This kind of challenge in the street is the most eye-catching, the most aboveboard and the most direct, and it is basically impossible for the parties involved to avoid the fight. If anyone avoids the fight under such circumstances, he really should not be in the martial arts world in the future, and being criticized for the rest of his life will be worse than Master Xue.
Although this is the most passionate way of martial arts, every martial artist appreciates it very much. This was the way Cui Yuanyong went to Beimang to challenge Yue Hongling, and Yue Hongling always praised him highly.
But the underworld is full of human relationships and worldly wisdom. Generally speaking, as long as both parties are familiar with each other, they will not choose such a method with no escape route. If they want to compete, they can invite each other privately, and neither the victory nor the defeat will hurt their face.
Wan Dongliu and Zhao Changhe were obviously quite familiar with each other. They had invited guests, played tricks, and faced the provocations of the Hu people together. The Xiaoxiang Pavilion where Zhao Changhe lived was opened by the Cao Gang, but now not a single copper coin was confiscated from him. The best fodder was used to feed his horses, and the top girls could have sex for free.
Not to mention the passers-by on the street, Xuan Chong and Tang Buqi were both scratching their heads, unable to understand.
Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, Wan Dongliu really couldn't refuse, and he jumped down from the building very cheerfully, clasping his fists and saying, "I didn't expect Brother Zhao to think so highly of me, I'd be very disrespectful to refuse. It's my wish to fight with a hero like Brother Zhao."
Zhao Changhe also cupped his hands and said with a smile: "Don't do that. Brother Wan is 23 years old, older than me. If you call yourself my younger brother, I will shorten my life."
You didn't shorten your lifespan by calling Yue Hongling sister... Wan Dongliu muttered in his heart, feeling that Zhao Changhe's attitude was not too bad, so what on earth was he doing
Then he asked, "Brother Zhao, if you want to compete with me in swordplay, you can just invite me privately. Why do you have to do this?"
Zhao Changhe said with a smile: "Since I came to Yangzhou, I have always been in the play, other people's, my own, over and over again, it is quite boring. Why not be more cheerful?"
Wan Dongliu frowned: "Brother Zhao, why do I not quite understand what you are saying?"
"The Maitreya Cult is quite good at bewitching the poor people. Most of the Cao Gang members are hardworking and can hardly resist. They were infiltrated and became a mess. Brother Wan must be feeling very uncomfortable?"
Wan Dongliu said calmly: "Not bad."
“So he pretended to be submissive, as if he believed in that, but in fact he was always looking for a good opportunity… For example, he plotted to assassinate the prefect and framed it on Maitreya. Then the court struck with lightning speed, and Maitreya was defeated. Brother Wan used this situation to purge the gangs and reorganize the Cao Gang. After that, Yangzhou had no opponents, and the Cao Gang was the only one in power. However, the court still felt that they could be relied on… It’s hard to say who will own Yangzhou in the future.”
The onlookers were quite far away and could not hear the conversation here. Xuan Chong and Tang Buqi upstairs both had changed expressions.
This inference is indeed reasonable. The real murderer must have his own purpose, and it is not just to give gifts to the Demon Suppression Department. The Cao Gang seems to be the biggest beneficiary this time, and Wan Dongliu has enough motives.
Wan Dongliu was even more familiar with the prefect's daily routine than others - the Cao Gang had always had close ties with the government. Didn't you see that the prefect also participated in his banquets
But we can't just make inferences without evidence. The Cao Gang is not the kind of people who can be slandered at will.
Wan Dongliu remained calm, shook his head and laughed, "Brother Zhao, if you have any other ideas, please share them. I would also like to hear other people's opinions."
Zhao Changhe said, "There is no reason for the Hu people to come here for no reason. Chi Li asked Miss Yue's name, which shows that he didn't know Miss Yue would be here. In other words, he, the No. 1 Hidden Dragon, actually came here on purpose to challenge the dozens of us. What's the point? If he wins, it will show how capable he is. Besides, Chi Li killed a lot of people along the way, so he should have acted in secret. The No. 1 Hidden Dragon is not the No. 1 on the Heavenly Ranking. Is he going to die in such a high-profile way? So he can only be lured here."
Wan Dongliu nodded and said with a smile: "That makes sense."
"They knew Xuan Chong, Tang Buqi and me, Zhao Changhe, were present, but they didn't know about Yue Hongling. This means that someone leaked the guest list to the Hu people in advance. There is a high possibility that they made provocations while leaking the list. For example, Zhongyuan Qianlong thought that Chi Li was just a name with empty reputation and could not withstand a single blow. Chi Li has his pride, so he naturally came to fight back. So he cursed for being a name with empty reputation. Otherwise, he would care about a bunch of names with empty reputations behind him. Would they even look at him?"
