I Grind to Martial Saint

Chapter 21: Chapter 21: Duel

Everyone in the Golden Moon Tower held their breath.

If Han Yuan and Song Heng started fighting, the situation would spiral completely out of control.

The conflicts between the County Yamen and the gangs were usually fought in the shadows. Something this blatant, a direct, armed confrontation, had never happened before.

Whatever happened next could have a massive impact on Qingshui County.

"Kill!"

Han Yuan licked his lips. He let out a low snarl, and just as he was about to draw his saber...

"Wait!"

Song Heng hadn’t expected Han Yuan to actually dare to make a move, and he hastily shouted.

No matter how chaotic Qingshui County was, on the surface, it was still under the County Yamen’s control.

Once he was saddled with the crime of publicly killing an Official, Song Heng knew his fate would be grim, regardless of the outcome.

So, he was scared.

"What’s this? Changed your mind about coming back with me?"

Han Yuan sneered.

"Han Yuan, you’re a martial artist too."

"Let’s have a duel, right here outside the Golden Moon Tower."

"If I lose, I’ll go back with you."

"If I win, you take your men and leave."

"How about it?"

Song Heng proposed a compromise.

"Fine. Then let’s see who’s really better."

Han Yuan agreed at once.

Both of them thought they could easily defeat the other.

And so, Han Yuan and Song Heng went to the open space outside the Golden Moon Tower.

Yang Sen and Zeng Bei held back the crowd to prevent any innocents from being hurt.

"Song Heng’s Fire-Teasing Sword is incredibly refined. I doubt this junior constable will last thirty moves."

Liao Hui Peng jeered.

"Not necessarily... He did kill Kong She with a single strike," Wang Xiushui said softly.

"That was just a sneak attack."

"Guys like him who rely on a fast saber are just one-trick ponies." ƒrēewebnoѵёl.cσm

"As long as Song Heng is careful, there’s no way he can lose."

Liao Hui Peng chuckled.

Wang Xiushui nodded in agreement.

After all, Han Jiudao had once been a legendary figure in Qingshui County.

The characteristics of his Thousand Falcons Blade Technique were already well known.

Even Yang Sen and Zeng Bei felt that Han Yuan’s chances of winning were slim.

No matter how fast the saber was, if the opponent was on guard, it would be difficult to land a killing blow.

Once the fight dragged into a stalemate, the weaknesses of a fast saber would gradually be exposed.

As for the other onlookers, they didn’t know who was stronger; they just kept jeering and shouting.

"Han Yuan, I wonder how your Blade Technique compares to your older brother’s?"

Song Heng sneered.

"I don’t know...."

"But it’s more than enough to beat you," Han Yuan said with a smile.

"Such arrogance! I—"

Before Song Heng could finish, he tapped his feet lightly, and his longsword shot forward in a rapid thrust.

SWISH!

He didn’t want Han Yuan to draw his saber first.

As long as he seized the initiative, Han Yuan’s fast saber would be useless.

But Han Yuan moved at almost the same instant.

He also had the idea of a sneak attack, and a sinister glint of his saber flashed out.

CLANG!

Saber and sword crashed violently in mid-air, locking together.

Both sides frantically pushed with all their might.

"Han Yuan, you launched a sneak attack?"

"Doesn’t that tarnish your reputation as a constable?"

Song Heng sneered contemptuously.

"Didn’t you do the same?"

Han Yuan roared with laughter.

SZZZZZ~~

As the two men exerted their strength, their weapons ground together, sending sparks flying. They broke apart, only to clash again in the next instant.

Song Heng’s Swordsmanship was like a blooming flame, scorching and explosive. The glint of his sword howled as he repeatedly stabbed at Han Yuan’s vital points.

Han Yuan gripped his saber with both hands, his strikes swift and dense.

Song Heng was like a blazing inferno.

And Han Yuan was like a ferocious bird of prey, beating its wings, trying to extinguish that flame.

CLANG CLANG CLANG~~~

The flashes of saber and sword were so fast they left only afterimages, a thrilling sight for the onlookers.

"This guy’s Blade Technique... it’s a bit strange."

Wang Xiushui frowned.

She suddenly wasn’t so optimistic anymore.

Liao Hui Peng’s expression also grew grim.

