Chapter 44: Invited to Take a Life

Chapter 44: Invited to Take a Life

The sword borrower's actions were observed by the Sword Leader, who felt even more reassured.

He knew little about Su Mo and Yang Xiaoyun, not even their names.

His presence here today was due to another reason.

His previous actions were not without purpose.

The sword borrower's interference had made him consider retreating.

Now facing Su Mo directly, he did not panic.

After all, Su Mo was only in his twenties. Even if he had started training from birth, how much could he have accomplished?

While it was possible for some young disciples from prestigious sects or noble families to achieve remarkable feats at a young age,

such individuals would not be unknown and certainly would not appear here.

Therefore, when Su Mo demanded an explanation, the Sword Leader knew that today's events would take another turn.

And this turn was one he welcomed.

Taking a deep breath, he gave a signal with his eyes, and the disciples of Qijue Hall stepped forward.

Su Mo glanced around and sighed, "Sword Leader, this is not the conduct of a gentleman, nor does it show the demeanor of a senior in the martial world."

"I am the Sword Leader of Qijue Hall, a position of great respect. How can you, a nobody, challenge me so casually?"

"You want an explanation from me? I will give you one.

"But if you cannot even approach me, then you won't get your explanation!"

The corner of the Sword Leader's mouth curled into a sneer. "It's a pity for someone as young as you to die. I have one piece of advice: come back with me to Qijue Hall, and we will settle this matter. Why throw away your life over a momentary obsession?"

"Indeed, what a Qijue Hall, what a Sword Leader."

Su Mo nodded slightly. As they spoke, two disciples of Qijue Hall approached from either side—one aiming for Su Mo's vital points, the other covering his waist with a palm strike.

Qijue Hall claimed to be a prestigious sect, but the methods used by its disciples were far from sophisticated, and their viciousness was chilling.

Without further words, Su Mo took a step forward and swung his arm. The disciple on the left punched toward him, meeting Su Mo's fist.

A crack echoed, and the disciple's hand shattered, blood spurting as Su Mo's punch landed on his chest.

The disciple's body shook violently, and blood exploded from his back, killing him instantly.

The disciple on the right had yet to react when Su Mo's foot reached him. He tried to block with his left hand while attacking with his right, but Su Mo's kick shattered his defense effortlessly.

Another crack sounded as the disciple's leg broke, and he fell to his knees, expecting death. However, Su Mo had already moved on.

As he advanced, any disciple who dared to obstruct him was either injured or killed. No one could stand against him.

Su Mo's methods were entirely different from those of the sword borrower.

The sword borrower's movements were subtle and skillful, navigating the Small Earthly Fiend Xuan Kun Sword Formation as if walking through his own garden, graceful and almost pleasing to watch despite his sleepy demeanor.

In contrast, Su Mo moved like a human tyrannosaurus, striking with fists or hammering, slapping or smashing. His techniques were simple yet effective, never wasting a single move.

With each strike, cries of pain filled the air.

Stepping over the cries, Su Mo reached the Sword Leader.

All the disciples of Qijue Hall, dead or injured, lay on the ground, unable to rise.

Looking at the Sword Leader, whose face was contorted with anger and fear, Su Mo smiled lightly:

"Sword Leader, I have been invited to take your life."

"Insolence!!!"

The Sword Leader, accustomed to power, would not submit even in his fury.

With a shake of his arms, his sleeves fluttered without wind, and fierce sword qi emerged.

Though his longsword remained sheathed, he pointed with his fingers, releasing sword qi, executing a precise and exquisite sword technique.

Unfortunately... this exquisite sword technique was useless against Su Mo.

Su Mo casually grabbed the Sword Leader's two fingers, ignoring the sword qi, and with a slight twist, heard a crack.

"Ahhhhh!!!"

The Sword Leader screamed in agony as his fingers were broken.

"Fancy tricks..."

Su Mo shook his head. "Please go ahead, Sword Leader. I will visit Qijue Hall's headquarters another day to explain things to Grandmaster Feng Wuxiang and seek an explanation from him."

With those words, a palm strike imbued with inner energy came down.

The Sword-Palm Envoy never dreamed he would fall here, one hand held by Su Mo, the other channeling all his inner energy to block Su Mo's palm strike.

However, the overwhelming force pressed his own hand back against his forehead, making it the first to touch his crown.

Thud!

A dull sound echoed as the Sword-Palm Envoy fell to his knees.

His eyes lost their divine light, lifeless.

After finishing this, Su Mo glanced at the sword on the Sword-Palm Envoy’s back, thought for a moment, slightly shifted his body, and gently drew the sword from its sheath.

No hidden mechanisms appeared as expected; instead, what came out was a broken sword.

“Oh..."

Su Mo realized why the Sword-Palm Envoy had never drawn his sword at any time.

It wasn’t that he didn’t want to, but drawing it would be useless.

A broken sword might still wield some power in the hands of a master, but the Sword-Palm Envoy was clearly not such a master.

Moreover... for the esteemed Sword-Palm Envoy of the Sword Hall to carry a broken sword, using it in battle would only expose his weakness. Thus, he never drew it even until death.

As he thought this, the broken sword in his hand suddenly flew out, not due to anyone’s inner energy, but because he threw it himself.

The broken sword whistled through the air and landed in front of someone.

That person was, at that moment, secretly crawling on the ground, trying to leave unnoticed by everyone.

This person... was the ‘thief’ the Sword-Palm Envoy had been pursuing!

With the sword before him, his face no longer showed the previous unity and anger against Qijue Hall; it was pale and drained of color.

Then, he heard Su Mo’s gentle voice:

"Where do you think you're going?"