Blade - Unbound

Li Yan quietly took a step back, blending into the crowd and making himself as inconspicuous as possible.

The chaos within the Military Surveillance Department had subsided some time ago, but that was only because pressure from all sides had forced a temporary ceasefire. The root of the problem had never truly been resolved.

Struggles within officialdom were sometimes bloodier than those of the jianghu, let alone within a notorious institution like the Military Surveillance Department, where there was often no room for retreat.

The two factions had already torn away all pretenses of cordiality. Quite a few people had died because of their conflict, and sooner or later, there would have to be a final reckoning.

Temporary victories or defeats meant very little. For example, whether the newly appointed seal-holding commander would tolerate Chang Xuan at all remained an open question.

Thus, the current peace was only temporary.

Li Yan had already investigated the captain before him. Feng Han's father had once been one of the Military Surveillance Department's leaders, making him part of its direct lineage.

He deeply despised Guan Wanche, believing him to be nothing more than a petty man who had climbed the ranks through flattery. The fact that he had barged into Li Yan's home to arrest him had only proven that he had thoroughly investigated Li Yan's relationship with Guan Wanche.

There was every chance he would seize this opportunity to make trouble.

Sure enough, despite Li Yan's attempt to remain unnoticed, Feng Han still spotted him. But he did not address him immediately.

Instead, he cast him a casual glance before speaking coldly, "On the Lantern Festival, you're openly brawling in the streets, showing complete disregard for the law. Do you all want to experience the inside of the imperial prison?"

Though Xiong Baodong was domineering by nature, he was also a smiling tiger. The instant he heard what Feng Han said, his expression changed and a grin appeared on his face. "Captain, we've been following the rules. We only wanted to have a friendly contest with them. Who would've thought these people would have such little regard for the law that they'd start beating people? You must uphold justice for us common folk!"

"Oh?" Feng Han's gaze turned icy. "In that case... Arrest every one of the-"

"Hold!" At that moment, Gu Chenzi pushed through the crowd and walked forward. Offering a Daoist salute, he said in a deep voice, "Sir, the ritual has yet to be completed, yet here you are arresting people indiscriminately. What impressive official authority you wield."

The Taixuan Orthodox Sect's Enforcement Hall...

A trace of apprehension flashed across Feng Han's eyes. He replied quietly, "These people disturbed public order. I merely came to–"

"Before you've even determined what happened, what right do you have to arrest people at random?" Gu Chenzi impatiently cut him off. "Even if there was a fight, that's a matter for the Chang'an courthouse. Today, your Military Surveillance Department is responsible for preventing troublemakers of the jianghu from causing disturbances. Matters outside your jurisdiction are none of your concern."

Gu Chenzi had witnessed everything from the very beginning. He had long since become disgusted with both Xiong Baodong and Captain Feng Han, so naturally he made no effort to be polite.

"Exactly! They were the ones who provoked us first!"

"Everyone here saw it with our own eyes!"

"It's the New Year, and they're bullying people by abusing their power..."

The people of Chang'an knew the Fire Bear Gang's reputation all too well. Many had even personally suffered at their hands. They immediately began shouting in agreement.

This included a number of jianghu wanderers. Though unwilling to openly clash with the Fire Bear Gang, they had no problem making sarcastic remarks and fueling the crowd's anger. Each insult was sharper than the last.

Seeing public resentment boiling over, Feng Han's expression grew increasingly ugly.

He snorted coldly. "We're leaving!"

He wheeled his horse around and rode off with his men.

Xiong Baodong, however, showed not the slightest fear. He roared at the crowd before glaring around with bulging eyes. "What are you all making such a racket for?!"

Wherever his gaze swept, the townsfolk instinctively shrank away.

Once no one dared speak any further, he turned back to Gu Chenzi, immediately replacing his fierce expression with a broad smile. "Daoist, we've followed every rule you've laid down. If you insist on showing favoritism, and something goes wrong with the ritual..."

Gu Chenzi's face immediately darkened. "Are you threatening me?"

He knew exactly how serious the situation was. The Drought Wraith housed within the City God Temple was extraordinarily ferocious. Even with the City God Temple's divine soldiers under the authority of the Community Deity and the auspicious fortune of Chang'an itself, suppressing it remained extremely difficult. Ever since it had been brought back, the coffin rattled violently every night at midnight, as though the thing sealed inside were trying to break free.

