Lu Chengzhao was extremely impatient along the way. Normally, he had a group of followers, doing whatever he wanted. Even with the strict regulations of Tingjian Manor, they couldn’t constrain him. But this time was different!
His father, Lu Huaitian, placed great importance on this Sword Competition!
Three months in advance, he started supervising Lu Chengzhao’s sword practice daily.
Forget about women, he couldn’t even get a good night’s sleep!
All because of that damn Lu Chengsha!
Oh, and that ridiculous Dongfeng Buye Pavilion with its absurd ranking of young heroes, putting Lu Chengsha at the second spot while he barely made it into the top thirty, landing at the 28th spot. His father felt deeply humiliated and insisted that he must achieve a ranking in this Sword Competition.
Achieve what ranking?
Did they think everyone was like Lu Chengsha, a fool who only knew how to practice swordsmanship?
Even on this journey, his father constantly watched over his sword practice. The daytime travel left his waist and legs sore, and night practice made his whole body ache. His father even forced other disciples traveling with them to spar with him. What kind of father was this? Utterly inhumane!
His younger brother, Lu Chengyang, a few years younger, narrowly escaped this ordeal.
Thus, every day, Lu Chengyang looked at him with a mix of sympathy and pity…
That little brat!
As long as Lu Chengsha remained on that ranking list, you wouldn’t have a good time three years later either!
Lu Chengzhao held back his anger, not daring to erupt in front of his father. When they finally reached Lishan City, his father allowed him to rest for two days to prepare well for the Sword Competition.
He needed to rest indeed, at least to vent his frustration first.
Lu Chengzhao casually tossed his outer robe aside and turned to look at the girl who had just entered, boldly eyeing her up and down.
As he looked, his interest was piqued.
“What’s your name?”
The girl was undoubtedly a beauty, a striking one at that.
Of course, he had seen many beauties, of all kinds: plump, slender, shy, charming, seductive. But the problem was, whenever they learned of his identity, they would uncontrollably shrink and tremble. No matter how well they hid it, their hands would shake.
But this girl didn’t. Not only did she not tremble, but she also looked at him with a daring gaze.
It made his heart itch.
Hua Yan was also observing Lu Chengzhao. To be fair, Lu Chengzhao wasn’t ugly and even bore a slight resemblance to Lu Chengsha. However… why did he seem so sleazy?
Tingjian Manor was a reputable sect, how could it produce someone like this?
Hua Yan’s heart, usually steadfast in its righteousness, wavered slightly.
But soon, she thought of Lu Chengsha, and her heart steadied again.
The ideals of the righteous path, Lu Chengsha!
Ah, even in reputable sects, there were bound to be a few rotten apples, just like their own demonic sects had good and upright people like her!
Hua Yan quickly convinced herself. She put on a smile, rolled up her sleeves, and said, “You can just call me Little Hua. Didn’t you say you needed a shoulder rub and a leg massage?”
Lu Chengzhao snapped back to reality and naturally didn’t refuse.
The journey had indeed been exhausting. He immediately lay down on the bed, pointing at his shoulder, and said, “Come on then, you know how to—ow, ow, ow…”
Lu Chengzhao howled in pain, feeling a sharp agony in his shoulder!
He sat up abruptly.
Hua Yan’s fingers were in a claw-like position, and she looked innocent as she asked, “What’s wrong?”
“Are you trying to kill me? Be gentler!”
“But…” Hua Yan’s eyes sparkled, showing a hint of tears, “If it doesn’t hurt, it won’t be effective!”
Lu Chengzhao took a deep breath. “Then forget the shoulders, just massage my legs. And be gentler.”
“Okay.”
Hua Yan moved her hands to Lu Chengzhao’s legs and then pressed hard.
“Ow, ow, ow, ow, ow… Let go, let go! Quickly, let go! My leg is going to break!”
“Great Hero, please bear with it. My technique is inherited from my mother, it’s very effective…”
She wasn’t lying.
This technique was called Bone-breaking Hand, very effective during interrogations.
If she had inner strength right now, she could probably break Lu Chengzhao’s leg bones directly—this guy’s martial arts skills were really poor.
