"Li Yan, have your wounds healed?"

Huo Zinan saw this scene and seemed to understand something, shouting softly.

Those few attendants were all wearing armor, yet Li Yan's inner power managed to pass through their inner armor, shaking them to death entirely, showcasing his prowess!

Sky Splitting Palm!

The frail old man who was originally behind Huo Zinan squinted slightly, stepped in front of Huo Zinan, and said in a deep voice, "Crown Prince, be cautious. This person uses the Sky Splitting Palm, with strong palm power, he might have already opened his meridians!"

Opening the meridians!

Huo Zinan's heart tightened.

The Third Grade Meridian Passage refers to the inner qi progressively opening the Eight Extraordinary Meridians.

Could it be that Li Yan is a Third Grade Martial Artist?

In an instant, Huo Zinan understood many things.

My second brother was once engaged to Li Junqing, but before they married, he was severely injured by someone.

At that time, my second brother suffered a blow from the Sky Splitting Palm, his inner power shattering his organs, and he wailed at home for several days before finally passing away.

The Huo Family suspected there was a Fourth Grade master around Li Yan, but never considered Li Yan himself.

Because when Li Yan first arrived in Wu'an County, he was in a sickly state, having suffered internal injuries, unable to use his inner power, akin to a Sixth Grade Martial Artist.

And precisely because of this, they could use Han Lang to take away Li Yan's military power.

"Li Yan, you've been feigning injury all along, such deep scheming and heavy plotting!"

Huo Zinan said sternly.

"Heh..."

Li Yan chuckled lightly and said, "Had I not feigned weakness and concealed my abilities, retreating continuously, I'm afraid you Huo Family would have eradicated me in Wu'an County during the first year!"

The Li Family were outsiders when they first arrived, having long heard of the immense power of Marquis Wu'an. Naturally, they dared not confront head-on.

Even a powerful dragon struggles to suppress a local snake.

What's more, the Li Family in Longxi wasn't considered a powerful dragon.

Thus, Li Yan concealed his cultivation and pretended to be injured and weak.

His cultivation level was unknown even to his children!

Even though the Huo Family used Han Lang to divide power, he still chose to repeatedly back down, avoiding arousing too much hostility from the other side.

It wasn't until the Huo Family forced a marriage that Li Yan began secretly planning, building forces and seeking a way out for the Li Family.

Huo Zinan asked again, "So you're saying, you killed my second brother!"

"That's right!"

Li Yan directly acknowledged.

At this point, there's no need to hide. Success or failure depends entirely on tonight.

Li Yan sneered, "Huo Er was infamous in Wu'an County for his bullying and misdeeds, practically a rogue scoundrel guilty of every conceivable vice!"

"For the sake of the Li Family, I could endure and step back, but bullying my daughter Li Yan is unacceptable! I, Li Yan, will never allow Junqing's life to be ruined by someone like Huo Er!"

"Good, good, good."

Huo Zinan nodded repeatedly and said, "Since you admit it, so much the better. You have four sons and a daughter; I will make them endure the utmost suffering, a fate worse than death!"

Li Yan ignored Huo Zinan's threat; at this point, such threats are childish.

No matter who wins, neither side will let the other off easily!

Li Yan looked at the frail old man beside Huo Zinan and mockingly said, "Iron Finger Wu Cheng, once a notable figure in Jianghu, has now humbled himself before the Huo Family, obeying a junior."

"Having mastered both literature and martial arts, I sell my skills to the royal family."

Wu Cheng said indifferently, "Many years have passed, and the Jianghu of old is no more."

Li Yan said, "Even if the Jianghu is gone, ethics remain! By staying by Huo Er's side, indulging his misdeeds, and even protecting him multiple times, you are aiding a tyrant and abetting the wicked!"

Wu Cheng remained silent.

In the Jianghu, people like Huo Er are the most reviled.

Decades ago, Wu Cheng never would have imagined he would protect such a person one day.

But in Jianghu, one is often compelled by circumstances.

Wu Cheng dodged Li Yan's words, saying, "At that time, you injured Young Master Huo Er with a Sky Splitting Palm, but you also took one of my fingers. You couldn't possibly be unharmed."

"True."

Li Yan said, "When I first came to Wu'an County, I did conceal my cultivation and pretended to be injured. But later, after I killed Huo Er and was injured by your finger, my meridians were damaged and took years to heal."

"It wasn't until a few months ago that I received the help of a spirit medicine, finally recovering and unexpectedly breaking through to enter the Third Grade Meridian Passage in one stroke!"

If not for this, Li Yan wouldn't dare to face the Huo Family's hundreds of elites alone.

"So what if it's Third Grade?"

Wu Cheng shook his head and said, "You have just entered Third Grade, at most opening one meridian, whereas I have long opened six meridians."

"But you are old."

Li Yan refused to back down verbally, "At your age, your qi and blood are declining, your combat strength is much less than before. If you can't eventually connect the Ren and Du Meridians, your end is near!"

These words struck Wu Cheng at his core, and his expression changed.

"Uncle Wu, don't tangle with him, kill him!"

Huo Zinan softly commanded.

Wu Cheng took a deep breath, quickly regained his composure, and his frail figure lunged forward, appearing before Li Yan in the blink of an eye. He extended a finger, covering multiple key acupoints around Li Yan!

Wu Cheng's finger began swelling with blood and turned dark green in mid-air, looking ferocious and frightening.

Li Yan did not dodge or evade, gathered his energy, and struck down with a palm technique.

Bam!

A clash of finger and palm, and both were shaken.

Li Yan stepped back five steps.

While Wu Cheng merely stepped back one step, his form slightly wobbled as if he couldn't stabilize himself.

