HLnovel Chapter 246 The Secret Thief
Chapter 246 The Secret Thief
"Protect the sect leader!"
Just as Duan Zhengchun sensed the chilling killing intent behind him, a terrified scream rang out at the same time!
Suddenly, a ghostly black shadow darted out from the night and attacked Duan Zhengchun, who was about to return to the ancient tomb, with lightning speed.
The commander of the Blue-Clad Guards was the first to lead the way towards that ghostly figure!
But in the blink of an eye, she and several other guards in blue uniforms were easily defeated by the enemy, and a sharp dagger struck Duan Zhengchun in the back!
But at that moment, Duan Zhengchun, who had been facing away, suddenly turned around and instantly grabbed the ghostly assassin by the throat!
The assassin's eyes, exposed outside the black cloth, were wide with terror. The short knife was already only a hair's breadth away from Duan Zhengchun's heart, but he was powerless to thrust it out!
A sharp killing intent burst forth from Duan Zhengchun in an instant, and then he snapped the neck of the ghostly assassin without asking a single extra word!
As the ghostly assassin's body slowly fell to the ground, his dagger also fell to the ground.
Soon, Duan Zhengchun suddenly looked up at the surrounding mountains and forests. After narrowing his eyes, he suddenly stretched out his right hand again, gently hooked it towards the ground, and then flicked his finger towards the distant mountains and forests!
The short knife that was originally intended to assassinate him suddenly flew out like lightning in the direction he pointed, instantly disappearing into the forest!
What followed was a scream of terror and despair!
Other enemies are lurking in the mountains and forests!
After a series of screams, the short knife that had been flying away suddenly emerged from the forest and, as if by magic, returned to Duan Zhengchun's hand!
Seeing this scene, the surrounding guards in blue robes were almost all dumbfounded, looking at Duan Zhengchun in disbelief. It seemed that no one had expected that the sect leader's martial arts cultivation had reached such an unbelievable level!
Ignoring the shocked gazes around him, Duan Zhengchun glanced down at the ghostly assassin's corpse on the ground, flicked his wrist, and the short knife flew out instantly, grazing the assassin's cheek before embedding itself in the ground!
At the same time, the black cloth covering the assassin's face slowly slipped off, revealing the assassin's true appearance.
Duan Zhengchun felt completely unfamiliar with this assassin, who was quite skilled in martial arts. However, given the assassin's strength, he should have a certain status and reputation in the martial arts world. Yet, among all the important figures in the martial arts world that Duan Zhengchun had met, this person was not one of them.
Judging from the appearance, many of the people in this group tonight are reclusive masters, but now they have all come looking for me because of the Nine Yin Manual and the Nine Yang Manual.
This demonstrates the allure of these two extraordinary books to martial arts practitioners.
Not long after, the commander of the Green-Clad Guards returned quickly from the forest, clasped his hands in a salute, and said, "Sect Master, I have investigated and found that there are more than ten assassins who died in the forest. They all seem to be unfamiliar faces, but they all appear to be quite skilled in martial arts!"
When she rushed into the forest and confirmed that there were no more enemies hiding there, she saw the enemies who had been killed by that short knife. She found that almost every one of them had their throats slit by the short knife, and even the location and size of the wounds were exactly the same!
Such a horrific method of murder had already soaked her back!
"Just clean it up."
Duan Zhengchun frowned and pondered for a moment, then said something indifferently and turned to walk into the ancient tomb again.
He knew that this sneak attack might only be the beginning, and Qiu Chuji's words had all come true. In the days to come, such troubles would likely continue unabated.
After returning to the stone chamber in the tomb, Duan Zhengchun did not tell Xiaolongnu what had happened outside, nor did he wake anyone else, and went back to sleep.
If this is just the beginning of trouble, then he already has plans to leave Zhongnan Mountain because he doesn't want his woman and child to be threatened.
Nothing happened that night. When they woke up the next morning, apart from Xiaolongnu, none of the women knew what had happened the night before.
However, for several days in a row, almost every night, unidentified people would sneak up near the Tomb of the Living Dead, either to rob or to steal, but none of them succeeded. Some were killed by the combined forces of the Green-Clad Guards, while others died at the hands of Duan Zhengchun or Xiaolongnu.
