Chapter 65: Contribution-Cultivando Experiência em um Mundo Diferente(Selo de graduação)

Having figured out the consequences of killing, Lin Que grinned broadly, placing his legs in a staggered stance with his back arched.

His entire body’s muscles contracted and tightened in a split second, making him resemble a fully drawn bow.

For twenty years, he had diligently practiced his family’s Profound Leopard Form-Training Technique without a single day of slack. At thirty, he successfully completed the Marrow-Cleansing realm, instantly rising to become one of the top experts in the Startled Swan Gang. His mastery of twin sabers was fierce and ruthless, striking terror along the Jinshui River.

This was precisely why he had been put in charge of a hall while only in his thirties.

"Secret Technique: Fang!"

Bang!

His entire figure shot forth like an arrow leaving a string, suddenly vanishing from the sight of ordinary people.

Chen Mu only felt a dark shadow flash before his eyes as two blindingly bright blade-lights abruptly appeared right in front of him.

The saber beams crossed like silver shears, radiating a bone-chilling aura as they sliced toward his throat.

The speed of this attack far exceeded ordinary Marrow-Cleansing experts, leaving Chen Mu with no time at all to deploy his soul-bewitching smoke.

In the fraction of a second, the results of his countless hours of grueling form-training over the short period manifested.

The flashing blades seemed to slow down infinitely, and Chen Mu’s figure became as light as a piece of paper. His body drifted softly toward the rear-diagonal, after which his left leg exerted force, and he violently darted to the right.

Puff!

The wooden cabin door was abruptly cleaved in two.

Chen Mu’s figure reappeared at the edge of the deck, looking back at the shattered door with lingering fear.

If he hadn't dodged in time just now, his head would have already parted ways with his shoulders.

"Oh? You actually managed to dodge? Truly a pleasant surprise."

"Resistance makes it so much more interesting..."

Lin Que gracefully twirled his blades with nimble hands.

"I love eating raw fish, and I’m skilled at preparing it, because my blades are fast enough."

"Do you know? Not only can I slice transparent fish fillets, but I can also strip away all the tender flesh while keeping the fish alive."

"My blades are truly fast." Lin Que looked at Chen Mu with malice filling his eyes. "Even after I finish carving you up, you won't die right away."

"Secret Technique: Fang!"

Lin Que’s figure abruptly vanished, materializing out of thin air right beside Chen Mu.

His twin sabers, resembling embroidery needles, nimbly thrust toward the gaps between the ribs on the left side of Chen Mu's chest.

Once landed, this strike would immediately pierce the skin, slip between the ribs, and slice directly into the heart!

Chen Mu instinctively executed the Red Falcon Evading Stance.

His body moved like a nimble falcon, drifting and retreating smoothly along the wake of the enemy's blade wind.

Lin Que laughed heartily, his strikes coming as fast as lightning, every single one lethal.

Yet Chen Mu remained like a speck of dust dancing in the sunlight, lightheartedly evading the palms that constantly tried to snatch him.

Amidst this perilous moment, however, Chen Mu’s mind fell into a strange, tranquil stillness, resembling an undisturbed lake without ripples.

Facing Lin Que’s unbridled smile, he felt as though his heart had been gripped by someone.

This naked malice, this vicious gaze, sent chills down his spine.

This was the first time he had ever witnessed a true, genuine villain.

The ones he had encountered before were at best mere thugs.

The man before him was a thoroughly rotten, unadulterated villain from the inside out!

Treating human beings like fish and carving them alive?!

Could such a person actually exist in this world?

Too terrifying!

He had to kill this bastard!

Like a runner hearing the starting pistol.

The moment his mind was made up, all of Chen Mu's skills were fully mobilized.

An explosive burst of strength erupted from the soles of his feet, accelerating his already swift silhouette even further.

A cold gleam flashed in his hands as two short daggers abruptly appeared.

"Universe-Shattering Strike!"

Clang, clang, clang, clang...

Sword tips and blade edges collided, sending sparks flying in all directions.

The roles of offense and defense instantly reversed.

Chen Mu transformed into a blur of black shadow, continuously revolving around Lin Que. His sleeve-swords materialized unpredictably, executing nine consecutive thrusts!

Lin Que’s expression changed drastically.

How could he have imagined that the little lamb from a moment ago would suddenly turn into a ferocious wolf!

He exerted every ounce of his strength to maintain his striking frequency.

Because the slightest hesitation would result in his body being pierced by those sword tips.

Clang!

Sparks burst forth!

Lin Que felt his heart skip half a beat.

His saber had snapped!

"Wait—"

"Universe-Shattering Strike!"

Puff, puff, puff...

Countless bloody holes appeared simultaneously. In an instant, Lin Que was riddled like a sieve.

Chen Mu’s figure abruptly flashed backward, retreating ten meters away.

He took a deep breath, looking at the distant figure collapsed on the ground with lingering apprehension.

Then, his brow furrowed in confusion: "Did he say something just now?"

"Must have heard wrong..."

"Ha! Another villain eliminated!"

Stowing away his sleeve-swords and wiping a bead of fine sweat from his forehead, Chen Mu wore a deeply gratified expression: "Nanyang Prefecture is a safer place now!"

...

On the deck, the three remaining helm leaders were struck dumb with shock.

Everything had happened too fast.

Without a word, the three of them simultaneously leaped upward, diving toward the boundless river surface.

