I Grind to Martial Saint

CREAK~

Han Yuan pushed open his courtyard gate and found a letter on the ground.

"Who sent me a letter?"

Han Yuan picked up the letter, opened it, and a playful look appeared in his eyes.

The letter stated that if Han Yuan wanted to know the whereabouts of his older brother, Han Jiudao, he had to go to Ox Horn Slope tonight.

If he didn’t go, he would never find out what happened to Han Jiudao.

’If you’re after me, just say so.’

’Why use such an excuse...’

Han Yuan shook his head and casually tore the letter to shreds. Then, he actually headed out of the city.

Ox Horn Slope wasn’t far from Qingshui County. It was a desolate, uninhabited wasteland.

Han Yuan took about an hour to reach the vicinity of Ox Horn Slope.

He saw nothing but a dark wilderness under the cold, eerie moonlight.

From time to time, strange sounds could be heard, though it was unclear if they came from wild beasts or something else.

"Han Yuan... I didn’t expect you to actually show up."

"As expected, you’re still obsessed with the truth behind Han Jiudao’s disappearance."

A tall, thin man with a white film over his left eye and a sinister gaze appeared before Han Yuan.

"Qian Yuanlang, you know my brother’s whereabouts?"

Han Yuan narrowed his eyes.

Qian Yuanlang frowned slightly. ’Why isn’t Han Yuan surprised to see me?’ he thought. ’Does he already know something?’

But the thought of tonight’s arrangement instantly put him at ease. He sneered, "Of course I do."

"Oh? Then where is my brother?" Han Yuan asked, cracking his neck.

"He’s being reincarnated in the Underworld."

"And tonight is the perfect time to send you there with him!"

Qian Yuanlang let out a vicious laugh.

His eye, shrouded by the white film, looked all the more terrifying under the moonlight.

"Qian Yuanlang... Just you?"

"Hardly enough."

Han Yuan scoffed.

"Of course I’m not enough on my own."

"Isn’t Brother Zhao here as well?"

A mocking look flashed in Qian Yuanlang’s eyes.

As if sensing something, Han Yuan turned. Someone had silently appeared behind him and to his left.

The man was dressed like a Scholar, holding a paper fan and wearing a gentle smile.

"Gang Leader Zhao, you’re here to join the fun too?"

Han Yuan asked.

"I have no choice... Chief Constable Han, your reputation has grown too great."

"If you stay alive, I’m afraid there’ll be no place for gangs like ours."

Zhao He shook his head and sighed.

"Understandable."

"But just the two of you still isn’t enough."

Han Yuan’s expression merely grew a bit more serious; there was no hint of panic.

"Worthy of being Chief Constable Han, you truly are fearless."

"I wonder, if you add me to the mix, is it enough now?"

Another formidable figure emerged from behind Han Yuan and to his right.

This one was a burly man with a bristling beard, wielding an Iron Axe. His aura was wild and brutal.

"And you are?"

Han Yuan had never heard of such a person in Qingshui County.

"I am Horse-Cutting Axe, Du Shou."

The bearded man said coldly.

"Never heard of you..." Han Yuan stated bluntly.

"This man is on the Black List of your very own Cangshui County."

"And you don’t even know him?"

Qian Yuanlang sneered.

Han Yuan knew this so-called Black List was a wanted list issued by the Government Office.

Only the most bloodthirsty Martial World Thieves, those who had committed heinous massacres, could make it onto the list.

But Han Yuan recalled that the Black List had over a hundred names, and he only remembered the top few.

Judging by Du Shou’s aura, he was only a Body Tempering Martial Artist, probably ranked at the very bottom of the Black List.

"Just someone from the bottom of the list."

"Not worth my attention."

Han Yuan said flatly.

That was what he said, but his expression grew grave.

Three Body Tempering Martial Artists teaming up could indeed threaten his life.

"Hmph."

"Stubborn till the bitter end!"

"Gentlemen, let’s do it!"

