The Speedrun Begins with Choosing Hunter

"What in the world is happening?"

Li Ting’s face was ashen. Two men in black had her and her master, Cheng Li, cornered.

These men in black had appeared so suddenly. She was grateful she was staying in her master’s small courtyard tonight; otherwise, she would have already been cut down by the assassins from the Soul-Chasing Tower.

Cheng Li’s beautiful face was ice-cold as she stared grimly at the two men in black before her.

’Two Bone Forger Martial Masters.’

It was common knowledge that assassins from the Soul-Chasing Tower were far deadlier than ordinary Martial Artists. Even though she was a True Disciple, facing two of the Soul-Chasing Tower’s Soul-Grabbing Little Ghosts at once was extremely difficult.

"Master."

Although Li Ting had been training for two years, she had spent most of her time practicing stances in the Martial Arts Hall. She had never faced a life-or-death situation like this and was at a complete loss.

Cheng Li said in a low voice, "You go first. I’ll hold them off."

She spoke with resolve, as if oblivious to the high probability of death if she stayed behind.

It was the most rational choice. Sometimes, rationality meant being ruthless—not just to your enemies, but to yourself as well.

At the Skin Grinding Barrier, Li Ting’s strength would only make her a burden if she stayed. This way, at least one of them might survive.

Li Ting saw the acceptance of death in Cheng Li’s eyes.

Tears streamed uncontrollably from her eyes. Hall Master Xue had yet to appear, which clearly meant he was also tied up by a powerful foe. They could expect no reinforcements.

She bit down hard, spun around, and ran.

’My master is right. Staying will only make me a burden.’

The two men in black showed no intention of giving chase. An Outer Disciple was irrelevant; the female True Disciple before them was far more important.

Li Ting heard the clash of blades behind her. Clearly, Cheng Li had engaged the two men in black again.

She fought back her sorrow and tears.

"Senior Brother Bai?!"

She hadn’t run far before she saw Bai Yuan walking toward her.

"Senior Brother Bai, please save my master!"

Bai Yuan frowned. Li Ting’s master was Cheng Li—who was also Sister Qiao’s master, and his Senior Sister.

"Where is Senior Sister Cheng?"

He didn’t waste time with unnecessary words.

"Follow me."

Li Ting gritted her teeth and led Bai Yuan back to the courtyard she had just fled.

Cheng Li was locked in combat with the two men in black. Fighting one against two, she had already sustained several bloody cuts.

Suddenly, footsteps sounded from the direction of the courtyard gate.

Turning to look, she saw Li Ting, who was supposed to have left, reappear. She couldn’t help but feel a flash of anger, followed by resignation.

’This disciple of mine has a tenacious and unyielding spirit, but she’s never weathered a real storm. She’s still too soft.’

But her heart leaped with joy at the sight of the saber-carrying youth who appeared after her.

"Junior Brother Bai!"

She had personally witnessed Bai Yuan slay Liu Jiuyan. With his masterfully executed Blood Tiger Saber, this Junior Brother Bai’s combat prowess was nearly equivalent to that of a Yijin Martial Master.

Little did she know, Bai Yuan had broken through the Yijin Pass long ago.

With a sparrowhawk flip, Bai Yuan landed in front of Cheng Li, interrupting the fight.

The two men in black exchanged a look and raised their strangely shaped long sabers, slashing at Bai Yuan.

Bai Yuan didn’t indulge them. His Firewood Cutting Saber swept out horizontally.

The two men in black were sent flying by a terrifyingly immense force, coughing up blood as they died.

Cheng Li and Li Ting swallowed hard at the unbelievable scene. Two Bone Forging Pass assassins from the Soul-Chasing Tower couldn’t even withstand a single blow from Bai Yuan!

’Just how strong is Junior Brother Bai?!’

Cheng Li realized she might have still underestimated her junior brother.

"Senior Sister Cheng, I’ve already cleared out the assassins along the way. Take Junior Sister Li to my small courtyard. There’s a secret passage there. Sister Qiao is already waiting."

After these brief instructions, Bai Yuan vanished into the night once more.

Cheng Li was even more astonished.

