102: Chapter 102 Shocks the Two Museum Masters

A deathly silence enveloped the front courtyard of the county yamen.

Only the night wind wailed, dispersing the choking scent of blood mixed with flour that filled the air, yet it could not disperse the frozen horror on everyone's faces.

Just then, two rapid sounds of breaking air approached from afar, like falcons piercing the night sky, arriving above the county yamen in an instant!

The next moment, two figures—one in green and one in white—carrying a biting wind and a murderous aura, landed heavily in the front courtyard. They were none other than Qingfeng Hall Revered Master, Hall Master Chen Qingfeng, and Baiyun Hall Revered Master, Master Bai Song, who had been hot on the trail!

The two of them landed, their gazes like lightning as they quickly swept over the scene.

When they saw the red-robed figure on the ground with a gaping hole in his chest, blood pooling, already dead, both of their figures froze, a trace of astonishment flashing through their eyes simultaneously.

"Hall Master Lie Fentian... is dead?" Master Bai Song was the first to react. He leaped forward, squatted down, and quickly placed his fingers on Hall Master Lie Fentian's carotid artery while examining the wound on his chest and abdomen, his expression shifting unpredictably.

The wound went clean through, and his internal organs were completely shattered; he was as dead as could be. He raised his head and looked at Hall Master Chen Qingfeng, his eyes filled with shock and confusion.

Hall Master Chen Qingfeng did not look at the corpse immediately. His gaze first fell upon Lin Tian, who was faintly cordoned off by a group of constables but possessed a stable breath and a normal expression. Seeing that he was unharmed, his heart eased first, followed by a surge of deep confusion.

He strode up to Lin Tian and asked anxiously, "Tian'er, are you alright? Were you injured just now? What... happened here? Who... killed Hall Master Lie Fentian?"

His gaze swept over Hall Master Lie Fentian's corpse on the ground, then looked at Magistrate Zhou Wenhai, who was slumped like mud and pale-faced not far away, as well as the terrified constables. A faint guess formed in his mind, but he felt it was too shocking to believe.

"Please rest assured, Revered Master, this Disciple is unharmed." Lin Tian bowed slightly to Hall Master Chen Qingfeng, his tone calm, and then pointed at Hall Master Lie Fentian's corpse on the ground.

He said frankly, "The Liehuo Hall Master, Hall Master Lie Fentian, was killed by this Disciple."

"What?!" Hall Master Chen Qingfeng's body shook. He whipped his head around and stared fixedly at Lin Tian, as if he hadn't heard clearly. "You... what did you say? You killed him?!"

Beside him, Baiyun Hall Revered Master, Master Bai Song, who had just finished examining the corpse, also stood up abruptly, his face written all over with disbelief.

He looked at Lin Tian, then at the miserable state of Hall Master Lie Fentian's death on the ground. Frowning deeply, he said in a heavy voice, "Nephew Lin, this is no small matter. Do not speak recklessly!

Hall Master Lie Fentian is a Rank 3 Martial Artist with deep cultivation and condensed blood-qi. Even if he were heavily injured and on the verge of death, his protective energy and Physical Body strength are absolutely not something a Second Grade Martial Artist could easily break through!

Although you are an extraordinarily gifted Genius with fierce saber techniques, to say that you could slay Hall Master Lie Fentian... this is simply too unbelievable!"

He did not doubt Lin Tian's character, but this matter truly defied common sense.

Between the second and third grades lies the fundamental difference of whether one has mastered "Bright Energy." The quality of blood-qi, Physical Body strength, and the condensation of energy cannot be spoken of in the same breath.

Even if Lin Tian's saber techniques were more exquisite and his movement techniques faster, with a second-grade cultivation, wanting to kill a third-grade Hall Master Lie Fentian in one blow was almost a fantasy.

Hall Master Chen Qingfeng also stared closely at Lin Tian. Although he had an extraordinary level of confidence in this Disciple's talent, at this moment, he also found it unbelievable. He asked slowly, "Tian'er, what exactly happened? Tell me in detail."

Seeing that the two hall Revered Masters did not believe him, Lin Tian did not argue. He simply repeated calmly, "Revered Master, Hall Revered Master Bai, Hall Master Lie Fentian was indeed killed by this Disciple.

By the time he fled here, he was already at the end of his rope and heavily injured. This Disciple used flour to obscure his vision, and taking advantage of his momentary lapse of focus, I executed a newly mastered fist technique to strike his old wounds and openings, succeeding by luck."

He spoke lightly, omitting the specific mysteries of the "Four Elements as One" and downplaying the fact that he had already made a Breakthrough to Rank 3, attributing his success entirely to Hall Master Lie Fentian's severe injuries and carelessness, and his own "luck."

However, this explanation still left Hall Master Chen Qingfeng and Master Bai Song looking at each other, half-believing and half-doubting.

