Chapter 20: Chapter 20: Flowing Bone Fist, 1 Fatal Slash

Outside the Great Xia Imperial City.

An ancient temple on a desolate mountain stood amidst the wind and snow, about thirty li from the Imperial City. It was extremely remote and known to few.

Li Da’s wife, Xiao Rong, was curled into a ball, shivering violently in the biting wind.

Her fingers were stiff from the cold, and her face was a sickly blue-purple. She looked as terrified as a dying field mouse.

But her hands were wrapped tightly around a little girl with pigtails, holding her close. She was using what little warmth her body had left to keep the unconscious child from freezing.

Not far from them, three young Martial Artists of different builds were gathered together, talking about something.

Every so often, they would glance over at the two huddled together.

"Big Brother! You said that if we kidnapped these two women, Li Da would definitely come. But what about Su Bai? Will he show up?"

"I’ve already had someone investigate in secret. Su Bai and Li Da are on very good terms, so he’s sure to come with him. And don’t you dare underestimate this person!"

"For him to become the new Prison Chief, he either has a powerful backer or he’s hiding his true strength. He’s not to be taken lightly!"

A refined and seemingly easygoing young man, waving a folding fan, offered the reminder.

"Tsk... Big Brother, you’re thinking too highly of that kid! I heard he’s just a teenager. At that age, no matter how high his Cultivation is, how strong can he really be?"

A brawny man spoke dismissively, his expression filled with contempt.

In his entire life, what he despised most were these second-generation brats who coasted their way up through connections!

In his eyes, Su Bai must have gotten the position of Prison Chief by pulling some strings; it couldn’t have had much to do with his actual strength.

"Hee hee... In any case, as long as this little brother can get us into the prison and help us rescue our three junior brothers, everything will be fine,"

the only woman among the three, a rather stunning beauty, said with a delicate laugh.

The moment she spoke, Li Da’s wife, Xiao Rong, trembled uncontrollably, her eyes filled with terror.

It was this same bewitching and seemingly delicate woman who had just captured several strong men to toy with. When she grew bored, she had ripped out their kidneys and livers and swallowed them whole!

She was just like a fiend!

These three were Devils in human skin!

’Li Da, you can’t come...’

Although Xiao Rong was terrified beyond belief, she still pleaded this in her heart.

These three were all extremely powerful Demons. While Li Da’s Cultivation was impressive, he was likely no match for them!

If he came recklessly, it was highly probable that all three of them—he, her, and their daughter—would die at their hands!

After waiting for a while longer, the burly man grew impatient.

BAM!

He slammed a flask of strong liquor onto the ground. Reeking of alcohol, he glared furiously at Xiao Rong and spoke in a chilling voice.

"Tsk... You’re Xiao Rong, right? When the hell is Li Da going to get here?"

"If Li Da isn’t here in another hour, I’ll throw you into one of our brothels in the Northern Border and let you have a good taste of the men there!"

The big man sneered, his voice as biting as the winter wind.

Faced with his threat, Xiao Rong trembled but still suppressed the terror in her heart. She lowered her head in silence, not uttering a word.

"Damned woman!"

The big man’s face twisted in anger. Just as he was about to make a move, the man with the folding fan stopped him.

"Don’t cause trouble. Just wait."

Then, the woman smiled and glided over to Xiao Rong’s side with graceful steps. She extended a pale finger, lifted Xiao Rong’s chin, and chuckled softly.

"What a fine set of skin you have."

"Did you know? A face like yours is very popular in our Northern Border."

Her own current "skin" wasn’t hers to begin with. It was a commodity she had purchased for a hefty sum on the black market in the Northern Border.

In the Northern Border, as long as you had money, you could buy anything: power, men, women, slaves, Cultivation Techniques, and more!

The Northern Border was synonymous with chaos and evil, and as disciples of that Sword King, they were the epitome of it.

"Don’t be alarmed. As long as Li Da and that Su Bai cooperate with us and lead us into the prison, we won’t just let you go when it’s done—we’ll even grant you a large sum of money!"

Watching Xiao Rong’s panicked expression, the young man with the fan said with a warm smile.

Of course, whether there was any truth to his words was anyone’s guess.

A moment later, the burly man, who had been guzzling wine, suddenly stiffened and shot to his feet.

He stared into the swirling snow in the distance, his eyes narrowing. "Big Brother, someone’s coming!"

SWOOSH!

The three of them flickered and reappeared outside the temple gates.

Looking up, they saw a handsome youth on the snowy mountain path. He was dressed in white and gold robes, with a Treasure Saber at his waist.

His expression was calm as he walked slowly toward them.

"Li Da didn’t come?"

The burly man’s eyes swept the area as he asked in confusion.

Ahead, there seemed to be only Su Bai.

"I alone am enough."

A moment later, Su Bai stopped before the three of them and spoke calmly.

"You wanted to see me?"

Su Bai glanced at them, noting that they all had the Cultivation of the Qi Sea Realm, and then spoke slowly.

"I’m here."

"Haha! This little brother certainly is straightforward."

"That’s right! You’re the one we were looking for!"

The young man with the fan didn’t beat around the bush.

Indeed, they had captured Li Da’s wife and daughter for the sole purpose of luring out Su Bai.

Although Li Da was an A-level Prison Guard in the C Prison Area, his status was too low. It was impossible for him to bring them into the prison.

Only a Prison Chief, a person of much higher standing, would have a chance of getting the three of them inside!

"Haha! Little brother, I am a disciple of the Northern Sword King! My title is Flowing Bone Fist!"

The burly man stared at Su Bai, a wide grin on his face.

"As long as you take this Elixir, we will immediately release Li Da’s wife and daughter!"

"How about it?"

The burly man then took a dark, round Elixir from his robes and grinned at Su Bai.

’An Elixir?’

Su Bai smirked to himself.

’These three are quite cautious. This Elixir must be a Poison Pill!’

"There’s no need."

Su Bai shook his head and slowly drew his Treasure Saber.

In an instant!

The gleam of the blade was blinding! A cold light radiated outwards!

"You’re all about to die."

Su Bai spoke softly. Then, before the three could even react, he immediately executed Three Illusions Dustless!

His body split into three phantoms, hurtling toward them!

"Kid! You’re courting death!"

The burly man, targeted by Su Bai, saw his expression change drastically. His face contorted into a savage snarl as veins bulged all over his body.

BOOM!

He raised his right fist, unleashing a gale of black energy, and smashed it violently toward Su Bai’s head!

A Fourth-grade Technique! Flowing Bone Fist!

However, in the next instant, his fist hit nothing but air!

It only stirred up a powerful blizzard of wind and snow.

"Impossible! This is... a phan... tom..."

With a final, desperate roar,

the burly man’s head flew clean off his shoulders!

Su Bai had decapitated him with a single slash!

He died with his eyes wide open!