28: Chapter 28 Reencounter with Zhang Shan

Naming names, he demanded to see the Black Wind Demon.

The atmosphere in Juyi Hall, which had just eased, tightened once more.

All the bandits looked towards Chen Fan on the main seat.

Chen Fan remained seated on that tiger-skin chair, blowing away the walnut fragments in his hand bit by bit.

Zhang Shan.

He had finally come.

Faster than expected.

"Chief, it's just a stinking Taoist. Let me and the brothers go slaughter him!" Iron-Armed Monkey picked up his big saber and prepared to rush out.

So what if he is a Martial Artist? They had the numbers; if they all swarmed him, it wouldn't matter who he was!

"Let him come up." Chen Fan spoke, his voice rough but exceptionally calm.

Iron-Armed Monkey's footsteps halted. He turned back, his face full of confusion.

"Chief?"

Chen Fan did not explain, merely waving his hand.

In Juyi Hall, the group of bandit leaders looked at each other, but no one dared to say another word.

On the mountain path, Chen Fan walked alone, carrying that huge ghost-head saber, walking down step by step.

He did not let anyone follow him.

Iron-Armed Monkey and the others wanted to follow, but with one calm glance from him, they were scared into stopping in their tracks.

The mountain wind blew, whipping up the hem of his robe.

Troublesome.

He was not afraid of dying at Zhang Shan's hands.

He just didn't want Zhang Shan to die.

According to the System's nature, whoever killed him would become the target of his Possession. If he were to die by Zhang Shan's sword, this Martial Artist Genius who had just emerged and had a limitless future would reach the end of his life.

This was not what he wanted to see.

A seed he had planted casually had grown into a towering tree, and now it was coming to chop down the gardener himself.

Truly, the world is unpredictable.

Outside the Narrow Pass, at the entrance of the narrow mountain path.

A young figure dressed in a cyan Taoist robe stood holding a sword.

He had an upright figure, a handsome face, and carried an ancient-looking longsword on his back.

He was no longer that boy who knelt at the Zhao Mansion gate, thin as a bean sprout. Three months of tempering had completely transformed him; he was like a drawn sword, his sharp edge fully exposed.

When he saw that burly figure with a full beard carrying a ghost-head saber walking down the mountain path, his bright eyes instantly ignited with a raging fire of hatred.

"Black Wind Demon!"

Zhang Shan's voice was cold and firm, carrying irreconcilable hatred.

Chen Fan stopped in his tracks, slamming the huge ghost-head saber onto the ground with a dull thud.

He imitated the Black Wind Demon's manner, grinning to reveal teeth stained yellow by alcohol and meat.

"You dare to come back? Last time I spared your life, I thought you were a sensible person, but I didn't expect you to still be courting death!"

Zhang Shan stepped forward, his hand already on the sword hilt. "You murdered Young Master Zhao Long and bloodied Zhang Family Village. Today, I will use your dog head to pay tribute to their spirits in heaven!"

Young Master Zhao Long...

Chen Fan sighed inwardly. This kid truly hadn't disappointed him.

"Zhao Long, a playboy, deserved to die!" He rudely picked his ear. "As for Zhang Family Village, I've killed so many people, how could I remember which village it was?"

"You!" Zhang Shan's chest heaved violently, his handsome face turning red with anger.

He stopped talking nonsense.

"Clang!"

The longsword left its scabbard, bringing with it a clear, dragon-like hum.

A silk-like sword light tore through the air, stabbing straight at Chen Fan's throat.

Fast!

Unbelievably fast!

On Chen Fan's rough face, a hint of seriousness appeared for the first time.

He flicked the ghost-head saber up from the ground with one hand; the heavy blade felt light as a feather in his grip.

"Clang!"

Blade and sword clashed, sparks flying everywhere.

A massive force came from the sword, numbing Zhang Shan's arm and forcing him to retreat three steps.

But Chen Fan stood where he was, not moving an inch.

Although the Black Wind Demon's body had mediocre Aptitude, it had been immersed in the eighth rank Realm for many years. Its Foundation was solid, far beyond that of the newly Breakthrough-achieving Zhang Shan.

"With just this bit of skill, you want to learn to take revenge?" Chen Fan sneered, shouldering his big saber and taking the initiative to attack.

"Gale Saber Technique!"

The huge ghost-head saber turned into layers of impenetrable blade nets in his hands, whipping up a sky full of gale winds and covering Zhang Shan from above.

The blade momentum was wild, domineering, and wide-sweeping.

