Zong Rui understood that his master meant to stir his spirit, though the method was oddly misplaced — the old leader chose provocation where prudence would have been wiser. Zong Rui, however, thought more like a realist than a zealot; he would not rely on courage and fierce resolve alone. What good was forced bravado if it ended only in defeat, or worse, death?After all, up to now it had been Zong Rui who had taken the more active role in assisting Liu Zen and Yao Li, while their chief sat silent within the sect, unmoving as plans to overthrow the Duke Tian Long were put into motion. Initially, Liu Zen and Yao Li had sought the help of Tao Lin, the head of the Black Scorpion Sect, and Tao Lin had ordered them to take to the field personally. In principle the decision was theirs to execute, but when the moment grew critical, there was nothing wrong with asking their leader for direct aid.“I’ll finish him outside the duchy,” Tao Lin replied, rising to his feet. “We leave now.”Zong Ru

As Xiao Chen poured more of his internal energy into every movement, the speed of the Black Scorpion Sect Leader increased dramatically. His nails had already begun to turn pitch black, lengthening slightly like venomous talons thirsting for blood. The stabbing motions of his fingers—constantly aiming for the throat, chest, and vulnerable points beneath the ribs—became so relentless that Xiao Chen once again found himself being pushed back, little by little. Yet, on the other side of the furious exchange, Xiao Chen could not deny a flicker of shock rising within him. The sudden surge in speed from his opponent was beyond what he had predicted. He forced himself to calm his mind, to silence the noise of fear and surprise within his chest. If he allowed panic to take root for even a heartbeat, the battle could end in a disastrous instant. Ever since he left Mount Huashan, Xiao Chen had quietly accepted a truth about himself: very few in the martial world could stand on equal footing w

The muscles along Tao Lin’s throat tightened as his Adam’s apple rose and fell, struggling to swallow the lump of fear that had begun to form. A faint tremor—one he desperately tried to hide—ran through him. The moment he heard the name Zhang Wei mentioned as the teacher of the young swordsman standing confidently before him, a cold uncertainty coiled in his chest like a serpent.Even though Tao Lin could not be completely certain that this youth was telling the truth, a troubling memory resurfaced: his own master had once confided that Zhang Wei had suddenly vanished without leaving a single trace, his whereabouts unknown to anyone. That one detail alone made it exceedingly likely that the young warrior before him really was the disciple of the legendary figure.Tao Lin secretly weighed his options with growing dread. Should he accept the young man’s warning and withdraw from the conspiracy to overthrow the rightful throne of the Wuhan Kingdom? Or should he c

The gaze of the man who appeared to be around the same age as Xiao Chen narrowed sharply as he watched dozens of black-clad individuals—mixed with armed soldiers—marching past the small roadside eatery. Their formation was tense, rigid, and clearly prepared for bloodshed. Judging from the direction they were moving, Xiao Ji instantly sensed that the group was heading straight toward the palace.“Damn it… they’re planning a coup against Duke Tian Long!” he shouted instinctively—so loud that nearly every patron in the place turned toward him in shock.Realizing the gravity of the situation, Xiao Ji acted without hesitation. He rushed back into the eatery, tossed several coins on the table for a meal he barely had time to finish, and hurried out again. With determined steps and sharp eyes, he followed the combined forces of the Black Scorpion Sect and the accompanying soldiers—keeping a safe but steady distance. Even from afar, he could sense the murderous intent radiating from their mov

Zong Rui’s face twisted in deep frustration. A burning sense of humiliation welled inside him, as though his pride would be torn apart if he failed to defeat the young warrior who now clashed fiercely against him. For a man like Zong Rui—whose life had been dedicated to violence, domination, and the cold certainty of victory—being pushed back by someone so much younger felt like a wound sharper than any blade.Meanwhile, after Zong Rui managed to force open the massive gate of the palace, nearly fifty members of the Black Scorpion Sect surged inside like a dark tide intent on destruction. Chaos erupted instantly, the narrow pathways between the palace buildings turning into a battlefield dominated by the sect’s merciless fighters.Their collective strength was far above that of ordinary soldiers. Even though the guards of the duchy of Zinan outnumbered them, skill made more difference than numbers. The soldiers fought bravely, but most were cut down before the