Chen Mu withdrew his smile, a flash emanating from his right hand.

Whoosh!

Three iron lotus seeds flew forth.

Bang!

Almost simultaneously, blood bloomed in mid-air.

The tier-four iron lotus seeds, enveloped in violent air vortices, tore through the sides of the three men's necks, instantly claiming their lives.

Chen Mu turned around to survey the corpses littering the deck, suddenly realizing a pressing problem.

He didn't know how to row a boat; how was he supposed to get back?

...

Inside the pitch-black cabin.

Zhang Ye tossed and turned, unable to fall asleep.

He had always operated on solid ground, and suddenly finding himself on a ship, feeling dizzy and disoriented, he simply couldn't get used to it.

Fortunately, he didn't suffer from severe seasickness, otherwise he wouldn't even have been able to keep his position as a minor leader.

Compared to being the leader of a faction in Qingshan County, a minor leader commanding thirty men was obviously far inferior.

Yet, Zhang Ye was instead filled with anticipation.

He had intentionally joined the White Tiger Hall. Because they had suffered setbacks from hostile forces recently and two helm leaders had been killed, didn't that mean an opportunity had opened up?

As long as he performed brilliantly and won the hall master's trust, with his Marrow-Solidifying cultivation, he would soon become a helm leader managing several large ships and a hundred or so subordinates.

Once he dominated the Jinshui River by then, how majestic would that be!

Back in Qingshan County, even though he was a faction leader, life had been fraught with danger.

Every now and then, someone would drug him unconscious, and even his favorite ghost-head broadsword had been stolen right out from under him. It had been utterly humiliating.

Now, things were better, even though adapting to life on a boat was a bit difficult.

At least he wouldn't run into that lunatic who kept drugging him anymore.

Just as he was congratulating himself on his choice, a familiar wave of intoxication crept over his mind.

Zhang Ye: "..."

Are you ever going to fucking quit?!

On the verge of losing consciousness, Zhang Ye's heart was filled with bitter grievance: "I even ran all the way to Nanyang Prefecture... What a madman!"

"What madman?" Chen Mu muttered suspiciously, eyeing the few cabins with tightly shut doors: "That voice sounds kind of familiar."

"Must have heard wrong, must have heard wrong."

"How can anyone possibly resist the soul-bewitching smoke anyway."

Chen Mu walked up to the warehouse door, smiling inwardly—ah, next came the delightful harvest time.

...

Taohua Workshop.

Inside a two-compound courtyard.

Zuo Sheng sat in a pitch-black room, casting a suspicious glance through the moonlight toward the small-eyed man beside him.

"Are you certain the White Tiger Hall made a move?"

He had been waiting here for half the night, and there hadn't been the slightest commotion?

"This... The White Tiger Hall's large ship did indeed enter the Luo River..." The small-eyed man wore a troubled expression. "And their elite fighters also came ashore from the secret pier."

Could it be that the White Tiger Hall wasn't targeting the Breeze-Dispelling Powder after all?

He certainly didn't dare voice that thought aloud.

Zuo Sheng’s brow furrowed tightly; he also sensed that something might have gone wrong.

Upon careful reflection.

That nominal senior brother of his possessed some strength, true.

Yet throughout his life, he had never once touched apothecary work. On the contrary, he possessed a stunning talent for painting.

High-end hemostatic medicines like the Breeze-Dispelling Powder could by no means have originated from the other party's hands.

He had been so focused on finding trouble for Lin Que that he hadn't carefully weighed the causes and consequences. He had been too impulsive!

"Let's go back." Zuo Sheng sighed.

He had intended to sit back and reap the fisherman's profit, only to realize the entire premise was wrong from the root.

With a large contingent of White Tiger Hall members entering the city, they were probably off doing some shady business again. It was a pity his own people had misjudged the situation. Otherwise, even without the Breeze-Dispelling Powder, they could have seized upon the other party's flaws to make life difficult for the White Tiger Hall for a while.

Zuo Sheng rose and led the way out of the residence.

Just as he stepped out the gate, he looked up and saw a figure in gray robes walking down from the street corner.

In the dead of night with sparse moonlight, the other party's posture was unhurried, their footsteps made no sound, and an icy, chilling eeriness emanated from their entire body.

The moonlight illuminated the stranger's profile. Amidst a detached expression, traces of murderous intent leaked out. Zuo Sheng’s heart skipped a beat, his form freezing in place as he quickly cupped his fists in a salute: "Senior Brother Chen!"

Chen Mu: "..."

Having just slaughtered a massive group of people, running into an acquaintance right upon returning instantly made Chen Mu feel a bit guilty. However, his face betrayed not a single ripple as he stared blankly at Zuo Sheng.

The atmosphere gradually grew tense.

Noticing the bloodstains smudged across Chen Mu’s footwear, Zuo Sheng’s eyelids twitched.

Which unlucky bastard had fallen into this master's hands this time?

Zuo Sheng let out a gentle cough: "This junior ate too much for dinner and came out for a midnight stroll. Senior brother, please don't mind me, carry on with whatever you were doing."

Chen Mu glanced at the high-hanging bright moon. Taking dozens of subordinates out for a stroll in the dead of night?

Tsk tsk...

Nodding expressionlessly, Chen Mu strolled past the other party with leisurely ease.

Watching Chen Mu disappear down the end of the street, Zuo Sheng let out a soft breath.

He couldn't help scratching his scalp: "Why does this scene feel so familiar..."