That was precisely why they had gathered so many demon hunters. It was also why they needed the Lantern Festival ritual to reinforce the seal. Otherwise, transporting it to Mount Hua would become exceedingly dangerous.

The highest priority that night was ensuring the ritual concluded without incident.

Where did this idiot get the nerve?

"How could I possibly?" Seeing Gu Chenzi's displeasure, Xiong Baodong quickly forced another smile. "Wasn't it your sect that established the rules? Competing for the incense banners is part of the ritual too, isn't it?"

Standing nearby, Shopkeeper Wan's expression had also turned exceptionally grim. He knew there would be no peaceful resolution to this. Even if they backed down, the Fire Bear Gang would only come looking for trouble later.

Those people were like parasites infesting Chang'an. Once they latched onto someone, they never let go. They were revolting and relentless, refusing to stop until they had sucked a few mouthfuls of your flesh and blood.

It was precisely through this shameless, lowly style of clinging to their victims that they had risen step by step. After all, the lives of his gang members were cheap. Xiong Baodong could order them to do whatever they want, and simply pay some compensation if they died.

One either submitted meekly and allowed oneself to be exploited, or crushed them so thoroughly with overwhelming strength that they no longer dared to bite.

Having reached that conclusion, Shopkeeper Wan no longer hesitated. Stepping forward, he said in a deep voice, "If we're going to follow the rules, then let's follow them properly. But if you don't intend to respect the rules, then neither will we."

"Oh?" The fierce-looking old monk beside Xiong Baodong chuckled. "What? You want to forget the rules and settle it by killing people with mystic arts? Daoist, you're from the Enforcement Hall, aren't you? Did you hear that? He's threatening us! He's threatening us!"

"Enough nonsense!" Gu Chenzi narrowed his eyes. "Where did a monk like you come from? Show me your Buddhist Permit."

The burly monk immediately shrank his neck. "Well... I forgot to bring it. I'll show it to you tomorrow!"

With that, he quickly retreated into the crowd, not daring to say another word.

"Of course we'll follow the rules." Xiong Baodong smoothly changed the subject. "It's already getting late. If we settle this the civilized way, we'll probably miss the appointed time.

"Let's make it simple. We'll settle it the martial way."

Without waiting for Shopkeeper Wan to answer, he looked directly at Li Yan and sneered. "Boy, you were pretty impressive the other night. Why are you hiding in the back today instead of saying anything?"

So this really was about me...

Li Yan immediately understood. Stepping out from the crowd with the corners of his mouth lifting slightly, he said calmly, "I was mostly worried I'd scare you to death.

"So, Big Black Bear... How do you want to play this?"

A murderous glint flashed through Xiong Baodong's eyes. With an oddly sinister smile, he said, "Naturally, we'll settle it with our fists.

"I see you've still got two banners. Do you dare wager them against me?"

Li Yan turned to glance at Shopkeeper Wan. Only after seeing him nod in agreement did he look back at Xiong Baodong. His words were anything but polite. "Big Black Bear, I've heard your Baji Fist has already reached perfection. Care to let me witness it for myself?"

Xiong Baodong snorted. "You? You're not qualified to fight me."

Turning toward a man beside him with lifeless eyes, he grunted, "Guo Ai, go teach that brat a lesson. Just don't beat him to death."

The man with dead-fish eyes rolled up his sleeves and strode forward. "Yes!"

The moment Li Yan saw him, he realized that enemies truly were fated to cross paths. This was the very same fellow who had beaten Heidan in the street that day.

By then, Sha Lifei and Wang Daoxuan had also forced their way through the crowd.

Sha Lifei sidled up to him and whispered, "Brother Yan, that man's called Guo Ai. He's the Fire Bear Gang's enforcer called the Red Pole. He specializes in the Eight Trigram Palm, and has reached the peak of the Dark Jin Realm. Also, he's vicious."

As they spoke, the crowd had already formed a wide circle around the two combatants.

Seeing this, Guo Ai laughed. "What are you whispering about? You offended the Fire Bear Gang. Did you really think you'd have a good night after that?"

Li Yan snorted as well. "In such a hurry to die?"

