Chapter 177 - 115: What a Joke, a Huajin Slaying an Embracing Pill?

"Hm?"

Zhang Su stopped in his tracks.

Moonlight filtered through the cracks in the window lattice. Although the Martial Arts Pavilion was dim, it wasn’t pitch-black.

’Are there still remnants of Hidden Sword Manor?’

A cold glint flashed in Zhang Su’s eyes as he looked toward the source of the voice.

The Martial Arts Pavilion was not large.

The first floor was lined with several large bookshelves, and the aisles between them were only wide enough for a single person to pass through.

Zhang Su passed a row of bookshelves and saw an old man hidden behind another.

The old man was sitting on the floor, leaning against a wall, dressed in a worn, grayish-white robe.

His graying hair was disheveled, hanging loosely as if it hadn’t been combed in a very long time.

What was most striking were his legs.

Below the knees, there was nothing. His trouser legs were tied in knots, resting on the ground.

With his disheveled hair and legs missing from the knees down, the old man could only move by crawling, making it incredibly difficult for him to get around.

He supported himself with his hands on the ground. His palms were coarse and powerful—clearly, he was a Martial Artist.

But he was far too old, and coupled with his disability, he looked ancient and haggard.

He was the one who had just spoken.

"Who are you?"

Zhang Su asked.

His hand never left the hilt of his sword.

’To think there was still someone like this in Hidden Sword Manor, hiding away in the Martial Arts Pavilion. Is it possible that even Ouyang Chuan didn’t know he was here?’

’Or perhaps Ouyang Chuan knew and simply didn’t care.’

"I am Ouyang Hong, merely a good-for-nothing cripple in Hidden Sword Manor."

The old man’s voice was ancient and raspy.

His gaze fell upon Zhang Su, sizing him up. There was no hatred in his eyes, nor was there fear. Instead, there was a complex, unreadable expression.

"What is your relationship to Ouyang Yin?"

Zhang Su continued to question him.

"Ouyang Yin... was my younger clan-brother."

Ouyang Hong paused, as if recalling something from long ago.

"Years ago, while I was roaming the Jianghu, I fought with a rival and had my legs cut off. It was Ouyang Yin who arranged for me to stay here in the Martial Arts Pavilion to live out the rest of my broken life."

His tone was calm.

Zhang Su understood. This Ouyang Hong was a Martial Artist from the same generation as Ouyang Yin.

But he was a cripple.

He had lived in the Martial Arts Pavilion for decades, surviving until now thanks to Ouyang Yin’s care.

No wonder Ouyang Chuan had never mentioned him.

An old man with crippled legs was of no use to Hidden Sword Manor, not worth mentioning.

Ouyang Hong’s gaze fell on the sword in Zhang Su’s hand.

The scabbard of the Shadow-Stealing Sword gave off a dull sheen in the moonlight, and the dark red threads on its hilt were clearly visible.

His expression was complicated.

"The Shadow-Stealing Sword... It seems Ouyang Yin truly did die at your hands."

There was no trace of sadness or anger in Ouyang Hong’s voice.

There was only a sense of resignation.

Zhang Su said coolly, "What, you want to avenge Ouyang Yin?"

Ouyang Hong shook his head.

"I am but a cripple. How could I speak of revenge? Besides, Hidden Sword Manor has flourished for hundreds of years. It is inevitable that what reaches its peak must then decline."

He raised his head, and a glint of light flashed in his cloudy old eyes.

"However, I am a man of Hidden Sword Manor, after all. I have managed to cling to life in this Martial Arts Pavilion until now, and I still feel a sliver of loyalty to the manor. Today, I dare to propose a trade with you, Young Hero Zhang."

Zhang Su said coldly, "What trade?"

His eyes were fixed on Ouyang Hong.

’Though this old man is a cripple, he’s still a Martial Artist from the same generation as Ouyang Yin. He’s likely not as simple as he seems.’

"Please, Young Hero Zhang, spare the other members of the Ouyang Family. Give Hidden Sword Manor a path to survival. In exchange, I am willing to gift you a Supreme Sword Technique that reaches into the Innate Realm!"

Zhang Su’s eyebrows twitched slightly.

’A Supreme Sword Technique of the Innate Realm?’

’If it’s truly a Swordsmanship that reaches into the Innate Realm, its value would be immeasurable.’

"I guarantee you, there is likely no other Swordsmanship in this world that can surpass it!"

Ouyang Hong’s voice carried a hint of confidence.

"I practiced it for decades and achieved nothing. It was for the sake of this Swordsmanship that I lost my legs and became a cripple. I’ve been in the Martial Arts Pavilion for decades and never told a single person, not even Ouyang Yin."

Zhang Su was silent for a moment.

’He lost his legs over this Swordsmanship, then hid in the Martial Arts Pavilion for decades without telling even his own clan-brother.’

’It was clear just how much Ouyang Hong valued this Swordsmanship.’

’But now, he was willing to hand it over to give Hidden Sword Manor a path to survival.’

"I’ll have to see the Swordsmanship first. If it is indeed valuable, I will, of course, give Hidden Sword Manor a path to survival."

Zhang Su said coolly.

He wouldn’t make any promises until he had seen the Swordsmanship.

There were too many deals in the Jianghu built on empty words.

He couldn’t possibly agree to spare Hidden Sword Manor based on a single stranger’s promise.

Ouyang Hong gazed at Zhang Su.

A complex expression flickered in his eyes.

It was a look of scrutiny, of hesitation, and of helplessness.

After a long moment, he spoke. "Very well. I trust that Young Hero Zhang is not a man who goes back on his word."

Ouyang Hong had no other choice.

Most of Hidden Sword Manor’s Huajin Martial Artists were dead or wounded. Ouyang Chuan was dead, Ouyang Jing was dead, and even the Clan Elder Ouyang Yin was dead.

The rest were either at the Inner Force or Outer Force level and stood no chance of stopping Zhang Su.

If Zhang Su continued his slaughter, Hidden Sword Manor would truly vanish from the Jianghu.

His only hope was that Zhang Su would keep his promise.

So, he slapped his palm lightly on the ground.

With a muffled THUD, Ouyang Hong’s body launched into the air, propelled by the rebound.

His entire body then soared toward one of the walls of the Martial Arts Pavilion.

Though his legs were crippled, his movements were still agile, a clear sign that his foundation in Martial Arts was still intact.