Empire had the saying of "Three Sabers, Three Swords, Three Fools", and Zhao Wuji, the Sect Leader of the Ba Dao Sect, was one of the Three Sabers.

Moreover, he was the foremost among the Three Sabers and was revered as the "Galaxy's First Blade."

"Hahaha..."

The man laughed uproariously.

His laugh was like thunder, his presence like a galloping horse.

"This is truly a big joke," Zhao Wuji countered forcefully, "I learned the arts of literature and martial arts, and offer them to the Emperor's Family. Under the heavens, is there a better buyer than the Royal Family?"

"It's you lot, not plotting loyalty and service to the country, instead skulking around like sewer rats causing destruction, harboring insidious plans..."

"Killing you all would be Zhao Wuji ridding the people of a menace. Maybe the nation will even award me a Heroic Medal."

"It is said the Overlord Saber is renowned for its toughness," He Xiaohua said with an axe in hand, smirking, "Let's see whether your saber is tougher or my axe."

This old lady looked more like a withered tree root or perhaps a decayed old cat.

But her expressions, gestures, and tone of voice...

Were just like that of an old rogue.

Old rogue granny, online, slicing people.

"Good, it has been a long time since I encountered a worthy opponent. My hands have really been itching."

Zhao Wuji eyed the old lady pensively and then shifted his gaze to the huge black axe and asked with doubt, "Ghost Axe He Xiaohua?"

"Hehehe, it has been decades and I didn't expect there would still be someone who remembers this old woman's nickname," He Xiaohua admitted openly, chuckling merrily.

At this point, there was no sense in hiding anymore.

"Is it really you?"

This time, it was Zhao Wuji's turn to be surprised.

Ghost Axe He Xiaohua, a cultivator who made her name thirty years ago.

She was one of the Nine Great Generals under the command of Imperial Grand Marshal Tang Li and, with a huge axe, had controlled many battlefields, chopping off countless enemy generals' heads.

The legion she led was also called "Tiger Head Army." It was rumored that Tang Li himself had chosen this name.

"Tiger Head" is a homophone for "Axe Head". They had opted for "Tiger Head" to avoid the implication of a one-man army which might displease the Royal Family by naming it directly "Axe Head Army."

Still, the Royal Family was displeased.

As it turned out, whether a person likes you or not has nothing to do with what you're called.

It has a lot to do with which side you're on.

Later, involved in the "Destruction of Tang Case," after Tang Li died tragically and Tang Family was annihilated, Ghost Axe He Xiaohua disappeared as well.

It was said that the inner guard of Phoenix Palace dug three feet into the ground trying to find these key figures. However, she disappeared like a stone dropped into the sea.

Some said she had escaped to the Old Land...

Unexpectedly, she had been hiding in New Star, even lurking within Phoenix City, living right under everyone's eyes.

Moreover, she had become the head of an officially-run orphanage...

It was alarming.

What did this imply?

It indicated that the rebels hiding in the darkness had astonishing strength.

If this incident were exposed, it could lead to a mass execution.

Everyone on this entire network would have to go through a purge.

"That old hag is still not dead, probably making many people worried and scared, right?" He Xiaohua cackled loudly.

"Die earlier or later, it's all the same death," Zhao Wuji said passionately, "Try to get past me first."

The more critical He Xiaohua's identity, the greater the merit he would gain.

Moreover, he could feel that there was much to unearth from this old woman.

How had she managed to hide in Phoenix City for so many years?

How did she end up as the head of an orphanage?

Who were her accomplices?

Could it be that the Royal Family had known there was an issue with the orphanage all along?

Otherwise, why would they have specifically sent him to rake through...

At the time, he found it odd—it was merely a small orphanage, couldn't hundreds of elite soldiers from the Security Bureau handle it?

Turns out there was a big fish hidden inside.

"Then come on." He Xiaohua charged at Zhao Wuji wielding her axe, "You look like a man, but act like a nitpicking old woman…"

"Hehehe, a reasonable point," Zhao Wuji raised his thick-backed broad saber and swung it at He Xiaohua, "I too want to know, whether my Zhao Wuji's saber is tougher, or your axe is tougher..."