Wan Dongliu looked a little surprised: "This is quite interesting. Brother Zhao, please continue?"
"The prefect wouldn't be so bored that he would come here uninvited just to embarrass the Central Plains Hidden Dragon for the Hu people and sit there doing nothing... He could only have come here by invitation and happened to be here by chance."
"Oh? Why do you want to do that?"
"Brother Wan did this just to let everyone, especially the Tang family, see the collusion between the prefect and the Hu people. Especially if Miss Yue is not here, we will all be humiliated and extremely hateful. Nephew Tang will be very happy to throw dirty water at us. I thought it was unreasonable not to invite Miss Yue to such a party, but now think about it, isn't it natural..."
Tang Buqi: “…”
On the roof in the distance, Yue Hongling was sitting on the eaves, looking up and taking a sip of wine, her beautiful eyes gazing over with interest.
Zhao Changhe concluded: "Although the hostility and hatred did not reach the expected level because Miss Yue was the enemy of Chi Li, it was almost there. If we wanted to assassinate the prefect, this was the right time. If we waited a few days, he would be dead and the desired effect would not be achieved. What happened that night was a natural outcome, and in the end, Brother Wan's plan was successfully implemented."
Wan Dongliu clapped his hands and smiled, "It's an interesting idea. In fact, even if it's according to Brother Zhao's guess, it doesn't seem to have much impact on Brother Zhao. Isn't there something that Brother Zhao wants to do himself? Why is he so aggressive?"
"It really has little impact. Zhao just doesn't want to be used as a pawn. He doesn't know who he is counting money for after the game is over." Zhao Changhe paused, and then said, "Besides, it's not completely unrelated to me. Zhao was stabbed by a bow and arrow on the way to the banquet. The person who killed the prefect should be the same person who wanted to confirm his suspicion of being a Hu. How many people could know that Zhao was coming to the banquet? There are not many people who can ambush me on the way in advance."
Wan Dongliu laughed and said, "That's unfair. I was entertaining guests at that time, how could I split myself?"
"Some idiot told me that you all left the venue to relieve yourself. A cup of tea is enough. With Brother Wan's lightness skill, it's enough."
Tang Buqi: “…”
"The other party is used to using bows and arrows, and it seems easy to lead him to be a steppe barbarian. Few people have thought about the fact that the Cao Gang is used to traveling on water. What is used more in water battles?" Zhao Changhe smiled and said, "Zhao has also fought in water battles. The most useful thing is of course the bow."
Wan Dongliu's expression finally began to become serious, but he still waved his hand and smiled, "Too much speculation."
Zhao Changhe suddenly changed the subject and asked a question that was a far cry from what he was asking: "Brother Wan, when we first met, was that thief Ji Chengkong still around?"
Wan Dongliu said, "He is still imprisoned in my private prison... Brother Zhao has shown interest in this man twice. If you really want to intercede for him, then I will release him. What's the big deal?"
"I'm afraid Brother Wan may not be willing to let it go. This person peeped into Brother Wan's privacy, which may be a bit serious." Zhao Changhe smiled: "Ji Chengkong had no other packages on him that day. The thing he stole must be a small object, the kind that can be stuffed into the arms at will?"
Wan Dongliu narrowed his eyes slightly and said lightly: "Not bad."
Zhao Changhe lowered his voice so low that even Xuan Chong and Tang Buqi upstairs could not hear him: "For example... a mask with a special meaning?"
Although the voice was low, it sounded like the ringing of a huge bell in Wan Dongliu's ears. His heart skipped a beat and his expression finally changed drastically.
"Brother Wan has a reason for framing the Hu people and choosing me to kill them. Although it may be a bit wrong... I can't stand this." Zhao Changhe laughed loudly, unsheathed his dragon bird, and slashed wildly with his sword: "It's rude not to return the favor, take my sword!"
"Clang!" Wan Dongliu drew his sword and fought preparedly.
The two knives collided, the surrounding sand and gravel rolled wildly, the wine flags flew, and the burst of energy made the doors of the surrounding rooms creak.
The onlookers were all moved. Is this really the battle situation after seventy or eighty hidden dragons
Wan Dongliu's expression was very serious: "You are actually at the fifth level of Xuanguan."
"Same here." Zhao Changhe grinned, "Brother Wan has also quietly reached the sixth level, right?"
Tang Buqi silently took out a book of Hidden Dragon List from his arms and tore it into pieces.
Why not tear this thing apart? It can only mislead people... With your level, you should be in the top 50 or even top 40. Is it fun to hide behind the 70th or 80th place
Xuan Chong, who was standing beside him, looked solemn and suddenly whispered, "What a fast knife!"
Tang Buqi leaned over to look, and saw a dazzling knife light coming out from Wan Dongliu's hand. It seemed that the afterimage of the knife light was still there, and the knife had already reached in front of Zhao Changhe.