Qian Yuanlang barked.

The next moment, he charged at Han Yuan like a wild wolf. His hands were long and thin, his nails sharp. As his qi and blood circulated, his hands faintly glowed crimson as he viciously clawed for Han Yuan’s face.

This was Qian Yuanlang’s signature technique, the Fire Wolf Claw!

It required stimulating one’s hands day and night with scorching hot iron sand to master.

At the same time, Du Shou let out a great roar, his Giant Axe whipping up a gale as he slashed down viciously.

Only Zhao He didn’t move. Like a venomous snake, he seemed to be observing Han Yuan, waiting for him to reveal an opening to deliver a fatal blow!

SWISH!

Han Yuan drew his saber in the same instant.

Facing a pincer attack, he made a split-second, perfectly calm judgment. Leaping like a great bird to evade Qian Yuanlang’s Fire Wolf Claw, he transformed into a diving raptor, executing a jumping slash down at Du Shou.

Thousand Falcons Streaming Light Sky Slash!

The Cold Blade transformed into a savage streak of light, wrapped in the chilling moonlight, like a moonbeam falling upon Du Shou’s head.

Thanks to his recent breakthroughs with the Arhat Iron Cloth Shirt, Han Yuan’s explosive power had reached a new level.

This strike was faster, fiercer, and more savage than ever before!

The shriek of the blade tearing through the air was like the cry of a vicious bird, making Du Shou’s eardrums ache.

He was terrified, never expecting Han Yuan could unleash such a swift and ferocious strike.

Du Shou roared wildly, his qi and blood surging as he swung his axe up to block.

But he was a step too slow!

SPLURCH!

The Cold Blade slammed into Du Shou’s face, splitting it in two.

However, the bones of a Body Tempering Martial Artist were too hard; the Cold Blade failed to cleave completely through and got stuck in his skull.

Han Yuan didn’t try to pull it out. He simply released his grip and threw a sweeping elbow strike behind him.

A faintly crimson claw shot out, colliding squarely with his elbow!

BANG!

Qian Yuanlang felt an excruciating, bone-cracking pain in his claw. He cried out and stumbled back several steps.

"Weren’t you the one who was going to send me to the Underworld?"

"What are you doing?!!!"

Han Yuan roared, throwing a vicious punch.

His fist was like a mountain-shattering hammer, its power immense and terrifying. It struck Qian Yuanlang, who howled in agony as his left arm was snapped.

"Zhao He, what are you doing?!"

Qian Yuanlang screamed at Zhao He.

But Zhao He seemed not to have heard him, remaining completely motionless!

Qian Yuanlang seemed to realize something. His expression changed drastically, and he turned to flee.

BAM!

An Iron Fist slammed into his shoulder with crushing force.

His shoulder blade shattered instantly. The immense force traveled down to his knees, causing him to collapse to the ground.

The next moment, Han Yuan hauled him up.

He delivered a brutal uppercut, smashing it into his chin!

CRACK!

His strength was simply too ferocious.

Qian Yuanlang’s head was blasted clean off his body, taking a piece of his spine with it, before landing dozens of meters away.

Seeing this, the corners of Zhao He’s mouth twitched.

’This man... is unbelievably brutal!’

Han Yuan pulled his Cold Blade from Du Shou’s head, looked at Zhao He, and smiled. "Gang Leader Zhao, you really led them to their doom."

"A wise man submits to the circumstances."

"I’m not like them."

"I never had any intention of opposing you, Chief Constable Han."

Zhao He said.

That was right. Zhao He had, in fact, already told Han Yuan everything about tonight’s plot.

Otherwise, Han Yuan would never have come so recklessly.

"Is that so?"

"If I hadn’t killed Du Shou so quickly just now and had fallen into a desperate situation instead..."

"...I wonder if Gang Leader Zhao would have taken the opportunity to kick a man while he’s down?"

Han Yuan wiped the blood from his Cold Blade and grinned at Zhao He.