Chapter 153
Chapter 153: Deer Slaying Blade
Was this truly the same Eighth Prince, whose body had never borne a trace of martial Qi?
Or perhaps, was this the secret intervention of some hidden martial master?
Hu Rui An’s expression shifted restlessly, turmoil swirling within his heart. He was so unsettled that even Li Mu Sheng’s earlier taunts now completely escaped his notice.
He stared intently at Li Mu Sheng, as if by doing so he might somehow uncover the secret behind this unexpected turn.
Yet Li Mu Sheng paid no mind to Hu Rui An’s intense gaze, instead turning calmly toward Shen Lian Cheng.
By now, Li Mu Sheng had grasped the complicated situation between these individuals clearly enough. Simply put, Hu Rui An had secretly rendezvoused with the wife of the Deer Slaying Manor Lord and was caught red-handed.
Shen Lian Cheng, bearing such disgrace, naturally could not easily let this pass.
But this had little to do with Li Mu Sheng. After all, it was Hu Rui An who had wronged another man’s wife, not him.
Thinking thus, Li Mu Sheng fixed his gaze on Shen Lian Cheng and spoke calmly, “Lord Shen, I am someone who always acts reasonably. You conspired secretly with the Alliance Under Heaven to poison us. So, will you apologize with your life now, or must I take your life myself?”
As these words fell, the room sank into utter silence, so quiet one might hear a needle drop.
Shen Lian Cheng stared hard at Li Mu Sheng, hesitating. He still couldn’t decide if this young man truly held such terrifying strength to rival his own.
Yet, despite his uncertainty, Shen Lian Cheng could afford no carelessness. He kept his mind and body alert, treating Li Mu Sheng as a formidable enemy. Silently, powerful martial Qi surged through his body.
At once, the spiritual energies from heaven and earth flowed into the air above the courtyard under his command, quickly shaping into a fierce blade-shadow wrapped in crimson brilliance.
Simultaneously, a short dagger at Shen Lian Cheng’s waist—its sheath adorned with a bronze deer head—started vibrating and humming softly.
The dagger and the blade-shadow above resonated with each other, sealing and binding the entire area. Countless blade lights flickered subtly in the air, ready to strike at a moment’s notice, their power strong enough to cut through everything.
Seeing this terrifying display, Ruan Zhen Hui, Shen An Ran, and Hu Rui An all turned pale.
“Lian Cheng, all blame lies with me alone! This young man is innocent. You can punish me as you wish; I’ll accept without complaint. Just spare him and my cousin!”
Ruan Zhen Hui broke free from Shen An Ran’s protective embrace and hurried anxiously to Shen Lian Cheng’s side, desperately pleading.
Shen An Ran, fearful that her mother might be harmed, quickly followed, staying protectively close.
She looked toward Li Mu Sheng. From the moment he appeared silently on the rooftop to when he effortlessly blocked her father’s strike, she was certain his martial dao skills were extraordinary—beyond anyone she’d ever seen.
These past days, Deer Slaying Manor had held martial contests seeking suitors for her marriage. She had witnessed countless promising martial talents. Moreover, during travels with Shen Lian Cheng, she had visited prestigious martial sects such as Fallen God Peak and the Alliance Under Heaven. Many famed martial prodigies crossed her path, yet compared to Li Mu Sheng, they seemed like faint stars next to a brilliant moon.
Truthfully, under different circumstances, she would admire him greatly. Even now, she felt a pang of regret. If possible, she wished he wouldn’t lose his life here today, cut down by her own father’s blade.
She understood better than anyone else how terrifying her father’s Deer Slaying Blade Art truly was.
“The deer has fled, and all under heaven give chase; only the victor earns the right to slay it.”
These were the very words from which the Shen family’s Deer Slaying Blade and its techniques had been named.
A century ago, the Deer Slaying Blade had shaken the world, forged by the last great Heavenly Craftsman of the Great Qi. Upon its completion, heaven itself manifested strange signs. Some believed the blade could even enter the Heavenly Arms Ledger, becoming the twenty-fourth legendary weapon.
Yet with the fall of Great Qi, the Deer Slaying Blade suffered terrible damage during an earth-shattering battle, losing its chance for eternal fame. Eventually, the blade passed into the hands of Shen An Ran’s astonishingly talented grandfather, and now to Shen Lian Cheng.
Although the blade had lost the chance to enter the Heavenly Arms Ledger, it remained an unmatched weapon. When wielded alongside the Deer Slaying Blade Art, its destructive power was overwhelming.
Thus, Shen An Ran believed firmly that even if Li Mu Sheng’s martial prowess matched her father’s closely, he would still lose under the might of Deer Slaying Blade.
She bit her lip, glancing anxiously at Li Mu Sheng. She wanted to join her mother in pleading for mercy from her father, hoping peace might still be possible. From Li Mu Sheng’s words earlier, both Hu Rui An and her father seemed equally at fault. Perhaps reconciliation was still within reach.
At this moment, Hu Rui An also paled at seeing Shen Lian Cheng prepare such a fearsome attack. He knew clearly that even at his peak strength, he was no match for Shen Lian Cheng wielding the Deer Slaying Blade. He wasn’t sure if Li Mu Sheng, or the hidden martial master behind him, could withstand this devastating assault.
Just as Hu Rui An was about to step forward, preparing to shoulder all blame and plead for Li Mu Sheng’s safety, something unexpected happened.
Instantly, the vibrating dagger at Shen Lian Cheng’s waist, the countless blade lights filling the air, and even the crimson blade-shadow suspended above—all vanished without a trace.
Shen Lian Cheng’s expression changed sharply.
Then, an aged voice suddenly echoed clearly above the courtyard, gentle yet powerful: “Lian Cheng, hold your blade.”
With a soft whisper of wind, an elderly figure silently appeared in the room.
The old man wore a flowing white robe, his snowy hair and youthful face framed by long eyebrows cascading down to his chest. His eyes sparkled with hidden strength. He stood between Shen Lian Cheng and Li Mu Sheng, straight-backed and dignified as a majestic mountain.
Smiling gently, the old man stroked his beard, carefully observing Li Mu Sheng. With apparent satisfaction, he nodded slowly and spoke warmly, “Young friend, if Deer Slaying Manor has offended you previously, please forgive us. Why not let this matter rest here and now?”