“…” Tang Buqi knew that if it were him, his head would have been gone.
It was too fast, and too strong... It was as if the river flowing eastward would be cut off by the knife, and the huge waves would be chopped back by the knife!
Cao Gang's Canglan swordsmanship, ten slashes to break the waves!
"clang!"
Tang Buqi thought that he could not resist the sword at all, but Zhao Changhe flicked his hand and Longque easily pressed the Canglan sword to the side, as if the huge wave rushed forward, but found that there was a bigger wave on this side, which covered him head on.
Immediately afterwards, the waves from both sides collided, and the crisp sounds of "ding-ding-dang-dang" like pearls falling on jade plates rose one after another, as if raging waves were constantly colliding, and the onlookers could hardly see the sword moves of both sides!
Tang Buqi stood up in shock: "How can he be so fast?" Xuan Chong murmured to himself: "Why do I feel the taste of Chili Spirit Fox Sword Technique?"
The two looked at each other in shock. It seemed that it was not an illusion. It really had the smell of Chi Li...
Chili is a curved sword, which forms a circle when it is drawn out, and the end point is the starting point. It looks like it goes straight to the starting point. How did Zhao Changhe manage to have so many of these things
This kind of small and fast exchange of blows is not what Zhao Changhe should be good at... whether it's martial arts or swordsmanship, but he did it just to show you, and he was not at a disadvantage in the match against Wan Dongliu, and even... it felt like he had a slight advantage
"No... It's not just Chi Li's intention, it's also mine." Yue Hongling, who was far away, was watching the battle in a trance, and whispered to himself: "Mine is more obvious, not only is there my sword intention, but also... my skills."
The blush on her face flashed away, just like the morning glow rising in the sky at this moment.
Because it truly contained the meaning of her technique, which Ling Chen had just obtained through dual cultivation, and it was not a simulation.
"He is truly a genius." Xuan Chong muttered to himself, "Even if someone were to teach him the essence of sword and saber, it would take a normal person ten days or half a month to master it. It has only been a short time for him... And he is still in the process of training in this battle. He is using Brother Wan to sharpen his sword. The more he fights, the more he will master it."
Tang Buqi also noticed that Zhao Changhe was getting better and better at fighting, while Wan Dongliu was feeling more and more sluggish.
Moreover, this guy definitely has the Spring Water Sword Intentions, and it becomes more and more obvious the more we fight!
Zhao Changhe was indeed sharpening his sword, and his fighting became more and more smooth. As for Wan Dongliu's performance, there was no other reason, but the last sentence Zhao Changhe said in a low voice just now, which has made an important impact on his mind until now. As their momentums wax and wane, how could they not be defeated
What did Zhao Changhe say in the end
There was a loud "clang" sound, and the two swords collided violently again. The wind and clouds rolled wildly, the waves roared, and even the plaque of Mingyue Tower tilted to one side with a "click".
Zhao Changhe took three steps back to offset the fierce attack. The blood in his body was activated by this blow and surged, and his fighting spirit was boiling.
Wan Dongliu retreated five or six steps, his expression extremely solemn.
"Brother Wan! Your sword is weak!" Zhao Changhe laughed loudly, jumped into the air, held the sword in both hands, and slashed down wildly!
Wan Dongliu raised his head and narrowed his eyes slightly.
The sunrise in the early morning seemed to be blocked by Zhao Changhe. The sky seemed to be a little darker. A faint halo shone from around Zhao Changhe, giving the illusion of a bloody background.
In the blood, a dark demonic shadow descended from the sky, and all the gods and Buddhas in the sky would vanish into thin air in this blow!
The gods and Buddhas have all dispersed, and Zhao Changhe has very few special skills, and this is his trump card.
A smile flashed in Wan Dongliu's eyes. He has been creating the atmosphere that he is weak and guilty and is forced to retreat by you. Isn't this the moment he has been waiting for
You have too few special skills. Many people have already pondered over this move, and your flaws and weaknesses are no longer a secret!
That is, all the strength is concentrated at one point, relying too much on the suppression of absolute power, relying on the suppression of the bloody and murderous aura, and relying on the impact on the enemy's mind at that moment to cover up one's own flaws, so it cannot be used lightly at ordinary times, and it is to seize the moment when the opponent is weak.
However, if the opponent is pretending at this moment... then be prepared in advance and take advantage of the flaw, and you will be the one to lose!
"Swoosh!" A sharp whistling sound suddenly arose, and Wan Dongliu's sword force, which was as fast as a raging wolf and waves, suddenly changed, turning the knife into a sword and stabbed Zhao Changhe's Dangerous Point in mid-air!
That was not only a knife, but also a knife light! The knife light advanced more than a foot long, and it would surely hit Zhao Changhe's fatal point before the dragon bird could chop him!