’Bai Yuan’s courtyard is in the east, and my residence is in the west. That means he fought his way from the easternmost end of the Martial Arts Hall all the way to the westernmost side, all by himself!’

’He must have killed at least a dozen people along the way.’

’A Martial Artist isn’t a perpetual motion machine; they get tired eventually.’

But Bai Yuan showed not the slightest hint of fatigue. On the contrary, he was full of vigor. This was the effect of the Tiger Form Crane Style.

Watching Bai Yuan’s retreating figure, Cheng Li quickly led Li Ting eastward.

...

Li Ting’s small courtyard was the closest to Old Xue’s.

At that moment, a lean, middle-aged man stood in Old Xue’s small courtyard. Unlike the assassins outside, he was not wearing Night Clothes.

Because he was strong enough. Because his name was Si.

According to the rules of the Soul-Chasing Tower, the higher the rank, the greater the strength. This lean man was precisely the fourth-ranked assassin of the Soul-Chasing Tower: a Strong Internal Martial Master!

Old Xue’s eyes narrowed to slits. He took a deep breath.

’The Strong Organ Pass?’

’They really think highly of this old man.’

"I never thought the Soul-Chasing Tower would go to such lengths to deal with an old man like me, whose Qi and Blood are in decline."

Old Xue gave a self-deprecating smile.

Barring any surprises, he wouldn’t live through the night.

He only hoped that kid, Bai Yuan, was clever enough to escape with the legacy of the Blood Tiger Saber.

"Then bring it on."

Old Xue’s expression became resolute. His Qi and Blood surged, and the wrinkles at the corners of his eyes were visibly smoothed away by an unseen force.

He was re-entering the Strong Organ Pass!

A smile finally appeared on the lean, middle-aged man’s wooden face. ’This fight is starting to get interesting.’

’Killing an old Martial Artist who’s fallen to the Yijin Pass is just too boring.’

Old Xue slowly drew the saber from his waist—the Tyrant Saber!

Although he had failed to master his master Black Evil Elder’s Blood Tiger Saber, he had his own saber, and it was also very powerful.

The assassin, Si, pulled a length of iron chain from his waist. This was his weapon.

Unlike other Martial Artists, the assassins of the Soul-Chasing Tower favored strange and treacherous weapons, just like this iron chain.

SWOOSH!

Si whipped the chain out, and it shot toward Old Xue’s face like a silver snake flicking its tongue.

Old Xue’s brow twitched as he swung the Tyrant Saber in a horizontal slash.

The saber technique was grand and sweeping, its power extraordinary.

A bizarre scene unfolded!

The iron chain in Si’s hand seemed to have a mind of its own, bypassing the Tyrant Saber to strike directly at Old Xue’s vitals.

Old Xue was horrified.

’The Soul-Chasing Tower’s methods are as strange as they say!’

He had no choice but to withdraw his saber and retreat, but with that one step back, it became nearly impossible to reverse his disadvantage.

A duel between experts is decided in a single instant.

Although Old Xue’s Tyrant Saber was ferocious, he was constantly on the defensive, struggling to parry the lean, middle-aged man’s cunning chain.

Once the Tyrant Saber could no longer attack, it was like a tiger without its fangs—doomed to die sooner or later.

Just as their battle reached a fever pitch—

A handful of fiery red powder was thrown in the lean, middle-aged man’s face.

Si reacted instantly. He used his iron chain like a fan to blow away the red mist and shot back several meters, completely unaffected.

He stared grimly at the youth who had suddenly appeared beside Old Xue.

It was that youth who had just thrown the red mist.

Old Xue looked at Bai Yuan with an expression of resignation.

’Well, that’s it. The Black Evil lineage is finished for good now.’

But he was surprisingly nonchalant about it. ’Since he’s here, we’ll just fight together. With the Blood Tiger Saber, Bai Yuan isn’t completely without a fighting chance.’

Bai Yuan’s heart went cold.

’He’s a Strong Internal Martial Master, all right. To think even the upgraded chili powder was useless.’

He took a deep breath and slowly raised his Firewood Cutting Saber.

’If I can’t use dirty tricks, then a direct confrontation is the only way!’