Zhang Shan, however, showed no fear. He stepped in mysterious footwork, his figure flickering. The longsword in his hand was like a butterfly flitting through flowers, always able to find the trickiest angles in the gaps of the blade net to stab at Chen Fan's vital points.

For a time, the mountain path was filled with flashing blades and shadows, the sound of metal clashing ringing endlessly.

Both were eighth-rank Martial Artists; one blade and one sword, they fought to a standstill.

In the blink of an eye, a hundred moves had passed.

The more they fought, the more alarmed Chen Fan became.

This kid's speed of progress was simply monstrous!

His swordsmanship not only possessed the upright peace of Qingyang Taoist Temple but also carried a fierce, forward-charging killing intent. Every strike was aimed at mutual destruction.

This was practicing the sword with his life, feeding the moves with hatred!

If they kept fighting like this, he might win, but he would inevitably be injured.

And once injured, facing the subsequent encirclement by the Xiushan Princes Mansion and the imperial army, his chances of survival would be diminished.

He had to end the battle quickly!

Chen Fan feigned a flaw, deliberately slowing down his blade momentum.

Zhang Shan fell for it. He thought Chen Fan was exhausted, and a fierce look flashed in his eyes as his longsword turned into a streak of light, aiming straight for Chen Fan's heart.

Now!

Chen Fan did not retreat but advanced, twisting his body at a strange angle to avoid the sword edge, while his ghost-head saber, with the back of the blade facing up, swept out with full force.

"Bang!"

The heavy back of the blade slammed solidly against Zhang Shan's chest.

Zhang Shan was struck as if by lightning, spitting out a mouthful of blood as he flew backward and landed heavily on the ground.

He struggled to crawl up but could no longer muster an ounce of strength.

The outcome was decided.

Chen Fan, shouldering his saber, walked up to him step by step, his huge shadow enveloping him.

Zhang Shan looked up, full of unwillingness and deep-seated hatred.

"Kill me."

Chen Fan looked down at him; no emotion could be seen on his rough face.

He slowly raised the ghost-head saber.

Zhang Shan closed his eyes, waiting for death to arrive.

However, the expected excruciating pain did not come.

He opened his eyes in confusion, only to see that burly bandit Chief already shouldering his saber and turning to walk up the mountain.

"Why... still not kill me?" Zhang Shan shouted hoarsely.

Chen Fan did not stop his footsteps, merely leaving behind a rough remark.

"I'm tired of killing today; I'll keep your dog life for now."

"If you dare to come again, you won't have such good luck."

Watching that back figure disappear at the end of the mountain path, Zhang Shan propped himself up with his sword and struggled to stand.

He wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, his bright eyes filled with complex emotions.

...

Black Wind Mountain, back hall stone chamber.

Chen Fan threw the ghost-head saber into the corner and plopped down on the stone bed.

The battle with Zhang Shan had consumed a lot of his stamina.

Honge and Cui Qiao hurriedly crowded around, one kneading his shoulders, the other pounding his legs.

"Chief, you are truly amazing! That little Taoist was just beaten away by you like that?" Cui Qiao asked in a sweet voice, full of admiration.

"Just a brat," Chen Fan replied casually.

He closed his eyes, but his mind was racing with calculations.

Although Zhang Shan had lost this time, his growth speed was too terrifying.

If he came again, this body of his would likely be no match.

He had to find a way to change his identity before Zhang Shan came again.

Xiushan Princes Mansion? The imperial army?

They both seemed like good choices.

He suddenly remembered the few people he had let go earlier.

Yun Niang... that gentle woman should have returned home by now.

And that woman who claimed to be a merchant's family member but was actually the Princess of Xiushan.

Wait.

A thought popped up without any warning.

The Princess of Xiushan had been missing for probably a month or two.

It had been some time since he let her go.

Although Qinghe County was remote, the imperial order still existed. With the status of a Princess, as long as she wanted to, returning to the Xiushan Princes Mansion should be a very simple matter.

Why was the Xiushan Princes Mansion still searching everywhere for people even now?

Why hadn't she gone back?

In Chen Fan's mind, the scene from the day he returned from the raid surfaced uncontrollably.

That woman in brocade was tied up, her face full of stubbornness.

And behind her, a shivering maid was cowering.

At the time, he thought that was just an ordinary maid.

But now, thinking back carefully, that maid...

Although she was shaking all over, her posture while cowering behind her mistress, rather than seeking protection, was... more like an instinctive act of guarding.

And that small face, stained with mud and streaked with tears...

Chen Fan furrowed his brows. That maid, something was wrong!