a gradual stop.
Its door slid open, and Duanmu Wan stepped down gracefully, still dressed in the same black hip-hugging skirt as before.
She looked up at Lu Sheng, who had opened his carriage door. Her delicate white face was framed by a subtle smile. Cherry-red lips parted slightly, and the tip of her pink tongue flicked in and out as if teasing—an unconscious motion that made the nearby guards and coachman instinctively tense.
She passed by Lu Sheng with a slow, elegant step and began to climb into the carriage.
Her long legs, slender and smooth, moved with natural allure. As she lifted one foot into the carriage, the already short black skirt shifted higher, revealing a fleeting glimpse of the scenery beneath—just enough to suggest, but not show.
"Ouch…"
Duanmu Wan suddenly faltered. Her ankle twisted, and her body tilted as she fell toward Lu Sheng.
"Be careful," he said, instinctively reaching out to steady her.
His eyes sharpened inwardly. This kind of situation—this kind of “accident”—was far too familiar. He had seen it played out in countless dramas in his previous life. A coincidental fall, a conveniently placed embrace. He didn’t believe it for a second.
Still, he didn’t show any overt suspicion. He maintained his calm, treating her politely, logically.
Duanmu Wan landed lightly against his chest.
The soft swell of her chest brushed against his forearm, unintentional but unmistakable.
She flushed, lowering her eyes. Then, as though jolted, she straightened herself and pulled away with an air of embarrassment.
Lu Sheng's heart stirred faintly, but he quickly calmed his breath and supported her gently.
"Thank you, sir…" Duanmu Wan murmured softly.
"You're welcome. Please, have a seat."
Lu Sheng guided her to one of the side seats inside the carriage.
It was a spacious interior, with two rows of cushioned seats facing each other.
He sat down opposite her.
The carriage slowly began moving again, wheels creaking softly in the night, as the subtle tension between the two settled into silence.
Duanmu Wan sat with a blush on her cheeks, legs slanted and pressed tightly together—so close there wasn’t even a sliver of space between them.
From Lu Sheng’s position, however, a faint shadow was visible between the hem of her skirt and her thighs. If he wanted to, he could follow that dark line with his eyes and catch a glimpse beneath the fabric.
After all, there was no one else in the carriage—just the two of them—and Duanmu Wan had her head lowered shyly, her gaze avoiding his. She wouldn’t see even if he looked.
Bang.
The carriage suddenly jolted, as if it had rolled over a rock.
Duanmu Wan’s legs shifted with the bump, parting slightly.
From the corner of his eye, Lu Sheng caught the briefest glimpse of white beneath her skirt—barely visible, but enough to stir a reaction.
"Sir, are you headed to Jiulian City?"
Her voice was soft, as if nothing had happened. She showed no sign of realizing her exposure.
"Yes," Lu Sheng replied casually, keeping his tone neutral. "Are you also going to Jiulian City?"
"Mm. To be honest, sir, Wan'er is currently staying at the Wanfu Inn inside the city," she said with a gentle smile. "I heard about the Black Auction and brought my guards along to take a look. But I didn’t expect everyone to be wearing masks… it was rather dull."
Lu Sheng responded evenly. "For Miss Wan'er and her personal guard to travel such a long way alone—you must be both skilled and courageous."
"What skills do we have?" Duanmu Wan waved her hand modestly. "We were lucky to be rescued by a passing caravan on the road. That’s how we reached Jiulian City. Otherwise, Wan’er and the others might’ve starved or frozen to death halfway."
She smiled, then added, "Speaking of which, the young man who saved Wan’er was quite accomplished in martial arts—much like you, young master."
Lu Sheng gave a faint smile. He knew she had seen his earlier display of force.
"Really?"
"Wan’er noticed, back at the Black Auction—you seemed quite intent on that inner skills secret manual, didn’t you?" Her eyes sparkled with curiosity.
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