Over time, everyone learned about this and understood that those people were after the two extraordinary books that Duan Zhengchun possessed.
Although those people knew how powerful Duan Zhengchun was, they still kept coming to his door for the Nine Yin and Nine Yang Manuals. Even Qiu Chuji was alarmed and sent Lin Zhiyuan to inquire about it several times.
Duan Zhengchun felt annoyed and became even more determined to leave.
None of those who came to him could defeat him, but they were all as annoying as flies. So Duan Zhengchun bid farewell to Qiu Chuji and left Zhongnan Mountain with his entourage.
To avoid this storm, he had no choice but to return to Qixia Mountain to live in seclusion. He had originally planned to visit Li Mochou in the desolate city after spending the New Year in Zhongnan Mountain, but now he had to disrupt his plans.
...
Five days later.
After several days of arduous travel, Duan Zhengchun and his entourage arrived at a small town called Bincheng, where they found an inn to stay for two days before continuing their journey.
Throughout the journey, Duan Zhengchun had been secretly sending his Qingyi Guards to cover the rear and block any enemies who tried to approach him, so he had not encountered any trouble for two days.
However, in order to conceal their whereabouts, Duan Zhengchun ordered everyone to stay in the inn and not to show their faces on the street.
After nightfall, Duan Zhengchun shared a guest room with Xiaolongnu and Ying'er.
Just in the dead of night, when people are at their least energetic, Duan Zhengchun, who was fast asleep, suddenly heard a slight noise coming from the roof and abruptly opened his eyes.
Little Dragon Girl heard the noise almost at the same time and immediately sat up to protect her sleeping daughter.
"Keep an eye on Ying'er!"
Duan Zhengchun gave a word of advice, then flipped off the ground, threw on a robe, and dashed out of the inn, instantly leaping onto the rooftop!
Three stealthy figures were about to lift the tiles under their feet when they suddenly heard a noise behind them and quickly turned around.
When the three men saw Duan Zhengchun appear, they immediately dispersed and stood in a fan shape, staring at Duan Zhengchun menacingly.
"You audacious scoundrel, how dare you haunt me like this?! Do you have a death wish?!"
Duan Zhengchun looked coldly at the three of them and shouted, word by word.
Before the words were even finished, the three men charged straight at Duan Zhengchun without saying a word, drawing their weapons at lightning speed!
Duan Zhengchun frowned slightly, then suddenly raised his right hand and unleashed three hand chops! Immediately afterward, three sword energies shot straight towards the three men's faces!
The palm strike carried sword energy—something never seen before!
The three enemies were clearly taken aback, and it was too late for them to react. Two of them screamed and fell onto the roof ridge. The last one raised his weapon with all his might to protect his vitals. As the weapon broke, he fell heavily to the ground, crushing a pile of rubble!
Before the man could get up, Duan Zhengchun had already rushed forward like a ghost, grabbed him by the neck, and lifted him high into the air!
The man's face turned pale instantly. He struggled to break free from Duan Zhengchun's control, but no matter what he did, he could not break free. He gradually became weak all over and looked at Duan Zhengchun's eyes, which were filled with murderous intent, in terror.
At the same time, Duan Zhengchun couldn't help but frown, because he suddenly realized that this group of people did not seem to be after martial arts manuals!
He noticed the familiar outfit the man was wearing, hidden beneath his black clothes!
Almost simultaneously, a cacophony of footsteps suddenly erupted around them as dozens of men in black rushed in from all directions, heading straight for Duan Zhengchun!
Immediately afterwards, another group of people appeared and quickly protected Duan Zhengchun!
The Blue-Clad Guards have also arrived!
"You're not here to steal the secret manual!"
"They've come to kill me!"
Duan Zhengchun coldly glanced at the group of people in black around him and said in a deep voice.
As soon as he finished speaking, he snapped the neck of the man in his hand and then threw the body onto the street!
With a loud bang, Duan Zhengchun slowly turned around and examined the dozens of enemies around him, his killing intent growing stronger.
"Shuang'er, kill them all!"
Duan Zhengchun looked at the leader of the enemy men in black and said coldly.
"Yes!"
Lu Wushuang readily agreed and led his men to attack the dozens of enemies who had suddenly appeared!
...