Beginning with the Ubume Bird

Chapter 21: Chapter 21 The Power of Yan Fu
Editor: Larbre Studio

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Li Yan’s left hand deflected Zhang Mingyuan’s punch, as his Octahedral Han Sword aimed to graze his shoulder. At that moment, the treacherous nature of the Lanmian Sou as a peculiar weapon was fully revealed. Zhang Mingyuan flicked his wrist, and as the smoke pipe aimed at Li Yan was deflected, the sharp blade sliced across Li Yan’s face, leaving an inch-deep wound.

Without a care, Li Yan’s fingers shaped like a bird’s beak, poking Zhang Mingyuan’s wrist, nearly touching his armpit with the Han Sword. In desperation, Zhang Mingyuan leaped back, increasing the distance between them and barely managing, with great risk, to retract the Lanmian Sou in time to avoid Li Yan’s sword edge.

Li Yan, unbothered by his broken appearance, casually tossed the Lanmian Sou down from the stage and coldly watched Zhang Mingyuan not far away.

At this moment, Zhang Mingyuan’s right wrist was bruised purple, with blood flowing from his feet and neck; unarmed, he looked utterly wretched. However, his eyes were filled with a wild gleam, showing not the slightest sign of discouragement.

Inside the private room, He Changhong’s face was gloomy. He had made big promises in front of Judy, but now it seemed that Wu Erlang probably was no match for this Yama. He Changhong didn’t care about losing money, nor did he consider Zhang Mingyuan’s life of any importance. However, the face he lost in front of Judy was something he couldn’t bear.

Li Yan lunged forward with a low stance, his Octahedral Han Sword slashing fiercely towards Zhang Mingyuan’s legs!

Zhang Mingyuan sprang off the ground, dodging Li Yan’s swift sword strike, aiming his right foot at Li Yan’s sword-holding hand. With a slight lift of his hand, Li Yan deflected with his sword blade, forcing Zhang Mingyuan to twist in the air and flip to land. Before Zhang Mingyuan could catch his breath, the imposing Han Sword was already chopping down on him. Unable to avoid it, his right arm was sliced open with a long wound.

To all onlookers, Zhang Mingyuan’s chances of turning the tables were now nonexistent. Without the Lanmian Sou, he had no means to block and was at the mercy of Li Yan’s ferocious swordplay, crushing like the relentless, dark tide of a stormy sea.

But the moment Zhang Mingyuan’s arm was cut, he didn’t retreat. Instead, he charged at Li Yan as the Han Sword fell, throwing caution to the wind.

“Seeking death!”

Even if Li Yan were to discard his sword at this moment, Zhang Mingyuan, covered in wounds, wouldn’t be his match. And Li Yan had no need to discard his weapon. With a flick of his wrist, the falling Han Sword rose like an angry dragon, its tip thrusting obliquely at Zhang Mingyuan’s knee.

Zhang Mingyuan’s eyes bulged. The outcome of today’s battle hinged on this very moment. He rose fluidly, kicking off from the body of Li Yan’s sword, spinning in mid-air and delivering a kick, embodying the essence of the “thud of snapping foot and whip-like crack.”

Hidden Flower Hangs from the Leaf Kick!

Before Li Yan’s eyes, the red radiance of Zhang Mingyuan suddenly dimmed, tending to turn black!

A chill ran through Li Yan’s heart as he suddenly recalled the series of question marks from A Fleeting Glimpse.

Zhang Mingyuan’s blood-drenched chin lifted slightly, his pupils revealing a ferocious beast making a howling pose—its body engulfed in flames, with a nine-tiger body, and a tail curved like a hook!

The “Classic of Mountains and Seas: Western Seas” states: “The Enlightened Beast, with the body of a beast, the likeness of a tiger, stands on Kunlun facing east.”

“Snap!”

Li Yan’s chin was hit by the kick, his body arching back. Blood trickled from the corners of his mouth. A strange tiger roar sounded in his ears, as if a stick had plunged into his brain and stirred it violently!

“Ugh!”

Even with Li Yan’s will, he couldn’t suppress a pain-filled cry. This soul-shuddering agony was far beyond what an ordinary person could endure.

“You have faced the Power of the Enlightened Beast!”

“You have acquired some information. Viewing it requires spending some Yan Fu points. Would you like to view it?”

“Yes!!!”

“Name: Zhang Mingyuan

Specialty: Ancient Martial Arts (69%/100%)

Status: Fury Spirit!

