97: Chapter 97 Martial Arts World, Heroes, and Beauties

That path was a new direction and a new life.

The crowd was like a tide parted by an invisible hand, silently clearing a path for him.

Everyone who met his gaze subconsciously lowered their heads, avoiding that pale mask.

Awe, fear, curiosity.

Various emotions intertwined into a vast web, and he was the center of it.

Luo Hengsheng—no, Chen Fan—walked calmly.

Within this body surged a power he had never experienced before. It was harmonious and self-consistent, as if every breath resonated with the surrounding world.

This was the Realm of a Sixth-Grade Martial Artist.

Chen Jinzhong's body had to exert every ounce of strength and burn his blood essence to strike that earth-shattering blow.

But for this body, such power seemed ordinary.

Countless memory fragments tumbled and reorganized in his mind, eventually merging into a clear river.

Luo Hengsheng, twenty-seven years old.

An orphan.

Since he could remember, he had followed an old wandering monk.

The old monk taught him to read, taught him martial arts, and taught him how to kill.

He said that this world was unjust; if the Buddha would not deliver them, then he must.

Later, the old monk died.

He put on this jade mask and began to walk the Jianghu.

"Jade-Faced" was because of the mask.

"Asura" was because his sword never left anyone alive.

As for why he came to this Sword Testing Conference...

In Luo Hengsheng's memory, there was only one word.

Boredom.

He had originally wanted to participate in the quinquennial Dragon and Tiger Ranking, but unfortunately, it only accepted talents under the age of twenty-five. He was over the age limit.

So, he stopped by Tianchi Mountain on his way to see what kind of people the so-called young experts were.

So, that was it?

Chen Fan understood everything now.

A reclusive, powerful Swordsman who used killing to stop killing.

This seemed to be the new script for this stage of his life.

He walked to the edge of the square, found a secluded cliffside, leaned against the cold rock, and looked down at the still-boisterous crowd below.

The bloodstains on the arena had already been cleaned.

Chen Jinzhong's body had also been carried away by the people of the Longxing Sect amidst Uncle Song's grief-stricken wails.

Everything seemed to have had its traces erased.

But the ordinary steel saber on his back and the worn black cloth bundle reminded him.

Chen Jinzhong's story was over.

He had brought a sufficiently tragic and resounding conclusion to that identity.

From now on, there was no more Chen Jinzhong in the world, only the Jade-Faced Asura, Luo Hengsheng.

He gently exhaled a mouthful of turbid air.

Just as he was about to fully digest the memories of this body, a faint, ethereal fragrance drifted over.

"Master Luo, congratulations."

A voice, enchanting to the bone, rang out behind him.

This form of address made Chen Fan's body freeze instantly.

Master Luo?

He turned his head abruptly.

He saw two women with graceful figures standing side-by-side not far behind him.

They had identical, stunning faces, but wore different colored dresses, and their temperaments were completely different.

The woman on the left wore a fire-red dress that perfectly outlined her curvaceous figure.

The hem of her skirt fluttered slightly in the mountain wind, revealing half of her fair, slender calves, inviting imagination. There was a natural charm in the corners of her eyes and brows; every frown and smile was full of allure.

She was like the most gorgeous red rose blooming on the edge of a cliff—thorny, yet making one unable to resist wanting to pluck it.

The woman on the right wore a lake-blue long dress and had a gentle, quiet temperament. Her figure was equally graceful, but she possessed more of the soft beauty of the Jiangnan water towns. Just standing there, she had the aura of a secluded orchid, bringing peace to one's heart.

Her beauty was reserved, requiring careful appreciation, like an aged wine that grows more flavorful the more it is tasted.

Standing together, one active and one still, one hot and one cold, they formed a highly impactful image.

Chen Fan's mind went blank for a moment.

Luo Hengsheng's memory told him that these twin sisters were named Hong Shao and Qing Luo, confidantes he had met by chance while traveling the Jianghu.

The relationship was the very intimate kind.

This...

This Jade-Faced Asura appeared reclusive and cold, but he lived quite a colorful life in private?

Seeing that he didn't speak, the woman named Hong Shao walked forward with graceful, lotus-like steps.

A pungent yet sweet fragrance wafted into his nose.

"What, now that you've won the title of Arena Master, you don't recognize us sisters anymore?"

There was a hint of reproach in Hong Shao's voice.

Chen Fan remained silent, quickly searching his mind for the way Luo Hengsheng interacted with them.

Indifferent, concise, and occasionally with some domineering, intimate gestures.

He mimicked the manner in his memory and let out a low response from his throat.

"Mm."

Hong Shao seemed long accustomed to his behavior; instead of being annoyed, she laughed so hard her whole body trembled like a blossoming branch.

"Still this ice-cold attitude, how boring."

As she spoke, she reached out a fair, jade-like finger and lightly tapped toward the mask on his face.

"Alright, now that this matter is settled, isn't it time for us sisters to see your true face?"

The younger sister, Qing Luo, also walked over, her voice soft.

"Yes, Master Luo, you always wear this mask; we've almost forgotten what you look like."

Two pairs of beautiful eyes looked at him without blinking, filled with curiosity and expectation.

Chen Fan's heart was very calm.

Luo Hengsheng never showed his true face to anyone, but he was Chen Fan, not Luo Hengsheng.

He said in a calm tone, "At night, you can look as long as you want."

Hearing this, the two sisters' faces instantly flushed, and they gave Chen Fan a coy, reproachful look.

Qing Luo quickly changed the subject and said, "Master Luo, now that you've taken a spot on the hero ranking list, when will you fulfill your promise and take me and my sister to travel the Jianghu?"

Upon hearing this, Chen Fan's thoughts turned, and he remembered.

The reason these twin beauties had been following Luo Hengsheng was that he had once promised to take them to travel the Jianghu.

It just so happened that the Sword Testing Conference began, and Luo Hengsheng changed his goal to participate.

"When the conference ends, I will take you both to the Jianghu!"

Chen Fan smiled slightly.

He was also very interested in traveling the Jianghu.

Moreover, with a pair of twin sisters accompanying him, it would be even better.

Jianghu, swordsmen, beauties, and another jug of fine wine—this is how life should be!