Because Han Yuan wasn’t collapsing in a prolonged fight as they had imagined.

On the contrary, Song Heng was being suppressed by the relentless Saber Technique, struggling to catch his breath.

Song Heng was also shocked.

Han Yuan’s Thousand Falcon Saber wasn’t just relentless in its assault; it was also backed by ample Qi Power.

As he defended now, the webbing between his thumb and forefinger was starting to go numb.

The moment he parried Han Yuan’s lunging saber, he focused all his Power into his wrist and twisted.

PSHCHT!

It was like a blacksmith swinging a great hammer down on red-hot iron, instantly creating a shower of sparks.

The longsword suddenly shot out dozens of sword glints, all aimed at Han Yuan.

Every glint was filled with killing intent.

"Falcon Dance in the Sky!"

Han Yuan’s eyes narrowed. He also gathered his body’s Qi Power, gripped his saber with both hands, and began to slash wildly!

The speed of his slashes was so great it created a dense, whistling wind, like the sharp cries of countless birds.

CLANG CLANG CLANG~~~

Glints of saber and sword collided ceaselessly.

Both sides kept erupting with Qi Power, trying to break through the other’s defense.

Song Heng’s Qi Power was draining rapidly, and he soon showed signs of fatigue.

Besides the Thousand Falcons Blade Technique, Han Yuan had also practiced the Mountain-Breaking Fist. Even if he couldn’t use it openly, the abundant qi and blood honed from his Fist Technique far surpassed Song Heng’s.

"Song Heng, you’re a real disappointment!"

Han Yuan found the right timing and angle, gripped his saber with both hands, and thrust straight forward.

The strike was too fast.

Like a falcon streaking across the sky, leaving only an afterimage for the world to see.

In an instant, this glint of the saber pierced through the flash of Song Heng’s sword and arrived before his chest.

"I surrender!" Song Heng’s heart seized with terror, and he screamed.

PFFT!

But the tip of the saber still mercilessly plunged into his heart.

The moment Han Yuan pulled the saber out, the pierced heart spurted a jet of blood.

Han Yuan calmly dodged aside.

Having killed many people, he knew how blood would splatter.

Song Heng’s eyes were fixed on Han Yuan as he collapsed, venomous and helpless.

In an instant, all eyes fell on Han Yuan.

This constable was truly ruthless.

To kill a dignified Hall Master of the Fire Wolf Gang, just like that, in front of so many people.

Wang Xiushui and Liao Hui Peng had never imagined that Song Heng would actually lose to Han Yuan.

"Han Yuan, Hall Master Song had clearly surrendered."

"Why did you still take his life?!"

Wang Xiushui questioned coldly.

"Now, that’s not right."

"I tried to stop my saber, but I’d put too much force into it and couldn’t hold back in time."

"You can’t blame me for that, can you?"

"You can only blame it on Song Heng’s bad luck."

Han Yuan said with a helpless expression, his long saber in hand.

"Constable Han, with your level of Blade Technique, you couldn’t stop your saber?"

"Aren’t you afraid of being laughed at for saying that?"

Liao Hui Peng sneered.

"What, you want to test whether I can stop my saber on you?"

Han Yuan narrowed his eyes.

"Exactly. Blades have no eyes."

"If Song Heng had just come with us obediently, he wouldn’t have lost his life here."

"It was all his own doing. You can’t blame Constable Han."

Yang Sen spoke up.

"He was the inferior fighter. What else is there to say?"

Zeng Bei also sneered.

"Alright... Since the murderer has been brought to justice."

"This matter... ends here."

Han Yuan sheathed his long saber and turned to leave.

Wang Xiushui and Liao Hui Peng could only watch, gritting their teeth, but they didn’t make a move.

"The Golden Moon Tower will be temporarily closed for the night."

"We ask for our honored guests’ understanding."

After Han Yuan and his men left, Wang Xiushui had someone disperse the guests of the Golden Moon Tower.

Meanwhile, Liao Hui Peng took care of Song Heng’s body.

The brilliant, splendid lights were gradually extinguished.

The clamor of the Golden Moon Tower slowly faded away.

Wang Xiushui and Liao Hui Peng sat in the gloomy hall, not saying a word.