Skill: A Fleeting Glimpse

Legacy: Eyes of the Enlightened Beast. Fury Spirit

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[Eyes of the Enlightened Beast. Fury Spirit]

Type: Inheritance

Quality: Rare (can only be obtained through a special reward after completing the related Yan Fu event.)

With every movement, one will wield the Power of the Enlightened Beast; each attack will burn the opponent’s soul and can be added to any weapon, though the effect at a distance is only 30% that of close combat.

In agonizing pain, Li Yan’s grip loosened, and the Octahedral Han Sword fell to the ground. Zhang Mingyuan had just landed on the tips of his toes and, pushing off with his instep, swung a heavy kick at Li Yan’s shoulder, sending blood splattering from the already injured right leg under the force of the blow.

Li Yan’s right arm felt as if struck by lightning. He rolled on the ground to distance himself, the intense searing pain voraciously devouring his will. If he had been an ordinary person, by now he would have been writhing in pain all over the floor.

Li Yan’s fingers trembled slightly with the pain, his entire right arm hanging limp and clearly unable to be raised.

Zhang Mingyuan’s eyes were bloodshot; maintaining this state was not easy for him either. He flicked up the Han Sword with his toes, grabbed it with one hand, and charged toward Li Yan.

The situation was reversed in an instant!

Li Yan’s gaze was exceptionally indifferent, as if the disabled right arm was not his own. His lips barely moved as he whispered, “Even the overwhelming power of the Enlightened Beast must hit its mark to be effective.”

Zhang Mingyuan stabbed at Li Yan with the Han Sword in hand. Li Yan twisted his step to the right; his body swung around Zhang Mingyuan’s arm like a specter, and in the blink of an eye, he was in front of Zhang Mingyuan. Stepping forward and turning, he raised his left hand and smashed his fist into Zhang’s chest.

Bagua Palm Sixty-Four Secret Techniques, Stride and Lift the Garment! Cross Shift the Tower!

Zhang Mingyuan’s face turned pale with fear, immediately realizing that swordplay was not his forte, especially since the Octahedral Han Sword was considerably longer than typical longswords, and he could not control it. It was too late for regrets; almost instinctively, Zhang lifted his knee, intending to use the thrusting knee technique from his Lotus Leaf Leg to force Li Yan back. However, just as his knee rose, Li Yan’s right foot followed like a venomous snake, fiercely kicking Zhang Mingyuan’s shinbone. It was also a masterstroke from the thrusting foot repertoire—the Entangling Silk Leg!

At the same time, Li Yan’s knuckles crushed down ruthlessly on Zhang Mingyuan’s chest, causing him to spit out blood. Then he turned his fist into a claw, grabbing Zhang’s shoulder, sliding down the arm to snatch the Han Sword, and with a sideways elbow, he pressed Zhang to the ground. The sharp sword blade, like a guillotine, bore down on Zhang Mingyuan’s throat!

…

“Ha~huh~”

Zhang Mingyuan, with blood traces remaining at the corner of his mouth, stared into Li Yan’s detached eyes, feeling a pin-prick pain throbbing between his eyebrows.

“Zhang Daojing, who is she to you?”

Li Yan’s voice was particularly hoarse, his throat damaged by the power of the Enlightened Beast.

Coughing up flecks of blood, Zhang Mingyuan, chilled by those slightly reddened eyes, replied involuntarily, “She’s my sister.”

Li Yan was silent for a moment, and a drop of blood trickled down the Han Sword resting on Zhang Mingyuan’s neck, making a faint plop sound.

“You’ve broken my right arm; this injury will trouble me greatly for the next month. I should kill you to vent my anger.”

Li Yan spoke coldly and dryly, pausing with each word. Dropping the Han Sword, he grabbed Zhang Mingyuan by the collar, flipped him over, and tossed him off the ring.

“Thud.” Zhang Mingyuan fell heavily to the ground, covered in dust.

“How do you know the Entangling Silk Leg from my thrusting leg techniques?” Zhang Mingyuan called out with some unwillingness.

Li Yan struggled to his feet, cradling his right arm and limping down from the ring, his forehead’s veins bulging. Upon hearing Zhang Mingyuan’s question, the pain caused him to grit his teeth, and he replied irritably, “Go home and ask your sister!”

In the private box

Red Ghost let out a heavy breath. The duel had gone through several twists and turns, but in the end, it was Li Yan who had clinched the victory. Seeing him wielding the Han Sword with force behind the blade and with no significant bodily damage, it was the best possible outcome. He turned to look at Judy but found her face flushed with excitement.

“Red Ghost, you, step out for a moment, and close the door behind you when you leave.”