Flour? Fist techniques? Luck? This sounded... far too much like a joke. That was Hall Master Lie Fentian!

A notoriously fierce Rank 3 Martial Artist of Heishan City! Even if he were heavily injured, even if he were careless, how could he be killed by flour and "luck"?

"You all! You speak!" Baiyun Hall Revered Master, Master Bai Song, suddenly turned his head, his gaze like lightning as he swept over the surrounding constables who were still in a state of shock, as well as Magistrate Zhou Wenhai slumped in his armchair,

He barked sternly, "What exactly happened just now? Who killed Hall Master Lie Fentian? Speak the truth!"

Swept by Master Bai Song's gaze, which carried the pressure of a Rank 3 Martial Artist, the constables shuddered and snapped back to their senses.

Facing the questioning of the two Hall Revered Masters, and looking at Hall Master Lie Fentian's corpse on the ground as well as the calmly standing youth in black, they did not dare to hide anything,

In a chaotic and incoherent clamor, they recounted everything that had just happened from beginning to end.

"It was... it was Officer Lin!"

"Hall Revered Master Lie rushed in wanting to kill Officer Lin, shattering the screen wall with a single palm strike!"

"Officer Lin's movement technique was so fast, he dodged it!"

"Then Officer Lin threw a handful of white flour... blinding Hall Revered Master Lie's eyes..."

"And then Officer Lin punched... and, and punched right through Hall Revered Master Lie's chest..."

"It was too fast! None of us saw it clearly!"

"It really was just one punch..."

Although the descriptions were chaotic, the core meaning was incomparably clear—Hall Master Lie Fentian had indeed been killed by Lin Tian with a single punch!

Listening to the chaotic accounts of the constables and looking at Magistrate Zhou Wenhai's despairing, wooden, and silently acquiescent expression—as if his own parents had died—Hall Master Chen Qingfeng and Master Bai Song were completely dumbfounded.

It was true... it was actually true!

Lin Tian... had truly slain an veteran Rank 3 Martial Artist at less than twenty years of age!

Even if the opponent was heavily injured, and even if "underhanded" methods were used, this result was already shocking enough! It was enough to overturn their understanding!

"You... you really did it?" Hall Master Chen Qingfeng looked at Lin Tian, his voice carrying an imperceptible tremor, his eyes filled with complex and indescribable emotions—there was shock,

wild joy, gratification, and even a sort of daze from witnessing an unbelievable miracle.

Baiyun Hall Revered Master, Master Bai Song, was also speechless for a long time, staring at Lin Tian as if looking at a monster.

After a long while, he let out a long sigh and smiled bitterly. "The youth are to be feared... the youth are truly to be feared! Brother Chen, you have taken in a great Disciple! No, he is a Prodigy! A peerless Prodigy!"

The way he looked at Lin Tian no longer held any of the scrutiny or doubt of a Senior, leaving only deep marvel and a trace of hard-to-conceal awe.

To be able to slay Hall Master Lie Fentian at such an age and in such a manner, this youth's future was simply limitless! This pond of Heishan City would probably soon be unable to hold this true Dragon!

"It was merely luck. If he hadn't been heavily injured, exhausted, and lost his composure, this Disciple would hardly have had an opportunity." Lin Tian remained humble, but in the ears of the two Hall Revered Masters, this humility only highlighted his steady Heart-Nature, remaining unruffled by both favor and disgrace.

Luck? The two Hall Revered Masters looked at each other and smiled bitterly. Once might be luck, but to be able to "luckily" defeat the strong as the weak and cross Realms to kill enemies every single time,

that was no longer luck, but solid, despair-inducing, terrifying talent and strength!

Over a year... no, even less than two years!

From a mere farm boy to an existence capable of slaying a Rank 3 Martial Artist in battle today! This cultivation speed and combat capability could no longer be described by the word "Genius"!

The matters that followed became much simpler.

With Lin Tian, this "fiend" who had just slain Hall Master Lie Fentian in battle, alongside the two Hall Revered Masters of Qingfeng and Baiyun—three Rank 3 experts—holding the fort, the final trace of hope in County Magistrate Zhou Wenhai's heart was completely extinguished.

Ashen-faced, he slumped in his chair, his eyes lifeless, allowing the Imperial Guard officers to step forward and chain him.

The advisor had long since fainted and was dragged away like a dead dog. The county yamen constables were even more silent as cicadas in winter, none of them daring to make a move as they obediently disarmed and awaited their sentence.

Meanwhile, in the direction of the Liehuo Martial Arts Hall.

The clamor of battle had gradually subsided, and the fire was brought under control, leaving only sporadic sounds of clashing metal and shouting.

Imperial Guard Centurion Shen Lian stood with his saber in the middle of the ruined courtyard. Lying at his feet was the corpse of the black-robed Demonic Sect expert, who had lost an arm, black blood spilling from his nose and mouth, already dead.

