Chapter Eleven: No Honor in Combat

"Overestimating yourself."

Dong Changming snorted coldly, leapt into the air with ease, and drew his sharp sword, advancing to meet his opponent.

His sword seemed almost alive, twisting and turning within his palm, each move exuding a chilling aura, striking precisely at joint vulnerabilities.

Though the two bodyguards of Gong Chengling were skilled martial artists, they were insignificant before him. Within a few moves, they were battered and injured all over, forced to retreat in defeat.

"Your two bodyguards have both fallen. Now there's no one left to save you. Aren't you going to make a move? I know you have martial skills," he taunted, glancing at the barely breathing guards on the ground before turning to provoke Gong Chengling, attempting to force him into action.

When Gong Chengling remained silent, Dong Changming lost patience and swung his long sword fiercely, aiming straight at him.

Just as the sword was about to pierce his chest, a sudden blaze of fierce fire blocked the freezing blade, forcing Dong Changming to stagger backward several steps.

Looking up, he saw a man in a green robe holding a long sword descending from the air, standing protectively before Gong Chengling.

The sword was forged from mysterious iron, razor-sharp, radiating with fiery light.

The blade twisted, scattering scorching sword energy that singed Dong Changming's clothes and skin, driving him back into a corner.

"The Crimson Fire Sword..." Dong Changming stared at the blade before him in stunned disbelief, barely noticing the burns on his body.

"Fourth Senior Brother?!" He looked toward the sword-bearer with surprise, only to meet an unfamiliar face.

The surprise vanished instantly. Frowning, he asked, "Who are you? And why do you have my Senior Brother's Crimson Fire Sword?"

The man in green said nothing, stepping forward with the sword to press against Dong Changming’s chest.

The Crimson Fire and Ice Frost swords were a matched pair, personally gifted to Dong Changming and his Senior Brother by the master of the Eastern Ling Sect years ago.

They treasured the swords deeply and would never give them to anyone else—unless...

"Where is my Fourth Senior Brother? You know him, don't you?" Dong Changming demanded urgently, locking eyes with the man before him.

Looking down from above, the green-robed man said, pressing the sword against his chest, "Yes, your Senior Brother Dong Zeqing is dead. I, Ji Zhanfei, killed him. So, how does that feel?"

"Impossible. Absolutely impossible!" Dong Changming trembled, shock flashing in his eyes.

"Why impossible? He told many stories about you and him from your childhood just before he died, such as..." Ji Zhanfei sneered, speaking with a lofty tone.

Dong Changming clenched his fists tightly, his nails digging deep into his palms.

His anger became uncontainable. Seizing the moment while Ji Zhanfei spoke, he raised his hand and struck with a palm.

"Bang!" The wall behind them suddenly exploded, sending grass and stones within several meters to dust.

If Ji Zhanfei hadn’t reacted swiftly, that wall might have been his grave. Though quick, he still suffered an injured arm.

"One Yang Sword Qi Palm!!" Dong Changming shouted furiously, waving his left hand as a powerful palm force, accompanied by a roaring sound, surged toward Ji Zhanfei once more.

The force was so great Ji Zhanfei's knees buckled, and he involuntarily stepped back two paces.

Dong Changming’s eyes burned red, filled with hatred. Ji Zhanfei glanced distractedly at Gong Chengling behind him and shouted,

"Master, this man is tough. You should leave quickly; I’ll catch up later."

"Trying to run? Not a chance," Dong Changming growled viciously, swinging his sword to block.

"Today is the day you die!" He sneered, sword energy intensifying, his attacks relentless like a tidal wave.

Gong Chengling could only keep evading.

Ji Zhanfei refused to let him succeed. The two swords crossed and clashed, ringing out crisp sounds.

The blades shimmered, carving fractures in the air.

The man in green gripped his sword tightly, focused completely on the fierce duel, determined to protect Gong Chengling’s life.

The battle was intense.

Just as Dong Changming was losing ground, an arrow shot swiftly from his sleeve like a venomous snake, aimed straight at Gong Chengling’s chest.

By the time Ji Zhanfei reacted, Gong Chengling was already coughing up blood, clutching his chest as he collapsed.

"Master!"

Although Dong Changming had succeeded, he gained nothing from the exchange.

Seeing dozens of guards rushing over, battered and wounded, he chose not to fight pointlessly.

Glancing reluctantly at the Crimson Fire Sword before him, he leapt away.

Ji Zhanfei was thrown into panic, hastily dropping his sword to support the pale-faced Gong Chengling.

The arrow was lodged directly in his heart, blood gushing forth.

"Master! Master! How are you? That fraud was right—it really is a bloody calamity!" Ji Zhanfei was overwhelmed with confusion, shaking Gong Chengling fearfully, terrified that this blow might separate them forever.

"Don't... shake..." Gong Chengling slowly raised a hand, pointing toward the direction Dong Changming had fled.

"Master, master, what do you want to say?" Ji Zhanfei urged.

Gong Chengling struggled to utter five words:

"He... he fights unfairly..."

"Ah?"

-----------------

(Private Residence of Gong Chengzhan)

Gong Chengzhan shook his head repeatedly as he looked at the injured Dong Changming returning.

"Dong Ling’s fifth-ranked assassin, is this all your strength?"

Dong Changming said nothing.

He bit open the stopper of a golden wound medicine bottle with his teeth, sprinkled the powder onto his wounds, and wrapped them carelessly.

"I was careless today. Didn’t expect such a formidable expert by his side."

"Forget it, at least you completed the mission. That poison—is it fatal?"

"Sevenfold Grass Blood Vine. My masterpiece. Unless one has the long-lost Qiluan Blood Pill of the Sikou family, no one can cure it."

Gong Chengzhan nodded in approval.

Recalling the earlier fight scene, Dong Changming’s mind was filled with doubt, prompting him to ask, "So... who exactly is Ji Zhanfei?"

"Oh, him? Gong Chengling found him starving on the street a few years ago and gave him some food out of pity."

"Unexpectedly, when Gong Chengling was caught in a fire later, Ji Zhanfei rushed in to save him but was disfigured. Since he knew some martial arts, Gong Chengling took him in."

Gong Chengzhan slammed his fist on the table at this point. "No one knows where he learned such exquisite skills."

Dong Changming’s thoughtful expression caught his attention.

"Curious about him?"

"Know your enemy, know yourself, and you will never be defeated."

The weather had been erratic these past few days—quiet just moments ago, now suddenly a fierce wind howled.

Dong Changming stopped Gong Chengzhan as he was about to leave.

"When will you tell me about the whereabouts of the others in the organization?"

Dong Changming frowned. When Gong Chengzhan first found him, he gave him his third sister Dong Momo’s Peach Blossom Sword and eldest brother Dong Nanfei’s thumb ring, informing him of the others’ locations with the sole condition that he kill Gong Chengling.

Reluctantly, he had agreed.

Gong Chengzhan glanced at him and said slowly, "Dong Momo is in the country of Izumo, alive. As for the other person... their whereabouts remain unknown."

"Alive is good..."