Rolling up his sleeves, he removed the Sleeve Blade hidden within and handed it to Sha Lifei. Under these circumstances, there was naturally no possibility of drawing weapons. According to the rules governing a contest of barehanded martial arts, both sides also rolled up their sleeves to show that they would fight without weapons.

"Eat this!"

Guo Ai was already a seasoned veteran of the outlaw world, ruthless and vicious in everything he did. Why would he bother observing the etiquette of the martial world? He lunged forward immediately.

Even his shout was not a courtesy. It was simply a distraction, a classic dirty trick from an old jianghu schemer.

Li Yan possessed a divine ability, so Guo Ai's little trick naturally couldn't fool him. Twisting his body, he turned sideways into a shoulder-changing stance.

His earlier exchange with Yuan Ba had merely been a friendly spar between fellow jianghu practitioners. They had stopped before causing any injury, and both sides had held back.

This, however, was a life-and-death fight. His tactics naturally were different. The sideways shoulder-changing stance was a signature of the Red Fist. If his opponent had gathered intelligence on him, it would be the perfect trap.

Sure enough, Guo Ai took the bait. His body turned like a swimming dragon. His advancing step was as though he was treading through mud, and with a flick of his palm, he swiped at Li Yan's eyes.

This technique was called the Ox Tongue Palm. Though it looked like a light brushing motion, it was enough to collapse a man's eye sockets and break his nose. If it landed solidly, it could even knock someone unconscious on the spot.

Of course, even that strike was only a feint. He had already read Li Yan's file and knew he practiced the Red Fist. He already knew that the Red Fist excelled at crafty close-range grappling attacks.

In his mind, Li Yan would surely try to seize his wrist. The instant Li Yan moved, Guo Ai would use the Coiling Dragon Steps to circle behind him and deliver a fatal blow.

That was how seasoned veterans fought. If one move could kill, there was never any need for a second.

Unfortunately, he had fallen straight into the trap.

Although Li Yan had assumed the shoulder-changing stance, he never attempted the expected wrist capture. Instead, both arms spread wide before swinging downward from the inside out. Empowered by hidden force, the strike descended with a rushing howl.

It resembled a well windlass spinning in reverse, striking after the opponent had moved yet arriving first. The roar of wind and thunder rang out as it slammed toward Guo Ai's face.

Realizing he'd been fooled, Guo Ai cursed to himself, Red Fist my ass!

Still, his reaction was exceptionally quick. Turning, twisting, and pivoting, his body followed his every step, barely avoiding Li Yan's strike. At the same time, he threw a kick toward Li Yan's lower abdomen.

But halfway through the kick, he immediately withdrew his leg. Li Yan's follow-up had already arrived, as a second palm chopped down. At the same time, Li Yan unleashed the Thundercloud Resonance.

Before Guo Ai had even regained his footing after dodging, the third strike was already crashing down like the Thunder God's hammer.

Having miscalculated repeatedly, Guo Ai's anger flared. "Kid, you're still too green!"

He shifted his footing again while suddenly sweeping his palm upward. The Eight Trigram Palm had evolved from blade techniques. His sudden strike was equivalent to a slash. Its force was astonishingly precise as it sliced directly toward Li Yan's wrist, intending to shatter the bones through sheer power.

Among the spectators stood the master and disciple duo from the Mount Mei Faith.

The moment Yuan Ba saw the move, he immediately grinned. "Heh, that fool is done for!"

Just as he expected. Hidden force erupted from Li Yan and with a single punch, he smashed Guo Ai's palm aside. Fist and palm collided with a heavy thud, that single exchange completely exposing Guo Ai's guard.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Three deafening impacts rang out.

Li Yan chopped with his left hand and hammered with his right, his arms like twin warhammers crashing into Guo Ai's chest and collarbone. Even someone at the peak of the Dark Jin Realm couldn't generate power from those vulnerable positions.

The sound of bones snapping rang out loudly as Guo Ai was smashed flat onto the ground. Fresh blood gushed repeatedly from his mouth as he lost consciousness.

His lungs had been crushed. Even if he still had a breath left, he probably wouldn't survive much longer.

Li Yan didn't even spare him a glance. Withdrawing his stance, he glared at Xiong Baodong. "What are you standing there for? Hand it over."

Xiong Baodong felt his rage surge straight to his head. "You..."

But after glancing at the expressionless Gu Chenzi nearby, he merely let out a cold snort.

