Chapter 144 - 106: Four-in-One, Zhang Su’s Breakthrough, Hundred-Day Huajin

It was very similar to Zhang Su’s keen perception, but fundamentally different.

Perception was passive, capable of detecting subtle changes.

The Huajin Realm, however, was active, enabling the most precise reactions to the slightest contact.

Zhang Su closed his eyes, carefully experiencing the changes brought by Huajin.

He discovered that his perception had become even sharper.

Within a ten-zhang radius, not even the slightest rustle of wind or grass could escape his senses.

He could even faintly hear the sound of ants crawling underground.

This was the all-encompassing enhancement brought by Huajin.

KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK.

Just then, a knock at the door interrupted Zhang Su’s thoughts.

Zhang Su stood up, stretched his limbs that had grown stiff from sitting for so long, and pushed the door open.

An Inner Sect Steward was standing outside.

The Steward was about forty years old, with an ordinary face. He wore a gray robe and had a jade token hanging from his waist, indicating his status.

When he saw Zhang Su, he cupped his fist in a salute.

"Zhang Su, a woman calling herself Gu Ying is looking for you outside the Mountain Gate."

"Gu Ying?"

Zhang Su’s brow twitched slightly. He immediately thought of the Jianghu Pursuit Order he had issued.

The last time he had seen her was two months ago.

Gu Ying wanted revenge, and Zhang Su had issued a Jianghu Pursuit Order through the Sect.

’Now Gu Ying is here again. Could something have gone wrong with the Jianghu Pursuit Order?’

However, he didn’t go to see Gu Ying immediately. Instead, he first made a trip to the Inner Sect Grand Hall.

The Grand Hall was brightly lit, with several massive wooden pillars supporting the high, vaulted ceiling.

Calligraphy and paintings hung on the surrounding walls. Against them stood rows of wooden shelves, neatly stacked with various registers and scrolls.

A few Inner Sect Stewards were busy behind their desks. They glanced up when Zhang Su entered, then quickly lowered their heads to continue with their work.

Soon, Zhang Su arrived at the desk of the Inner Sect Steward in charge of inquiries about Jianghu Pursuit Orders.

That Steward was a thin, middle-aged man, his head bowed as he flipped through a thick register.

"I need to inquire about a Jianghu Pursuit Order."

Zhang Su said, getting straight to the point.

"You want to inquire about a Jianghu Pursuit Order?"

The Steward looked up at Zhang Su, recognized him, and nodded.

"Yes."

Zhang Su replied.

Without another word, the Steward turned, took a thick register from the shelf behind him, flipped through a few pages, and ran his finger across the text until he found the relevant entry.

"The Jianghu Pursuit Order was successfully issued. However, it’s been two months, and no one has come to claim the bounty with the heads of Zhou Sandao and Jiang Kui. According to the Sect’s intelligence, Zhou Sandao and Jiang Kui have hidden themselves in Hidden Sword Manor and received its protection."

Zhang Su frowned.

"Hidden Sword Manor dares to protect people wanted by our Sect’s Jianghu Pursuit Order?"

Zhang Su asked, his voice laced with a hint of coldness.

The Steward shook his head and explained, "Hidden Sword Manor is not within the jurisdiction of our Guiyuan Sect. It’s a Jianghu power under the command of Medicine Valley. It’s perfectly normal for them to disregard a Jianghu Pursuit Order from our Guiyuan Sect. It’s said that Hidden Sword Manor even has a Danjin Martial Artist presiding over it, making it a major power in the Jianghu."

"Medicine Valley..."

Zhang Su was lost in thought.

Medicine Valley, along with the Guiyuan Sect and the Five Elements Sect, was one of the Major Sects, and their strengths were comparable.

Since Hidden Sword Manor was affiliated with Medicine Valley, it naturally had the confidence to disregard the Guiyuan Sect’s pursuit order.

Zhang Su understood.

’No wonder Gu Ying came looking for me.’

’So Hidden Sword Manor was protecting Zhou Sandao and Jiang Kui.’

’Even the Jianghu Pursuit Order was useless against them.’

"It seems I’ll have to make a trip down the mountain myself..."

Zhang Su said in a low voice.

With that, he turned and left the Inner Sect Grand Hall, striding toward the Mountain Gate.

Outside the Mountain Gate was a wide path paved with bluestone, flanked by towering ancient trees with interlocking branches.

From a distance, Zhang Su saw the figure of a woman.

The woman was dressed in a simple white dress, her long hair draped over her shoulders. She had a delicate and pretty face—it was Gu Ying.

But compared to the last time they met, Gu Ying was clearly much more haggard.

Her eyes were slightly sunken and bloodshot, and her face was so pale it was nearly colorless.

Her once-plump cheeks had hollowed, and she had lost a great deal of weight, looking as if she had just recovered from a serious illness.

"Young Master Zhang..."

Seeing Zhang Su, Gu Ying’s eyes reddened, and her voice choked with emotion.

She hurried forward to meet him, her lips trembling slightly, as if she wanted to say something but didn’t know where to begin.

"Young Master Zhang... I heard that Hidden Sword Manor is protecting Zhou Sandao and Jiang Kui, and that none of the Jianghu people dare to enter..."

Gu Ying took a deep breath, trying to steady her voice, but it still carried an irrepressible tremor.

Her eyes were filled with anticipation.

It was an anticipation so intense, she was like a drowning person clutching at the last straw.

She didn’t understand just how prominent Hidden Sword Manor’s position in the Jianghu was.

But she knew that Zhang Su was an Inner Sect Disciple of the Guiyuan Sect.

As long as Zhang Su was willing to help, she was certain he could kill Zhou Sandao and Jiang Kui.

She had been waiting for this day for too long.

It was one thing when she had no news of Zhou Sandao and Jiang Kui.

But now that she knew where they were, the fact that they were still alive was a daily torment for her.

Every night, she dreamed of the horrific scene from that day.

Her parents lying in pools of blood, the terrified cries of her younger siblings, the courtyard engulfed in flames, and the savage faces of Zhou Sandao and Jiang Kui.

Each time she woke from the nightmare, she would be drenched in cold sweat, unable to fall back asleep.

She was filled with hatred.

She hated her own powerlessness, hated that her enemies were still at large, getting away with their crimes.

And now, an opportunity had finally arrived, yet her enemies were being protected by Hidden Sword Manor, and not a single person from the Jianghu dared to make a move.

Gu Ying looked at Zhang Su, her eyes filled with hope and pleading.

She was waiting, waiting for Zhang Su’s answer.

"I understand. We made an agreement when you sponsored me, and I will naturally honor it. Therefore, I will personally make a trip down the mountain and take care of Zhou Sandao and Jiang Kui for you."

Zhang Su said in a calm tone.

His voice wasn’t loud, but it was firm.

Since it was his promise, he would naturally fulfill it.

"Ah? Young Master Zhang is willing to act personally?"

Gu Ying was overjoyed.

She had originally thought that, at best, she would only get a perfunctory reply like "I’ll see what I can do" from Zhang Su.

After all, with Zhang Su’s current status and position, he could easily have someone else handle it and didn’t need to make the trip himself.

In fact, Gu Ying hadn’t come this time to ask Zhang Su to act personally.

She just wanted to confirm whether he still remembered their agreement and if he would still help her.

She never expected that Zhang Su would actually be willing to handle it himself.

For Gu Ying, Zhang Su’s willingness to act was the best news she could have hoped for.

There was hope for the Gu Family’s revenge at last!