I Am Immortal in Great Yu

Chapter 165: Chapter 70: Startling Thunder (Part 2)

The guards of the Nursing Home who usually patrolled were nowhere in sight. At the entrance, the two guards posted outside were also leaning against the pillars, fast asleep.

”This is bad! For an expert in Medical Skill to make a move like this... their target most likely isn’t us, but... the Old Master!”

Xia Yunzhao murmured anxiously, ”If there’s a poison concocted by an expert in Medical Skill, and two Fifth Grade Martial Artists launch a sneak attack, something could definitely go wrong...”

”This is terrible! Brother Risheng, please excuse me. I have to get my father and uncle to go support the Old Master!”

He cupped his fist and turned, hurrying away.

Somehow, Xia Yunxiang had also shaken off her drowsiness and quickly followed.

”Wait, Brother Xia, Miss Xia, I’ll go with you!”

Zuo Risheng declared with a heroic wave of his hand.

’This is a great chance to show off in front of the fair maiden.’

’As for the danger?’

’The attackers, in his view, are at most the city’s two hidden Fifth Grade and one Sixth Grade expert. Besides, isn’t Xia Yunzhao going to get his father and uncle?’

’The Xia Family will naturally handle the Fifth Grade Martial Artists. As for that extra Sixth Grade expert, he might even get a chance to show what he can do.’

’Besides, with the Xia Family under attack, following Xia Yunzhao might actually be safer than staying here,’ Zuo Risheng’s beady eyes glinted as he mulled it over.

”Alright!”

Xia Yunzhao naturally understood Zuo Risheng’s intentions, but he couldn’t worry about that now. Treating him as just another guard, he hurried off with the two of them to find his father and uncle.

...

Meanwhile, Fang Rui had been moving swiftly and had already slipped into the Xia Family’s inner courtyard.

’What I used wasn’t poison, but a restorative tonic—one with considerable nourishing effects. It just makes ordinary people drowsy and weak for a while after taking it.’

Since it wasn’t a poison, but a medicinal tonic, it was still quite effective even on Lower Three Grade Martial Artists.

’Those with slower reactions, even if they notice the drug’s effects, won’t immediately connect it to an attack.’

Furthermore, Fang Rui had designed the drug to account for human digestion, so its effects were delayed.

’I’ve calculated it. By timing it with the changing meal shifts for the Xia Family’s Nursing Home, I should be able to get most of them.’

’Of course, a few will inevitably slip through the cracks, but that’s no cause for concern.’

The only things Fang Rui was concerned about were running into difficult terrain or being surrounded by a large group of Armored Soldiers with Powerful Crossbows. A few stragglers who escaped the drug were hardly a problem.

His path was clear, and without alerting anyone, he arrived outside the Xia Family’s Main House.

As luck would have it,

just then, the Xia Family’s old patriarch seemed to sense something was amiss and rushed out the door.

’Perfect timing!’

Without a moment’s hesitation, Fang Rui imbued his throw with Transforming Force and, using the technique of the Thirteen Throws of the Flying Swallow, flung a handful of iron nails with a flick of his wrist.

SWISH SWISH SWISH!

The nails tore through the air.

The old Xia patriarch’s senses were sharp. With a twitch of his ears, his aged body moved like a nimble dragon. He spun around, his black, dragon-headed cane a blur, creating an impenetrable defense.

But a few of the nails curved in mid-air, striking him from the front and side. They hit him under the arm, causing him to grunt in pain and putting him at a significant disadvantage.

And in that precise moment—his old momentum spent, before he could muster a new defense—

Fang Rui was already upon him. Unleashing his Rapid Trace Step at full power, he left a trail of afterimages in the dim light. His long blade snaked out, instinctively finding an opening and plunging deep.

He saw:

The blade, imbued with Transforming Force, became a streak of white light. With a single thrust and twist, the Transforming Force erupted like a thunderclap, utterly obliterating half of the old patriarch’s body.

SPLATTER!

Flesh and blood splattered like rain. The old patriarch’s ruined half-body collapsed heavily to the ground, clearly as dead as could be.

’It’s... over?!’

Fang Rui flicked his Broadsword, sending beads of blood scattering to the ground. A sense of unreality washed over him in his surprise.

’After all those preparations... he was finished in a single move?’

But upon further reflection, it made perfect sense.

From the start, Fang Rui had pressed his advantage with his ultimate skills. His Great Success in Hidden Weapons, Body Technique, and Swordsmanship were all executed in a seamless flow, and he had the element of surprise on his side.

The old patriarch, on the other hand, was old and frail, his qi and blood in decline. He had a lifetime of experience but was given no opportunity to use it, simply overwhelmed by sheer, overwhelming power.

Viewed that way, such a clean and decisive victory was only to be expected.

”Despicable fiend!”

Just then, a furious shout erupted from beyond the moon gate.

It was Xia Yunzhao, Xia Yunxiang, and Zuo Risheng, arriving with a group of reinforcements. There were a dozen or so people, mostly Middle Grade Martial Artists, including the two Fifth Grade heads of the family’s first and second branches.

’Time for me to show them what I can do!’

As the shout echoed, Zuo Risheng, impatient to make his move, had already unleashed a volley of darts.

Imbued with Power, they let out a soft whoosh as they cut through the air.

But to Fang Rui...

’An amateur’s clumsy attempt.’

With a flick of his hand, he sent his Transforming Force surging outward. A sharp CRACK echoed in the air as he swatted the darts to the ground, and in the next moment, he sent a handful of Flying Needles back at them.

WHOOSH!

Compared to Zuo Risheng’s darts, Fang Rui’s Flying Needles were faster, fiercer, and utterly unpredictable. If one could slow time to a crawl, one would see them tracing arcs through the air, some spiraling, others flying in a perfect line...

They were like a swarm of dancing butterflies, yet also like a storm of pear blossoms, blanketing the entire group.

Beautiful, yes, but they carried a terrifying, lethal power.

”Aargh!”

”What are these things?!”

”Damn it! I know I blocked it!”

...

Among the dozen or so people, the Sixth Grade Experts were hit the hardest. Half were killed instantly, and most of the rest were heavily injured. Only the two Fifth Grade heads of the Xia Family’s first and second branches, who were wearing Golden Silkworm Armor, remained largely unharmed.