Chapter 159: Xu Xiaoji Stumbles, Wenwen Reveals a Secret Legend

Outside the Prefectural Yamen of the Capital.

In the gloom, several blood-stained figures escorted a little girl as they hurried through the darkness.

"There's no time to beat the drum of grievance now. Besides, the people here are no match for those scoundrels of the Taiping Army," someone whispered.

"Then where are we going?" another asked.

"The Six Doors boasts countless masters, including the Four Great Constables. Let us head there."

"Agreed."

...

Outside the headquarters of the Six Doors.

Song Mo and Xia Yu were waiting for Tang Yi's return.

Suddenly, a few figures stumbled out of the darkness, running toward them.

"Who goes there?" Xia Yu demanded in a deep voice.

"Save us, official! Save us! We are being hunted by the scoundrels of the Taiping Army!" one of them cried out.

Song Mo raised his eyes and realized that the young girl they were shielding was none other than the one he had met before.

Just as Song Mo was about to press for details, a dozen figures dressed in black suddenly emerged from the shadows.

"I advise you to hand that child over obediently," Xu Xiaoji said coldly, reeking of blood.

Xia Yu stepped forward and said, "And if I refuse?"

"Then you die!"

Without wasting words, Xu Xiaoji drew his long sword and lunged at Xia Yu.

Xia Yu reacted swiftly, holding his broadsword horizontally as he met the charge.

Xu Xiaoji's subordinates also swarmed forward, prompting Song Mo to step in and protect the refugees.

These men were not particularly strong, with the highest among them only at the fifth tier of Qi Refinement, making them easy for Song Mo to handle. However, he could not intervene in the fierce clash between Xia Yu and Xu Xiaoji, as he still needed to ensure the safety of the civilians.

"Such a fast blade!" Song Mo thought in astonishment.

That sword technique was extraordinarily lethal; had it been him, he likely would not have been able to block it at all.

"Ha!" Xia Yu let out a roar, swinging his broadsword to meet Xu Xiaoji's long sword head-on. Sparks flew in an instant.

Xu Xiaoji was sent flying backward for ten meters before crashing heavily to the ground.

As Xu Xiaoji clambered back to his feet, his face was pale, and a tremor ran through his heart.

This young man's physical cultivation is terrifyingly powerful!

"Hmph, so you're the lackey backing the Six Doors? That's right, I'm here for her. If you know what's good for you, drop to your knees and surrender immediately, and I might consider sparing your lives," Xu Xiaoji said.

"Hmph! Do you really think you're somebody important?" Xia Yu said with utter disdain. "If you want to take her, you'll have to step over my dead body first!"

"Hahaha—" Xu Xiaoji laughed wildly. "You're courting death!"

The moment the words left his mouth, Xu Xiaoji surged forward, raising his long sword to hack down at Xia Yu.

Xia Yu raised his broadsword to parry.

Clang, clang, clang—

The two weapons collided repeatedly, showering the area with sparks.

Xia Yu was forced back a few steps, but Xu Xiaoji was pushed back three consecutive steps before regaining his footing.

A jolt of shock went through Xu Xiaoji. It seemed this opponent was even more formidable than he had imagined.

"Hmph, ignorant and arrogant wretch!" Xu Xiaoji bellowed, charging forward with his sword once more. This time, he threw all his strength into the attack, desperate to dispatch Xia Yu quickly before complications could arise from the delay.

Xia Yu held his broadsword horizontally across his chest as Xu Xiaoji's blade came down upon it.

Xia Yu retreated abruptly. Seizing the advantage, Xu Xiaoji pressed the attack, swinging his long sword in another vicious slash.

With a crisp ring—

The long sword once again struck the broadsword. Xia Yu was driven back several paces, and Xu Xiaoji's onslaught finally paused.

As soon as Xia Yu steadied himself, he closed in on Xu Xiaoji once more.

"Boy, let's see how many moves you can take," Xu Xiaoji snarled.

Xia Yu smiled and said, "Try it and find out."

"Audacious madman! How dare you be so rampant? Today I will ensure your complete annihilation!" Roaring with fury, Xu Xiaoji lunged forward, his long sword thrusting straight for the center of Xia Yu's face.

Xia Yu slashed out with his blade.

Bang!

Xia Yu was knocked back, a slight numbness tingling through his arm, but Xu Xiaoji's long sword was shattered by the force of the impact.

Xia Yu scrambled up from the ground, with Xu Xiaoji pressing close behind.

Xia Yu thrust his blade backward, but Xu Xiaoji nimbly dodged and retreated a safe distance.

"I refuse to believe I cannot beat you!" Xu Xiaoji roared in rage, lunging forward once more.

Xia Yu swung his blade to cut him down, but this time Xu Xiaoji sidestepped the blow.

"Trash like this is barely worth my effort!" Xu Xiaoji sneered contemptuously.