In extreme pain, Lu Chengzhao lifted his other leg to kick her, but he missed. Suspicion rose in his heart, and despite the pain, he grabbed the girl’s wrist and angrily demanded, “Who are you really?”
Touching her, he realized that her Qi Sea was empty—she truly had no inner strength.
Yet she dared to come and attempt to ambush him alone!
The girl let out a startled cry, tears falling like broken pearls, her previously radiant beauty now resembling a rain-soaked peony, pitiful and lovely: “I was just giving you a leg massage, I didn’t do anything wrong, why are you grabbing me!”
Lu Chengzhao was bewildered once again.
Had he been overworked these past few days, causing his body to be overly sensitive and easily pained?
His grip gradually loosened, and the girl pulled free.
The girl rubbed her wrist and then suddenly smiled brightly, her voice clear as she said, “I’m not serving you anymore. I’m leaving. Let the other sisters take over!”
She turned and went to push the door.
Lu Chengzhao had a vague sense that something was wrong. Then, he felt an unbearable pain and itchiness rising in the hand that had grabbed the girl. This pain and itchiness came on rapidly, clearly indicating a problem!
Hua Yan found the door locked when she pushed it. She lifted her foot and kicked the door open, then dashed out.
Seeing the girl run like a rabbit freed from a cage, Lu Chengzhao finally realized that if he didn’t do something, he’d be considered an idiot!
Despite his deficiencies, he was still a direct disciple of Tingjian Manor and ranked on the Young Heroes List. Bearing the pain in his leg, shoulder, and hand, Lu Chengzhao used his lightness skill to staggeringly chase after her.
Damn it!
If he caught her, he would definitely ravage her first and then skin her!
The commotion was loud enough that the disciples in the surrounding rooms heard it and came out to see what was happening.
Lu Chengzhao immediately shouted, “Catch that girl for me! There’s a big reward!”
Hearing this, several disciples with yellow sword tassels started moving.
Seeing the situation turn unfavorable, Hua Yan was about to slip out of Dongfeng Buye Pavilion when she suddenly encountered a familiar cold and handsome face.
Lu Chengsha had also come out at some point and was standing in front of her.
Without thinking, Hua Yan tried to dart around him to escape—surely Lu Chengsha wouldn’t catch her!
Just as she thought this, she felt someone grab her sleeve.
Hua Yan: “…”
What a miscalculation!
“What are you doing?” Lu Chengsha asked calmly.
Running for my life!
Hua Yan tried to shake off his grip, but as soon as she did, the disciples with yellow sword tassels were already upon her, held back only by Lu Chengsha’s presence from seizing her.
Lu Chengzhao arrived half a step later, his face twisted with an expression of rage and violent desire that sent chills down one’s spine. “Hand her over to me.”
Lu Chengsha slowly turned his head to look at Lu Chengzhao.
Lu Chengzhao, losing patience, snapped, “I said, hand that girl over to me. Didn’t you hear? Damn it, get out of the way, don’t block…”
He shoved Lu Chengsha, but no matter how hard he pushed, he couldn’t budge him.
Lu Chengsha turned his head to look at Hua Yan again.
Hua Yan pointed a finger and exclaimed, “…He harassed me!”
Lu Chengzhao: “…???”
I haven’t even started yet, alright!
Furious, Lu Chengzhao reached past Lu Chengsha to grab Hua Yan. “Come here! I won’t just harass you; I’ll ravage you first and then—”
Lu Chengsha drew his sword.
A powerful killing intent surged forward.
All the disciples with yellow sword tassels around them felt the chilling aura, like the frost of midwinter, causing them to shiver involuntarily and step back three paces.
Lu Chengzhao wanted to retreat as well.
He pinched his own thigh hard to endure it.
Damn, that made his leg hurt even more!
“What do you think you’re doing? Drawing your sword against me over a woman?” Lu Chengzhao’s words sounded absurd even to himself.
This was Lu Chengsha.
He wasn’t meeting Lu Chengsha for the first time!
This guy did nothing but practice swordsmanship, never said a word, and remained indifferent to any teasing, like an emotionless puppet. Technically his cousin, but Lu Chengzhao had never considered him human.
