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Yu State City, South River Branch, Zhongyi Hall.
Whether it was people from the Jianghu or ordinary folks, they all knew this place.
This place was the headquarters of the Cao Gang in Yu State.
At the entrance, there was a constant flow of carriages. From time to time, men in coarse clothes would go in and out of the South River Branch.
Two night guards of the Cao Gang stood at the entrance, yawning.
"Hey! Exhausted from the day, and still having to stand guard at night."
"Have you heard? Pavilion Master Liu has broken through to Fifth Grade."
"How could I not? Elder Tie has already summoned him. It's said that Pavilion Master Liu will throw a grand banquet on the third of next month."
"I wonder when I'll reach Sixth Grade."
.....
The two guards chatted idly, passing the time.
What is the Jianghu?
Many rivers flow into it. In the Jianghu, there are great dragons soaring through the gates, as well as countless small, ordinary fish and shrimp. But not every little shrimp ultimately becomes a legendary hero.
"Old Liu, I haven't been home in decades." Suddenly, one of the guards looked at the night sky and sighed.
He remembered it was a winter day when a village bully broke into his home to assault his wife. He could bear it no longer and drew his knife to kill two bullies. To escape capture, he changed his name and joined the Cao Gang in Jiangnan Dao.
"I have no home. My parents have long been dead."
The other gang member's expression was calm and indifferent, as if discussing something unrelated to him.
"I wonder if my wife ran away."
"Don't think about it. She definitely ran away."
"Damn it! Can't you wish me well for once?"
"You weren't saying that yesterday when you were toying with Zhang Mazi's wife."
"That little punk Zhang Mazi thought he could wave a knife at me. How could I let him off that easily?"
"Let's go together tomorrow."
"Alright, Zhang Mazi's wife is pretty thrilling."
The more they talked, the more spirited they became, until a figure approached the entrance.
The person was wearing a dark blue robe, his face obscured, holding only an ordinary iron sword. He walked towards the gate at an unhurried pace.
It was An Jing.
"Stop! Who are you?"
The two, seeing An Jing's concealed appearance, felt a chill in their hearts.
An Jing did not speak and continued walking towards the headquarters of Yu State.
"Swoosh!"
A faint sword light flashed!
The first man to speak felt his heart stop for a moment. He couldn't catch his breath and his outstretched hand finally fell limp.
With a step forward!
The man was already dead on the ground!
"Help! Someone's intruding the headquarters! Help!"
The other man, seeing this, felt his heart pounding wildly and hurriedly called out towards Zhongyi Hall.
This call, like an arrow breaking dawn, completely ignited the night of Zhongyi Hall.
"Who dares to intrude on our headquarters in Yu State?"
"Such audacity!"
....
Countless members of the Cao Gang swarmed out from all directions.
An Jing did not speak and continued walking forward unhurriedly.
"Seeking death!"
One of the Sixth Grade members, eyes flashing with malice, took a big step, using Third Grade martial arts, Dragon Capturing Hand, aiming right at An Jing's shoulder blade.
This person was also a rising star within the Cao Gang, quite young.
Just as the man was about to reach An Jing, it seemed as if a sword light pierced through.
"Thud!"
That member's eyes lost their light and his body fell heavily to the ground.
The surrounding Cao Gang experts were all shocked. The man had only taken a step, and he was dead?
What level of strength is this?
How terrifying is this?
"Everyone, attack together!"
At this moment, several experts from within the Cao Gang came out. These were all Fourth Grade experts, the hall masters of various halls in Yu State City, led by Zhu Hou.
Hearing Zhu Hou's words, the present members of the Cao Gang also mustered their courage.
An Jing did not speak, but those within a few meters of him kept falling.
No sword drawing, no sword retracting, no moves.
As he strolled leisurely, countless people were slain by the sword light!
With each step he took, lives spilled there!
He remained unhurried, without saying a word, as if simply walking in a common market or alley, just as usual, just as composed, just as calm.
Terrifying!
Looking at this swordman as calm as still water, the only words in everyone's mind were "terrifying."
"You... who are you?" A Fourth Grade expert of the Cao Gang asked, trembling.
Such a peerless expert, who could he be?
"Could it be that legendary swordsman who split open the dungeon?" Zhu Hou exclaimed as the thought struck him.
Sparing few words, holding an ordinary longsword and exuding an aura as sharp as a blade, making people afraid to look directly at him.
Killing with invisible methods!
An Jing remained silent and walked forward.
But with each step he took, countless people perished.
This step forward created a mountain of corpses and a sea of blood.
He was demonstrating the Hundred-step Flying Sword!
In no time, the ground was stained with blood, and the path became a bloody road, littered with one body after another.
When An Jing entered Zhongyi Hall, there were no living souls within several meters around him besides himself.
Zhu Hou was stunned by this scene, his body trembling.
"You.... you...."
An Jing continued walking inside, never uttering a word, his steps ever steady.
"Thud!"
At the moment his tiptoe touched the ground, Zhu Hou felt a chill on his neck and fell heavily to the ground.
....
At an antiquated banquet.
Tieyun Mountain sat high on the main seat.
Below him was a young man, his body clad in a moon-white brocade robe, tailored to fit, tall and slender with elegant poise, like a noble tree or poem, radiating an indescribable grace and elegance.
If Tieyun Mountain and Hong Yuanwu were dragons that crossed the river, then this young man, or rather the Mu Family behind him, were true locals with deep roots.
Mu Jie of the Mu Family, ranked seventh on the Jianghu prodigy list, known as the "Jade Fan Glass Prince." He was the dream lover of numerous aristocratic ladies, having reached Fourth Grade last year, renowned throughout the Jianghu.
Among the four major families in Jiangnan Dao, Mu Jie was the most outstanding young talent of his generation.
Such a person was destined to be a towering figure in Jiangnan Dao in the future, dominating the region's trends, with a significant presence even in the Great Yan.
Tieyun Mountain raised his glass with a smile, "In recent years, the Mu Family's business has been flourishing. I heard your caravans have extended to Nanming Country. That is truly worthy of congratulations."
"This is all thanks to the assistance of the Cao Gang in recent years." Mu Jie replied respectfully.
The Tieyun Mountain before him was a terrifying figure, a ruthless man who once killed the head of the Su Family. Although he was a prodigy on the list and the future head of the Mu Family, Mu Jie did not dare to put on airs before Tieyun Mountain.
"No, it's a matter of sincere cooperation."
Tieyun Mountain shook his head.
"Alright, sincere cooperation it is. For these words from Elder Tie, let us drink another cup."
Mu Jie said loudly.
The two raised their glasses and drank it all in one go.
What is the Jianghu?
The Jianghu is a battleground for fame and fortune, a place where many's dreams lie in their fastest rise to fame and quickest path to profit. This is the Jianghu dream for many people.
Some drift tirelessly in the Jianghu, some indulge in revelry, and some wallow in dissipation.
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