"Is that so?" Xia Yu replied indifferently, lashing out with his blade again.

Bang!

This time, Xu Xiaoji failed to dodge in time. His broken sword snapped entirely, and the remnants fell from his hand to the ground.

"You..." Xu Xiaoji gasped in horror. Staring in disbelief at Xia Yu, his heart pounded like raging waves. How could this person possibly be so strong?!

"Go to hell!"

Xu Xiaoji whipped his arms in a frenzy, whipping up a fierce, razor-sharp gale.

Xia Yu raised his broadsword horizontally to block.

With a deafening crash, Xia Yu was driven back.

Yet, Xu Xiaoji was likewise forced to retreat.

"You... how did you do that?!" Xu Xiaoji demanded, his voice trembling with shock.

He had just unleashed his full strength, yet this young man remained entirely unscathed. It filled him with sheer panic!

"Heh!" Xia Yu let out a cold chuckle. "You are simply too weak. Did you really think parlor tricks like yours could fool me?"

"No! That's utterly impossible!" Xu Xiaoji shrieked, charging at Xia Yu once again.

Xia Yu brought his blade across to block.

Bang!

Xia Yu was repelled, but Xu Xiaoji seized the momentum to press the charge.

Xia Yu once more raised his sword in defense.

Boom!

Xia Yu was pushed back several steps yet again.

This time, however, Xia Yu did not retreat further, for he had spotted fresh blood spilling from the corners of Xu Xiaoji's mouth!

"This... how can this be?!" Xu Xiaoji stammered in horror, his heart consumed by dread.

"Your turn to lose!" Xia Yu declared, bringing his blade down in a vicious arc toward Xu Xiaoji.

Xu Xiaoji frantically raised his remaining blade fragments to defend himself.

Clang!

Xu Xiaoji was sent flying backward, Xia Yu's edge biting deep into his shoulder and snapping his collarbone with a sickening crunch.

Xu Xiaoji let out a miserable shriek, dropping to one knee as his right hand clutched his bleeding shoulder. His face drained of all color in an instant.

"Still got any fight left in you?" Xia Yu asked, crouching down before him.

"Just... who on earth are you?" Xu Xiaoji asked through his agony.

Xia Yu smiled faintly. "I don't care who you are. The point is, today you must die!"

"I refuse to accept this!" Xu Xiaoji howled in fury, lunging forward at Xia Yu once more.

Swinging his blade, Xia Yu met the charge, flipping him to the ground with a single slash. Terrified out of his wits, Xu Xiaoji scrambled frantically to evade, but Xia Yu's blade still found its mark.

Slash!

Xu Xiaoji's arm was severed, and a fountain of blood erupted into the air.

Splashes of crimson spattered across Xia Yu's face, carrying a faint, foul stench. Wiping his face with the back of his hand, Xia Yu tossed aside Xu Xiaoji's broken sword and pressed forward again.

"Boy, don't think you've won just yet!" Xu Xiaoji roared defiantly.

Without a word, Xia Yu closed in on him once more.

With blinding speed and terrifying strength, Xia Yu completely overwhelmed Xu Xiaoji, leaving him utterly defenseless.

A short while later, Xia Yu cornered Xu Xiaoji against a wall and raised his blade for the final strike.

Channeling immense power into the blow, Xia Yu brought the sword down in a brilliant flash of light.

This time, Xu Xiaoji lost consciousness entirely, slumping over in a dead faint!

Looking down at the motionless form on the ground, Xia Yu said calmly, "The Taiping Army? Nothing special after all."

Over on the other side, Song Mo was still locked in combat with the remaining black-clad assassins wielding daggers. Xia Yu hurried over to assist. Working together in seamless coordination, the two of them dispatched seven or eight assassins in the blink of an eye.

Surrounded by the few surviving thugs, Song Mo stood his ground until Xia Yu lunged forward, sending one of them flying with a fierce whip kick. The man crashed hard against the ground, coughing up a mouthful of blood.

The remaining few attempted to flee in the chaos, but Xia Yu and Song Mo pursued them relentlessly.

"These wretches belong to the Taiping Army. Kill them all!" Xia Yu said to Song Mo.

"Agreed!" Song Mo nodded.

The two gave relentless chase.

Xia Yu cut down everyone in his path; wherever he went, the assassins collapsed one by one, until every last one of them was slain within moments.

The little girl stared in sheer terror at the two figures standing before her like gods of slaughter, too afraid to utter a sound lest their bloodlust turn toward her.

Kneeling down, Song Mo gently asked, "Do you remember me, little brother—ah, little one? Who on earth are you people?"

Recognizing the older boy who had slipped her the silver coins earlier, Wenwen burst into loud, heartbroken sobs.

Quietly waiting until she had finished crying, Song Mo finally heard her whisper in a tiny voice, "My grandfather and I... we are informers."