Both were uncompromising in nature, clashing directly without evasion.

Both had indomitable spirits.

Their saber and axe met.

Clang!

The Ghost Axe infused with Yin Yang Qi collided with the Overlord Saber.

Both of their bodies retreated three steps.

"Interesting. Let's go again." Zhao Wuji's expression became even more excited as he swung his saber at He Xiaohua again.

He Xiaohua clenched her teeth and blocked with her axe.

Clang!

The saber and axe struck each other again.

This time, He Xiaohua stepped back two steps, while Zhao Wuji only took one step back.

Being young and strong does have its advantages.

"Senior, you must really try your best..." Zhao Wuji looked at He Xiaohua's shriveled and emaciated body, inwardly shocked at how such a small frame could contain such immense energy.

He had already utilized ninety percent of his Yin Yang Qi, yet he had only managed to match her in their fight.

But he was in his prime, while she was an old woman, her life flickering like a candle in the wind...

If she had been in her youth, would he even stand a chance against her?

"Again."

He Xiaohua swallowed the sweet, metallic taste in her throat, subdued the Yin Yang Qi within her for a moment, and once again, with her axe raised, charged at Zhao Wuji.

Reacting passively was not her style.

She preferred to take the initiative, to swing her axe at people.

Just like when she was younger.

Clang!

Their blades collided once more.

The white Sword Energy of the Overlord Saber surged forward, the black energy from the axe struggling to hold back.

Boom...

The black energy dissipated.

This time, Zhao Wuji stood his ground, unmoved.

Whereas He Xiaohua's body was sent flying.

Blood spewed from her mouth; the Sword Energy had injured her organs.

Smack!

Her body slammed heavily against the grey stone wall of the orphanage, then slowly slid down.

Clang!

The axe in her hand also fell to the side, no longer able to be lifted.

With a face filled with regret, she gazed at the axe, her eyes deep with despair, and sighed quietly, "I'm old... old buddy, I've grown old..."

She raised her hand to her forehead.

She wanted to die.

She couldn't live in this world any longer.

Because she knew, if she fell into their hands, what awaited her was a fate worse than death.

They wouldn't hesitate to forcibly open her mouth, to pry into her brain...

They would resort to the most venomous and dirty methods.

Unfortunately, she was too slow.

The hand raised above her head forcefully stopped, unable to come down no matter how hard she tried.

Her eyes filled with resentment.

She never thought that one day, even dying would be so difficult.

"Want to die?" Zhao Wuji controlled He Xiaohua's hand with his Yin Yang Qi, smilingly said, "That won't do, I still need to take you back to claim my reward, you can't die yet..."

As he spoke, he sent out a palm strike.

Smack!

He Xiaohua grunted dully, and fainted.

Zhao Wuji reached out, scooping up He Xiaohua's body as if she were mere cargo.

"I'll take her to Phoenix Palace, the rest are up to you..."

Guo Nu, who had just crawled out from a pile of corpses, looked on in shock at everything unfolding before him.

Then, he roared loudly, his blood-stained face ghastly as a demon's: "Charge in, capture everyone, kill any that resist without mercy..."

------

Qingzhou.

Sunshine Orphanage.

A host of people in black burst in, the leader in Black Robe gestured and commanded: "Take control."

------

Ghost City.

Sunshine Orphanage.

Limbs and arms severed, cries shaking the heavens.

In the midst of a blazing fire, only the words "Sunshine" on the orphanage's sign remained, looking so glaringly conspicuous.

-------

At the same time, all seventy-two Sunshine Orphanages across the nation experienced varying degrees of purging.

Some had everyone captured, others were completely slaughtered.

------

In the basement.

Tang Fei and the old man sat facing each other, falling into a long silence.

The old man's head hung low, lost in thought.

When he finally raised his head, his eyes were filled with raging fury, his expression ferocious.

"She shouldn't have come out..."

"She shouldn't have..."

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