He didn’t know what purpose Lu Chengsha served beyond killing.
But now, it seemed like he was protecting that woman?
“What’s the relationship between you two?” Lu Chengzhao’s mind turned, and then he sneered, “You finally figured it out, huh? Starting to find women interesting? But what’s so special about this one… Hand her over to me, and I’ll find you some better ones later. I guarantee you’ll have a great time.”
Lu Chengsha didn’t budge an inch.
His eyes, clear and cold, made it obvious to Lu Chengzhao that he probably hadn’t listened to a word he said.
But Lu Chengzhao, in his rage, was not going to let this go so easily.
Especially with his arm still itching and hurting!
“Are you going to step aside or not?”
Lu Chengzhao finally lost his patience. With a swift motion, he drew his own sword, pointing the blade directly at Lu Chengsha.
Tingjian Manor was renowned for its master swordsmiths, who were exceptionally skilled at forging swords. His own sword, “Bilu,” was crafted by the topmost swordsmiths from the finest steel, taking countless days of forging to produce a sword of unparalleled quality. It was said to cut through hair blown against it and slice through iron like mud. No matter how skilled Lu Chengsha was in swordsmanship, with that piece of junk he wielded, he wouldn’t be able to…
Lu Chengsha extended two fingers and pinched the tip of Lu Chengzhao’s sword.
Lu Chengzhao exerted all his strength, but despite his face turning red from the effort, the sword tip remained immobile.
In this scene, Lu Chengsha’s eyes remained as calm as ever, as if he were merely holding back an ant’s struggle.
Damn it!
What an act!
Lu Chengzhao hated nothing more than people putting on airs in front of him!
He reversed his grip and drew a dagger from his sleeve, aiming it at Lu Chengsha.
Lu Chengsha effortlessly dodged, and before anyone could see how, he lifted his knee. In the next moment, Lu Chengzhao was sent flying.
The dagger clattered to the ground with a crisp sound.
“What’s going on here?” a booming voice of a middle-aged man rang out.
The figure who had stopped Lu Chengsha yesterday strode into the courtyard.
Seeing him was like seeing a savior for Lu Chengzhao. He scrambled up, pointing at Lu Chengsha, “Father, he hit me! And it’s all because of this girl!”
Lu Huaitian frowned and looked at Hua Yan, “…And you are?”
Hua Yan immediately closed her eyes, let her tears flow, wrapped her arms around herself, and trembled as she spoke in a tearful voice, “This humble girl’s parents are deceased. On the road, I was pursued by villains and was saved by Young Hero Lu Chengsha, who kindly took me in temporarily. But I never expected this man to attempt to ravage me…”
Lu Chengzhao was furious. “Nonsense! You are, you are…”
At that moment, a scantily clad, seductive woman who clearly wasn’t a proper lady walked in. She spoke in a coquettish voice, “Who is Young Master Lu Chengzhao? I am…”
Shut up!
Lu Chengzhao threw a boot at her!
Are you trying to get me killed?
“Pfft…”
Someone couldn’t help but laugh, but quickly stopped.
Lu Huaitian gave a cold glance at the seductive woman, then at Lu Chengzhao. He knew his son’s character all too well. “Chengzhao, the Sword Competition is about to begin, and you’re still thinking about such things? You will stay in your room for the next two days, practicing your swordsmanship in seclusion. No one is to enter except to bring you food and drink.” He looked around and sighed, finally fixing his gaze on Lu Chengsha, his eyes showing a trace of complexity, “Chengsha, you will stand guard at his door.”
Lu Chengzhao felt utterly wronged. “Father, it’s clearly…”
“Shut up,” Lu Huaitian interrupted coldly. “If your skills are inferior, you have no right to speak.”
With that, he turned and walked away.
Lu Chengzhao felt it was the greatest humiliation of his life. He was used to smearing others, but when had anyone dared to slander him?
He turned and glared angrily at Hua Yan, only to see the girl with tear-streaked cheeks hiding behind Lu Chengsha like she had found a protector. She peeked out from behind him and stuck out her tongue at Lu Chengzhao.
“Nyah-nyah-nyah~”
Lu Chengzhao: “…”
Damn it, how could there be such a shameless girl!