Frowning slightly, he looked at the obvious traces of suicide by poison at the corner of The Black-Robed Man's mouth, a cold light flashing in his eyes.

"Demonic Sect cultists are indeed ruthless to themselves," Centurion Shen Lian snorted coldly. He had originally wanted to keep a survivor to dig deeper into the forces behind them, but he hadn't expected the opponent to be so decisive, immediately biting open the poison capsule in his mouth to commit suicide upon being captured.

All around, the battle was nearing its end. The remnants of the Liehuo Martial Arts Hall and the infiltrating Demonic Sect Martial Artists were either dead or injured. Most of the few who were captured attempted suicide, but the Imperial Guard timely dislocated their jaws and searched for the poison in their mouths. However, those who could be captured alive were mostly minor lackeys with limited knowledge.

"My Lord, the battlefield is basically under control." Squad Leader Zhao stepped forward quickly, blood on his body but in decent spirits, reporting, "Our side has suffered thirty-seven casualties, with nineteen seriously injured.

One hundred and sixty-three of the Liehuo Martial Arts Hall and Demonic Sect Martial Artists were killed, forty-one captured, and the rest scattered, currently being pursued and eliminated.

However..." He paused and lowered his voice. "The Liehuo Hall Master, Hall Master Lie Fentian, risked heavy injury to break through the obstruction of the two Hall Revered Masters and fled toward the west of the city.

Hall Revered Master Chen and Hall Revered Master Bai have already pursued him. At present... no news has been sent back yet."

Centurion Shen Lian raised an eyebrow and looked toward the west county yamen, his gaze deep. Hall Master Lie Fentian escaped?

With Hall Master Chen Qingfeng and Master Bai Song joining forces, even if Hall Master Lie Fentian fought desperately, it would not be easy to escape completely. Moreover, over in the west of the city...

While he was pondering, an Imperial Guard guardsman rushed over, knelt on one knee, and reported urgently, "My Lord! News has come from the West City County Yamen! Hall Master Lie Fentian has been executed!"

"Oh?" A sharp light flashed in Centurion Shen Lian's eyes. "Who killed him? Hall Revered Master Chen? Or Hall Revered Master Bai?"

A look of unbelievable excitement and shock appeared on the guardsman's face, his voice rising a few notches. "In reply to My Lord! It was... it was Lin Tian, Banneret Lin!

He killed Hall Master Lie Fentian with a single punch in public in the front courtyard of the county yamen! By the time the two Hall Revered Masters arrived, Hall Master Lie Fentian had already been dead for a long time!

Magistrate Zhou Wenhai has been controlled, and the county yamen constables have all surrendered!"

"What?!" Even with Centurion Shen Lian's steadfast mind and deep reserve, he could not help but be slightly moved at this moment, a clear look of surprise flashing through his eyes. Lin Tian? Slaying Hall Master Lie Fentian? And with a fist technique, killing him in public?

He knew that Lin Tian's talent was outstanding, and after obtaining the red blood vermilion fruit, his cultivation would surely make great progress, even guessing that he might have already touched the threshold of Rank 3.

But to frontally crush and kill the veteran Rank 3 Martial Artist, Hall Master Lie Fentian, with a fist technique... this result was still somewhat beyond his expectations.

It seemed that this youth not only possessed astonishing talent, but his combat ability, ruthless Heart-Nature, and precise timing were even superior to his talent!

"Good! Very good!" Centurion Shen Lian slowly exhaled a breath, a rare smile of approval appearing on his face, the cold light in his eyes growing even sharper.

"Pass down the order! Immediately clean up the battlefield, clear all corpses, distinguish friend from foe, and properly settle the wounded! Keep the prisoners under strict guard, interrogate them separately, and make sure to pry open their mouths!

At the same time, send men to the county yamen to take custody of Magistrate Zhou Wenhai and the other offenders, and invite Lin Tian, Hall Revered Master Chen, and Hall Revered Master Bai to gather here!"

"Yes!" Squad Leader Zhao and the guardsman complied in unison and quickly turned to make the arrangements.

Standing with his hands behind his back, Centurion Shen Lian gazed toward the direction of the county yamen as the sky gradually brightened, his thoughts racing.

The cancer of the Liehuo Martial Arts Hall had been removed, the infiltrating forces of the Demonic Sect this time were basically wiped out, and Magistrate Zhou Wenhai had been caught, temporarily clearing the greatest hidden danger within Heishan City.

After this night, the prestige of the Imperial Guard would rise to another level, and the two martial arts halls would surely be deeply grateful.

As for Lin Tian... after this battle, this youth would surely become famous throughout the city, and his name might even reach the state prefecture!

It is time to put more weight on his shoulders...