From this exchange, it seemed Wu Cheng had the upper hand, but both knew that continuing this fierce fight would inevitably lead to Wu Cheng exhausting his strength first, leading to defeat and death!

"All at once, there's no need to fight him one-on-one!"

Huo Zinan, with a sharp eye, noticed that Wu Cheng did not gain the upper hand and quickly called out.

The Huo Family not only had one Third Grade but also a Fourth Grade Martial Artist and six Fifth Grades!

If everyone charged together, Li Yan would undoubtedly be defeated!

Bam bam bam!

Li Yan and Wu Cheng exchanged several moves consecutively, while the other experts were already attacking from both sides.

Seeing the unfavorable situation, Li Yan swiftly moved and fled outside.

"Don't let him escape!"

Huo Zinan shouted, commanding the Huo family's elite to surround and pursue him.

Bam! Bam!

Li Yan continuously struck, unleashing the Sky Splitting Palm.

After opening up a meridian in his arm, the Sky Splitting Palm was truly considered a Great Success, allowing him to use Inner Qi Emission to harm opponents from a distance!

The weapons held by a few of the Huo family's elite didn't even touch Li Yan's body before being struck and sent flying by his palms from a distance!

At the Third Grade, even if only one meridian is opened, one can achieve Inner Qi Emission, showing a marked improvement in combat strength.

Ordinary martial artists simply couldn't stop him.

Of course, Li Yan didn't dare to linger in place.

Once entangled with the surrounding people, with Wu Cheng and several experts forming a siege, it would be very difficult for him to escape.

Li Yan fought and retreated towards Chen Tang's residence.

He and Chen Tang had already delayed enough time.

Without any surprises, Li Boxiong and others should have already succeeded!

...

Cyan Dragon Bureau.

"You all return to the Guard Captain Hall and wait for me."

Cai Yin said, "I'll go and have a word with Old Tan."

Wei Qun said solemnly, "Cai, let us go with you!"

"No need."

Cai Yin waved his hand, saying nonchalantly, "Why should a bunch of us go together, planning to start a fight?"

"But, I'm worried..."

Wei Qun hesitated to continue.

"It's fine."

Cai Yin said, "I'm just going over to complain a bit, vent my frustration. Even if he really disagrees, I'd still go to help. At worst, I won't work at the Cyan Dragon Bureau anymore!"

"Cai, if you quit, we won't stay at the Cyan Dragon Bureau either."

"Cai, we'll just follow you!"

"That's right, you brought us in, if we leave, take us with you!"

Everyone chimed in.

"Alright!"

Cai Yin was somewhat moved too, saying, "If we truly have to leave, then we'll leave together as brothers. With our skills, even mixing in the Jianghu afterwards, we could make a name for ourselves!"

...

Captain's Hall.

With guidance from the Cyan Dragon Guard, Observatory Master Song Mu found his way to the courtyard outside, seeing Tan Wujiu just putting on his clothes and stepping out of the bedroom with a cloak over his shoulders.

As the door swung open and shut, a glimpse of jade-like arms flashed inside, a touch of snow-white.

Song Mu, with deep intent, glanced at the bedroom, half-smiling as he said, "Marquis Wu'an is so lively tonight, yet Lord Tan seems to be in such a good mood. I hope my visit hasn't disturbed you?"

"Observatory Master Song, you jest."

Tan Wujiu remained calm, saying, "No matter how lively tonight may be, it's unrelated to us. The big picture is already set. Therefore, it's better to rest early and find some pleasure with a woman."

At this mention, a shadow of gloom flickered deep in Song Mu's eyes.

Since he was startled that day, he had been completely dispirited.

"In my heart, there's some anxiety."

Recalling the events of that night, Song Mu hesitated to say, "Will there be any changes tonight?"

"There won't be."

Tan Wujiu stated, "Perhaps the Li Family may have some power to resist, perhaps the Vermilion Bird Guard can hold out a bit longer. In the worst case, Wu'an County might fall into the hands of the Li Family, but so what?"

"Black Water Country has already dispatched troops, and soon the army will cross the Three Thousand Snow Ridges, reaching Wu'an County."

"With such meager forces in Wu'an County, how could they defend?"

Song Mu nodded, saying, "That's true."

Not far off, in the bedroom, QIn Xiaomei stood there alone, wearing only a thin gauze, with her figure faintly visible underneath.

Through the gap in the window, she gazed at the figure standing in the courtyard, a hint of mockery flashing in her eyes.

She knew that Tan Wujiu had no feelings for her.

He had called her over, merely treating her as a means to vent his desires.

She dared not resist.

Everyone knew she was a promiscuous, coquettish woman, so what was there to resist?

Qin Xiaomei lowered her head, admiring her almost perfect curves, and suddenly gave a self-deprecating smile.

In the Cyan Dragon Bureau, she was the Guard Captain.

But she knew that everyone looked down on her.

No.

Not everyone.

In the Cyan Dragon Bureau, there was one person whose gaze upon her never held disdain.

Just then, a commotion was heard outside, as if someone had barged in!

Qin Xiaomei frowned and looked out.

This was the Captain's residence; without notice, who would dare to intrude?

The next moment, she saw that person.

Cai Yin.

The man who always seemed never to have enough to eat, boisterous, with a mouth full of foul language.

Deep within Qin Xiaomei's eyes, there was a fleeting touch of gentleness.

But in the next moment, her expression changed, watching outside with some tension.

Cai Yin's mood seemed off.

He seemed to be arguing with Tan Wujiu!

She'd rarely seen Cai Yin get so angry, especially at Tan Wujiu.

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