Yue Hongling gripped the hilt of the sword tightly.
If this isn’t Cao Gang martial arts, then what is this
Such a sharp murderous intent, like a swordfish cutting through the waves in the vast ocean, like an earthworm drilling a hole in the thick soil!
He is so good at hiding, not only his plans and layouts, but also his martial arts, just like an earthworm hidden in deep soil.
"puff"!
The blade pierced into the flesh, and blood splattered.
Yue Hongling stood up suddenly, then smiled slightly and slowly sat back down.
Wan Dongliu's eyes were filled with ecstasy when he suddenly felt something was wrong.
The blade pierced into the tanzhong, either killing or injuring, but Zhao Changhe did not react! The sky-breaking blade was still moving without any change, and the power was not weakened at all, and it chopped off Wan Dongliu's shoulder!
Wan Dongliu used some unknown method, but his body slid and twisted in a very strange way. Longque failed to split him in two, and the dragon bird slashed down his chest viciously, ripping his entire body open, looking extremely miserable.
"Young Gang Leader!"
"Young Gang Leader!"
Countless people from the Cao Gang were watching nearby, and they thought Wan Dongliu was going to win, but the situation suddenly changed, and Wan Dongliu was instead disemboweled and almost split in half!
So they rushed forward, some went to rescue Wan Dongliu, and some rushed towards Zhao Changhe.
A red shadow flashed by, and Yue Hongling stood in front of Zhao Changhe with a sword in hand, saying calmly: "We have an appointment to fight on the long street, and the winner will be decided fairly. Do you want to rush in all at once?"
Everyone in the Cao Gang was stunned.
Zhao Changhe alone is troublesome enough, where did Yue Hongling come from? Are you really a couple
Should I report to the leader...
"Don't mess around, I'm not dead." Wan Dongliu leaned weakly on a gang member and asked his subordinates to stop the bleeding and bandage him.
The hearts of the Cao Gang members fell back to the ground.
Wan Tianxiong only has this one son. If he died, the consequences would be no worse than if the emperor died of his son.
I'm glad you're not dead.
Wan Dongliu took another pill, and after a long breath, he whispered, "He only hit my shoulder instead of my neck because he anticipated this situation. He just wanted to give me a hard blow and teach me a lesson, but he didn't want to kill me."
After a pause, he said weakly: "Thank you, Brother Zhao, for showing mercy. I lost."
Zhao Changhe held the hilt of the knife upside down and clasped his fists: "You're welcome. You also held back when you stabbed me, otherwise I would have been pierced instead of this minor injury... That's why I stabbed my shoulder, just to show my courtesy."
Wan Dongliu looked at the blood flowing out of Zhao Changhe's Danzhong point and was even more incredulous: "But even if the needle penetrated a little, Danzhong is still Danzhong. You should be seriously injured. Why is it that it looks like it was stabbed in an ordinary place and has no effect at all?"
Zhao Changhe smiled slightly: "Secret... I have a unique skill called "Shenfo Jusan". Do you really think I don't know and have no defense? I'm not stupid."
Wan Dongliu was silent for a moment and shook his head: "I was being too smart."
"Brother Wan, Zhao has something to advise you about."
"Brother Zhao, please speak."
"Your swordsmanship is the strongest among all the opponents I have encountered so far. If you hadn't been trying to lure me out of my ruthlessness from the beginning, it would have been hard to tell who would win. How could you have forgotten the heart of a warrior after all your calculations?" Zhao Changhe put the sword back on his back and turned away: "I am sometimes like this too... Let's encourage each other."
Wan Dongliu was silent for a long time, then slowly said, "I will teach you."
Zhao Changhe stopped and looked at the rising sun in the sky.
Yue Hongling walked beside him very naturally, and when she saw him stop, she looked up.
Under the morning sun, golden light is rising.
"On the fifth day of May, Zhao Changhe had practiced martial arts for half a year, and had reached the fifth level of Xuanguan, integrating the ideas of hundreds of schools and forming his own style. On that day, at the hour of Mao, he defeated Wan Dongliu in Mingyue Tower."
"Wan Dongliu, lurking in Canglan, the sixth level of Xuanguan."
"The Hidden Dragon Ranking has changed."
"The Hidden Dragon is fifty-five, and ten thousand people are flowing eastward."
"Hidden Dragon Thirty-eight, Zhao Changhe."
"The river is flowing, and it cannot be stopped."
——
PS: Originally these were two chapters, but I felt that if they were interrupted in the middle, you wouldn't be able to read them, so I simply merged them into one chapter. Now the emotions are complete. Please call me a long and thick chicken.
Thanks to Yang Yushi and Qing Ningzi for joining the alliance~
(End of this chapter)