Xiang Nuan and the other disciples from Yuqing Pavilion all felt their heads buzzing.

Although they didn’t know how many people were in the cave, the solemnity with which Lan Yue had ordered them to search Cyan Blue Valley was no act.

From this, they could imagine that the cave was surely fraught with danger.

And yet, Fang Shuwen was planning to go in alone?

Xiang Nuan opened and closed her mouth, wanting to say something but not knowing what. 𝗳𝗿𝐞𝕖𝘄𝗲𝕓𝗻𝚘𝚟𝕖𝐥.𝚌𝕠𝕞

In that brief moment, Fang Shuwen had already walked out.

A trace of surprise flickered across Miao Feichan’s face. She said to Xiang Nuan and the others,

"Wait here. If things go wrong, return to Yuqing Pavilion immediately.

"I’ll follow him and take a look."

’If things go south, she could still help Fang Shuwen escape.’

’But seeing how confident Fang Shuwen is, I figure he probably won’t need me.’

She untied a wine gourd from her waist and followed behind Fang Shuwen, taking sips as she went.

Fang Shuwen glanced back at her but paid her no mind.

’I did invite her to watch the show, after all. I can’t complain if she wants a front-row seat.’

The cave was not far from their position, and they reached it in no time.

He stepped right inside. His ears twitched slightly, and a faint smile touched the corners of his lips.

"So they really are here."

The sound of his voice alerted the guards in the cave.

Immediately, someone shouted,

"Who’s there?"

Along with the voice came two masked figures in red.

The moment they saw Fang Shuwen and Miao Feichan, the two looked somewhat bewildered.

They had been hiding in Cyan Blue Valley for quite some time and rarely saw outsiders.

As their thoughts raced, one of them suddenly asked,

"Are you from the Hundred Ghosts Hall?"

Fang Shuwen was slightly surprised, because when the two men said the name ’Hundred Ghosts Hall,’ their hostility lessened considerably.

’Could it be that this group has formed some sort of connection with the Hundred Ghosts Hall?’

But in the next moment, Fang Shuwen shook his head decisively.

"No."

The two men in red tensed instantly.

"Then who are you?"

"Debt collectors."

The moment he said those two words, Fang Shuwen strode forward. His fist flew out before he had even closed the distance.

[Four Seas Dragon Fist]!

His fist struck like a spear, without a shred of mercy.

With a loud CRACK, one of the red-clothed men’s heads was instantly smashed to pieces.

Miao Feichan quickly shuffled backward. ’His methods are so bloody. It wouldn’t be pretty if any of that splattered on me.’

The other red-clothed man’s pupils contracted violently. He opened his mouth to shout, but Fang Shuwen’s palm had already landed on his head with a dull THUD.

Fang Shuwen slammed his entire head directly into the cave’s rock wall. He was as dead as dead could be.

After casually killing the two men, Fang Shuwen lightly dusted off his hands and continued walking forward.

The commotion had alerted the people from Dragon Emperor Hall deeper inside the cave.

Some of them flew over to investigate.

Upon seeing Fang Shuwen and Miao Feichan, they demanded,

"Who are you?"

At the same time, they leaped into the air, their Palm Techniques condensing mid-flight. A scorching heat instantly rolled through the cave.

But just then, Fang Shuwen suddenly waved his right hand.

[Unskilled Palm Technique], Third Stance, [Broken Stream]!

This Unskilled Palm Technique, derived from the Unskilled Saber Technique, still carried the essence of a Saber Technique.

Broken Stream was a horizontal strike, its power projecting forward. If used with a saber, it would unleash a wave of Sword Qi. When Fang Shuwen used his palm, it became Piercing Void Palm Power.

Thus, while the two men were still in mid-air, their bodies suddenly halted. Like birds struck by arrows, they plummeted to the ground.

Fang Shuwen’s single palm strike had broken both of their necks.

Fang Shuwen didn’t even glance at the two corpses. Miao Feichan, however, took another sip from her gourd, eyed the bodies, and clicked her tongue in wonder.

"You kill without batting an eye."

"You shouldn’t say things like that."

Fang Shuwen shook his head again and again.

"I am a refined and gentle man, well-mannered and principled—a gentleman of benevolence and righteousness, praised by all.

"How could I possibly kill without batting an eye?"

He glanced back at Miao Feichan.

"I did blink. You just didn’t notice."

"..."

Miao Feichan was speechless. ’Who asked if you literally blinked?’

’It’s a figure of speech! Do you get it or not!?’

But she couldn’t be bothered to argue with him. She was just here for the show. A spectator at a chess game should remain silent, after all, and a nosy onlooker would only be an annoyance.

The cave wasn’t actually very long.

Four men in red had been guarding the two ends of the tunnel.

And so, those four had been the first to come up and die.

When Fang Shuwen emerged from the other end of the tunnel, he took in the full view of the place.

Inside the mountain was a vast, hidden cavern. It was hollow, with what looked like a large pit in the center, though he couldn’t yet see the details.

That was because a group of red-robed figures was already leading a group of red-clothed men toward him.

"What insolent whelp dares cause trouble here!?"

"Seize him! Tear him to shreds!"

The red-robed figures shouted as they attacked in unison.

In an instant, the temperature inside the entire cavern rose significantly.

Fang Shuwen held his right hand vertically before his chest, his face a mask of benevolence. But the moment the crowd stepped within thirty feet of him, he suddenly took a step forward.

His benevolence transformed into thunderous fury as he slowly pressed his right hand forward.

[Great Black Heaven God Palm], Sixth Palm, [Mercy Does Not Cross]!!

The Palm Power of this strike was as vast as the ocean. Mercy does not save demons; it merely sends them on to the next life.

CRACK! CRACK! CRACK!!