Supreme Sword Exalt

On the street, three figures dashed at lightning speed, stirring fierce gusts of wind. Even if others wanted to follow and watch the excitement, they couldn’t possibly keep up.

The crowd lost sight of them in no time. Leading at the front was Gu Han, who’d seized the opportunity to distance himself and his pursuer. At the very back was Instructor Yu, exuding bloodlust, determined to eliminate both of them. And in the middle was the fatty, who’d been ruthlessly dragged into this mess by Gu Han. He was an innocent victim of circumstance.

Like Gu Han, he spat blood while running for his life, his booming voice echoing through the air. “Fucking bastard! Do you have no conscience?!”

Gu Han’s voice carried back from afar. “Conscience my ass! You laughed at me!”

The fatty’s face trembled with rage. “Out of all the people watching and laughing, why the hell did you have to pick me?!”

“No shit! We’re in this together! I can’t possibly drag anyone else into it?!”

The fatty’s defenses crumbled. “You—! Drag my ass! You rotten, black-hearted, no-good bastard!”

In his panic, he cussed over and over, showing off an impressive range of insults.

Gu Han kindly reminded him. “Save your breath! Run faster, he’s about to catch up!”

The fatty fell silent. He could sense that Instructor Yu was only a few zhang behind him.

When he saw the two were still lively enough to bicker and curse, Instructor Yu nearly exploded with rage. The killing intent in his eyes had nearly solidified. “You bloody scoundrels!”

He understood now that he had encountered two freaks. Although Gu Han’s cultivation level was low, his spirit power far surpassed any other cultivators at his level. Meanwhile, although the fatty was unremarkable in appearance, his physical defense was terrifyingly strong.

No longer hesitating, Instructor Yu gathered all his power into his right palm, striking at the fatty’s back. He wouldn’t let these two live to see another day!

“Go to hell!”

Sensing the lethal strike coming, the fatty knew he couldn’t dodge.

“Damn it! Brother, you run! I’ll help hold him off!” he roared hoarsely, his eyes bloodshot.

Gritting his teeth, the fatty came to an abrupt stop, turning to face Instructor Yu head-on.

Gu Han’s heart dropped, and his pace slowed. “Huh?”

Golden light flickered around the fatty as he charged forward with a howl. “Come on! That man was killed by my brother! I will take the blame. Come at me if you dare!”

There was a deafening impact. Instructor Yu’s full-force strike landed squarely on the fatty’s chest, sending him flying over ten zhang. His voice caught in his throat, replaced by a crimson spray. The fatty tumbled across the ground before lying still. By the looks of it, his chances of survival were slim.

Gu Han’s expression darkened as a wave of guilt washed over him. “Fatty...”

Did he really kill Fatty?

He’d dragged the fatty into this out of sheer annoyance. Besides, he’d seen the fatty’s monstrous defensive abilities firsthand. Fatty was a natural meat shield, perfect for stalling Instructor Yu. However now, after seeing the fatty seemingly dead because of him, regret flooded his heart.

Noticing Gu Han’s momentary distraction, Instructor Yu closed the distance in a few leaps, blocking his path once more. “Let’s see you run this time!”

Gu Han understood that there was no escape this time. “I’m sorry, Fatty...”

Not far away, the fatty lay motionless with his face ashen. He was clearly beyond hearing Gu Han’s apology.

Instructor Yu advanced step by step. “Brat, do you regret it now? Well, too bad! It’s too late for you!”

Gu Han raised his broken sword, spirit power surging within him. “I told you. If he tried to kill me, I’d kill him. And you are no different.”

This time, he was ready to fight for his life.

Instructor Yu took a step forward, his aura skyrocketing. “You’re so stubborn. I’ll send you to the afterlife.”

Just as he was about to strike, the fatty suddenly sprang up like a jack-in-the-box and bolted again. Instructor Yu and Gu Han froze at this sight.

For once, Gu Han couldn’t help but curse aloud, “What the fuck?! Fatty, you’re not dead?!”

The fatty’s voice grew more distant, tinged with smugness. “Obviously! Who do you think I am? How could I die in some backwater place like this? Plenty of people have tried to kill me. He’s not even close to making the cut. You bastard, tried to screw me over didn’t you? And it backfired, didn’t it?! I’m gonna enjoy watching you die! Hahahaha!”

Amid his laughter, he vanished from sight.

Having been toyed with like this, Instructor Yu’s fury erupted. “You’re all dead meat!”

The full might of his sixth stage of Spirit Profound cultivation exploded forth, the sheer pressure alone forcing Gu Han back several steps.

“I’ll kill you first, then him. None of you are getting away!”

