Chapter 174 - 114: One Man, One Sword, Slaughtering Hidden Sword Manor

But the calmer Zhang Su appeared, the more Ouyang Chuan’s heart sank with despair.

He understood. The Clan Elder... was most likely dead.

Ouyang Chuan took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down.

’This is no time for grief.’

’There’s a more important matter at hand.’

’Why did Zhang Su come back?’

Ouyang Chuan raised his head, his gaze once again falling on Zhang Su’s face.

"You... you killed the Clan Elder, and you still dare to return?"

Ouyang Chuan said through gritted teeth.

His voice was laced with hatred, as well as a trace of fear he himself hadn’t even noticed.

"Matters of the Jianghu are settled within the Jianghu."

Zhang Su spoke.

"Since your Hidden Sword Manor chose to kill me, you should have been prepared."

He paused, his gaze landing on Ouyang Chuan’s face.

"The death of a single Ouyang Yin is not enough."

Ouyang Chuan’s pupils shrank.

He understood what Zhang Su meant.

’Not enough.’

’Killing one Clan Elder isn’t enough.’

’Then what more does he want?’

"Are you saying you’re going to annihilate my Hidden Sword Manor?"

Ouyang Chuan’s hand gripped his sword hilt tightly.

Zhang Su said nothing, merely staring at Ouyang Chuan.

The implication was perfectly clear.

He was going to annihilate Hidden Sword Manor.

Ouyang Chuan’s eyes grew redder.

Hidden Sword Manor was the life’s work of generations of Ouyang ancestors.

From a tiny blacksmith shop to the renowned Hidden Sword Manor of today’s Jianghu, the journey had taken several hundred years.

’How can a legacy hundreds of years in the making be destroyed at my hands?’

Ouyang Chuan took a deep breath, suppressing the rage in his heart.

He stared coldly at Zhang Su. "My Hidden Sword Manor has a legacy stretching back hundreds of years. We have dozens of Huajin Martial Artists and countless Inner Force Martial Artists. With over a thousand Martial Artists in the manor, you think you can destroy us all by yourself? You must be dreaming! It’s pure fantasy!"

Dozens of Huajin Martial Artists and over a thousand Martial Artists in total—such a force was not to be underestimated.

Even a Danjin Martial Artist would have to think twice before facing such a force.

What’s more, Zhang Su was only at the Huajin realm.

"Besides, Hidden Sword Manor has close ties to Medicine Valley. Even if you’re an Inner Sect Disciple of the Guiyuan Sect, you can’t touch us!"

The relationship between Hidden Sword Manor and Medicine Valley was the greatest source of Ouyang Chuan’s confidence.

Medicine Valley was a Major Sect, on par with the Guiyuan Sect and the Five Elements Sect.

Every year, Hidden Sword Manor presented a tribute of fine Treasure Swords to Medicine Valley, and many of Medicine Valley’s disciples were on friendly terms with the manor.

Hidden Sword Manor could call upon a good number of Medicine Valley’s Pill Force and Gang Force masters.

Even some Postnatal Realm Elders had friendly relations with Hidden Sword Manor.

Without Medicine Valley’s vast network, how could Hidden Sword Manor have stood strong for hundreds of years?

If Hidden Sword Manor were to be destroyed, the repercussions would be immense.

Of course, Zhang Su knew about the close relationship between Hidden Sword Manor and Medicine Valley.

’But so what?’

He could kill them and simply return to the Guiyuan Sect.

No matter how strong Medicine Valley was, the most they could do was put some pressure on the Guiyuan Sect. What did that really count for?

In the Jianghu, strength reigned supreme!

"Ouyang Chuan, you’ve been in your high position for too long. Scheming over this, plotting over that... you’re no longer one of the Jianghu People."

Zhang Su’s voice was perfectly calm.

"Connections, status, and position are important, to be sure. But have you forgotten what it truly takes to survive in the Jianghu?"

Ouyang Chuan froze for a moment.

’What does it take?’

’Strength. The sword in your hand.’

Of course, he knew all this.

But knowing it was one thing; acting on it was another entirely.

After so many years as Manor Master, he had grown accustomed to solving problems with his connections, using his status to intimidate others, and relying on exchanges of benefits to resolve crises.

It had been a long time since he had personally crossed swords with anyone.

So long, in fact, that he couldn’t even remember the last time he had drawn his sword.

Zhang Su tightened his grip on his sword.

His meaning was perfectly clear.

Connections, status... in the face of absolute strength, they were all useless.

As Ouyang Chuan stared at the sword in Zhang Su’s hand, a sudden chill washed over him.

He had met countless Jianghu People.

There were those who lived off their patrons, those who curried favor with the powerful, those who cultivated networks of connections, and those who patiently bided their time.

But Zhang Su was different.

This man was not like other Jianghu People.

Those other Jianghu People had fear in their eyes, hesitation, too many attachments.

Before acting, they would overthink everything: what would be the consequences of offending this person? What trouble would killing that person invite?

And so their hands were always tied, constantly looking over their shoulders.

But not Zhang Su.

Zhang Su’s eyes were pure.

Pure, unadulterated killing intent.

A pure sword.

This man had no fear in his eyes, no hesitation, no superfluous thoughts.

If he wanted to kill, he killed.

If he wanted to wipe out a family, he wiped out a family.

Ouyang Chuan suddenly realized that his so-called connections were completely useless before a man like Zhang Su.

Because Zhang Su simply didn’t care.

’Run!’

Ouyang Chuan was also a Huajin Martial Artist.

But he knew in his heart that as a Huajin Martial Artist, he was on a completely different level from Zhang Su.

’Zhang Su could kill the Clan Elder.’

’And what about me?’

’I can’t even defeat Ouyang Pu.’

He had lost all will to fight Zhang Su.

Ouyang Chuan suddenly leaped toward the window.

CRASH.

Ouyang Chuan smashed through the window.

The wooden window frame shattered, sending splinters flying.

The moment he landed, Ouyang Chuan tucked into a roll to absorb the impact, then scrambled to his feet and sprinted away.

He opened his mouth and bellowed, "Men! To me, quickly..."

His voice carried far in the night sky, audible throughout all of Hidden Sword Manor.

Lamps began to light up one by one in the various courtyards of Hidden Sword Manor.

People were scrambling to get dressed, drawing their swords, and shouting.

"The Manor Master is under attack!"

"Quickly, go protect the Manor Master!"

The sound of footsteps rushed in from all directions.

SHING.

But in the next instant, Zhang Su drew his sword.