"What are you in such a hurry for, brat? Still dare to have another round?"

He originally possessed ten ritual banners. Losing two to Li Yan still left him with barely enough. However, the thought of Li Yan casually obtaining four banners so easily left him deeply dissatisfied.

Each ritual banner represented a qualification slot. It might only be an admission ticket to the Mount Hua Wine Unsealing ceremony, but anything purchased inside could immediately be resold for a handsome profit.

Some treasures couldn't be bought with money at all. Not only did he need qualification slots to curry favor with the Li Family's guest elders, but the unorthodox mystic path cultivators beside him also wanted them.

He himself had hoped to acquire valuable treasures to win over more followers. Thus, the more ritual banners he possessed, the better.

"Another round?" Li Yan sneered. "Who the hell do you think you are? You say you want another round, and I have to play along?"

Xiong Baodong smiled coldly. "What? Are you scared?"

Li Yan raised his eyebrow in condescension. "I'm not scared. You're simply cheating.

"You've got so many damn ritual banners; you're just sending one subordinate after another to wear me down. If you keep doing that, isn't it only a matter of time before I lose?

"I've seen this trick plenty of times. Only an idiot would fall for it."

The surrounding crowd finally realized what was happening.

"Exactly!"

"That's unfair!"

"This is just a damn gambling house trick!"

To put it bluntly, he was bullying others with sheer wealth. The Fire Bear Gang possessed more ritual banners, which meant more chances to challenge. On top of that, they could send opponents one after another to exhaust Li Yan. The moment he lost even once, he would lose everything!

The Fire Bear Gang had never been popular. Naturally, the crowd immediately began supporting Li Yan. As the uproar and curses swelled, Xiong Baodong's expression gradually darkened.

In an even voice that concealed his murderous intent, he asked, "Then tell me, what would be fair?"

"Simple!" Li Yan burst into laughter. "Stop sending all these random nobodies to wear me down. You fight me yourself. Wouldn't that settle everything?"

The entire crowd froze. They had assumed Li Yan would seize the moral high ground and stop while he was ahead. Instead, he had openly challenged Xiong Baodong by name.

Wasn't he courting death?

Xiong Baodong had rarely fought personally but that didn't mean his reputation in the jianghu was any less terrifying. He had carved his own path through rivers of blood and mountains of corpses. Long ago, he entered the Jin Transformation Realm as a master of the Baji Fist. No one knew how many lives had ended beneath his hands.

To challenge him... Had Li Yan lost his mind?

Just then, another man emerged from the rear of the Fire Bear Gang's procession. With a broad face, thick lips, and dressed in an ornate robe embroidered with a white tiger, Qiao Sanhu made his appearance.

He had allied himself with Xiong Baodong because he hoped to climb even higher by joining the Li Family's fleet and achieving wealth and status. At such a crucial moment, he naturally couldn't remain a bystander. At the same time, he didn't want the Shang Mountain lineage to notice him, so he had remained hidden within the procession.

Seeing how events were unfolding, he sensed something was wrong. Quickly stepping forward beside Xiong Baodong, he whispered, "This man's a cultivator. Why risk your life fighting him? We've already got enough ritual banners today. Don't create unnecessary complications."

Hearing him, Xiong Baodong nodded slightly.

Li Yan, however, burst into laughter. "Oh? So the Fire Bear Gang actually has a father you have to answer to! My apologies, my apologies. If you can't make your own decisions, Xiong Baodong, then step aside. Let me speak with your daddy."

Li Yan's clear sarcasm immediately sent the surrounding crowd into laughter.

"Hahaha!"

Now, Xiong Baodong truly had no way out. Casting a cold glance at Qiao Sanhu, he grunted, "I'll decide this matter myself."

Slowly removing his black fur coat, he revealed his knotted muscles and a body covered with knife scars. Killing intent burst forth without restraint. Like a savage beast, he radiated such terrifying pressure that the entire area fell silent. Some of the more timid spectators even retreated several steps in fear.

Xiong Baodong's gloomy eyes resembled those of a great bear, filled with coldness and bloodlust. Sweeping his gaze across the crowd, he sneered. "It seems I've lived too comfortably for too long. Now every piece of trash thinks it can bark at me.

"Come on, brat. Make your move. Today, I'll tear you apart."

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