Gu Han said nothing, his spirit power surging as a three-cun sword light condensed at the tip of his broken blade.

This time, he didn’t hate the fatty. On the contrary, he felt relieved after seeing the fatty alive.

Just then, Gu Han’s expression shifted as if he had spotted something. “If you want to kill me, then—huh? Chief Steward Li, you’re back?”

Instructor Yu sneered, his palm radiating terrifying power as he lunged at Gu Han. “Bullshit! You think I’ll fall for that again?!”

In the blink of an eye, a hand shot out from the side, intercepting Instructor Yu’s strike, and the two palms collided. Instructor Yu was sent flying back over ten zhang. A dark spirit writhed inside him, aggravating his earlier injuries. Blood sprayed from his mouth.

A sharp, mocking voice rang out. “Hm? Calling me ‘bullshit’? And what does that make you?”

Instructor Yu stared at the hunched figure before him. “Chief... Steward Li, it’s really you?”

“What, have you forgotten me after just a short absence?”

Instructor Yu shot a dark glance at Gu Han. “This brat... What’s your relationship with him?”

“You dare question me?”

Instructor Yu suppressed his rage. “I... Do you know he has blood debts with me?!”

Another voice cut in abruptly. “Then do you know that Brother Gu is my savior?!”

It was the seventh prince, Jiang Feng.

Damn it! Instructor Yu’s heart sank. Although he didn’t understand how Gu Han had become the seventh prince’s savior, he knew that he couldn’t hope to kill Gu Han.

Chief Steward Li’s cultivation level far surpassed his own. Meanwhile, even if Jiang Feng was terminally ill and overlooked by the imperial family, he still bore imperial blood. His status was not something a Martial Academy instructor could challenge.

Chief Steward Li’s voice turned cold. “Well?! Why aren’t you greeting His Highness?!”

Swallowing his resentment, Instructor Yu clasped his fists. “Greetings, Your Highness... Huh?”

Then, he noticed something odd. Compared to a few months ago, Jiang Feng looked completely different. The aura of death between his brows had vanished, as if reborn. Even more startling, faint spirit power now pulsed around him. The Seventh Prince has actually begun cultivating!

Jiang Feng’s voice was calm with an indifferent gaze. “Instructor Yu, Brother Gu saved my life. Laying a hand on him is the same as laying a hand on me. I don’t think I need to explain the consequences?”

Instructor Yu felt his blood run cold. Jiang Feng had just cut off all his avenues of retaliation. Unless he was willing to throw away his own life, any further action against Gu Han would require serious reconsideration.

Chief Steward Li smirked. “Well? Are you deaf? His Highness is speaking to you!”

“Understood.”

“Remember this well. Don’t get any foolish ideas, or else... hehe, I’ll personally end you.”

Although rage burned within Instructor Yu, he dared not act out. Doing so would only give Chief Steward Li an excuse to strike.

“Scram! Don’t waste our time!”

Instructor Yu shot Gu Han one last glare before turning and leaving without another word. Regardless, Gu Han knew that the enmity between him and Instructor Yu ran deep. Neither would let this go easily, and this matter was far from over.

Upon seeing Gu Han covered in blood, Jiang Feng frowned with concern. “Brother Gu, are you alright?”

Gu Han shook his head. “I’m fine. Just minor injuries. It’s nothing fatal.”

Jiang Feng exhaled in relief. “Thank goodness. If Chief Steward Li and I hadn’t returned in time, things would have turned ugly.”

Gu Han cupped his fists. “Chief Steward Li, thank you for your help.”

Chief Steward Li smirked, clearly in a good mood. “Tsk. Hearing you say ‘thank you’ is a rare treat.”

Gu Han grinned. “Oh? Then I’ll take it back.”

Watching the two bicker, Jiang Feng rubbed his temples and quickly changed the subject. “Speaking of which, where’s Miss Ah Sha?”

“She’s at the inn. She didn’t come out with me.”

“And your friend?”

Gu Han was taken aback. “Friend? What friend?”

“The... fatty, I think?”

***

In a quiet street corner, the fatty staggered forward. His face was deathly pale, a far cry from his earlier bravado.

“Ugh... I’m gonna die from this pain... Just you wait! I’ll remember this! Sooner or later, I’ll pay you back for that palm strike... Ow. That bastard. Every time I see him, something awful happens. Last time was bad enough, but this time? If I didn’t have a few tricks up my sleeve, I’d be dead because of you—huh?”

Mid-rant, his expression suddenly twisted in horror. “No way... The old man warned me that human tribulation was born from human conflict, an inescapable death! Could it be that the bastard is my human tribulation?!”