The Demon Lords

Zheng Fan began to accelerate, and so did Mr. Chen, the rhythm of Mr. Chen's sword scabbard striking the floor tiles quickening.

ROAR!

Zheng Fan bellowed and lunged, his legs pushing off the ground to launch him into the air.

Mr. Chen slashed his sword upward. In that instant, his Sword Qi erupted, like a long rainbow piercing the sun.

But as Zheng Fan hung suspended in mid-air, his body abruptly trembled, and he astonishingly altered his trajectory to dodge the blow.

However, just as Zheng Fan descended, attempting a sneak attack on Mr. Chen's flank, Mr. Chen simply released his grip on the sword hilt.

His sword, as if possessing a life of its own, twisted in mid-air, propelled by his Qi and blood.

BANG!

The longsword directly pierced Zheng Fan's shoulder, simultaneously sending him flying toward a pillar.

BUZZ!

The sword embedded itself in the pillar, pinning Zheng Fan to it.

The gap... is way too vast... Xue Three closed his eyes in despair.

Indeed, an individual's power greatly influences the outcome of a duel or a small-scale confrontation.

Even someone as strong as Shatuo Queshi was eventually overcome by exhaustion and defeated when facing thousands of the Northern Army's iron cavalry, ultimately meeting his death.

Zheng Fan himself had once, in Qian State, killed an Eighth Rank expert by 'kiting' him—a strategy of attrition.

Indeed, if hundreds of cavalry from Green Willow Fortress were here right now, Mr. Chen could likely escape, provided he chose not to fight and the terrain wasn't too open. However, if he were still determined to kill Zheng Fan then, Zheng Fan was confident he could wear him down with his cavalry, albeit at the cost of some casualties.

But now, unfortunately, they were on their own, effectively in a one-on-one confrontation with him.

Mr. Chen walked up to Zheng Fan and extended a hand. With a tug of his Qi, the sword pinning Zheng Fan flew back into his palm.

Zheng Fan landed. The moment he landed, his legs pushed off the pillar, lunging once more at Mr. Chen. Mr. Chen did not back down. He first used the 'fall flat on the butt' technique to forcefully halt Zheng Fan's advance. Immediately after, he thrust his sword forward. As if dotting three plum blossoms on a scroll, his blade left three gaping holes in Zheng Fan's body.

BANG!

In the end, Zheng Fan stumbled backward and fell to the ground.

The last time in Qian State, when Mo Wan possessed him, Zheng Fan had been able to kill an Eighth Rank Martial Cultivator. This Fifth Rank swordsman before him, however, presented an entirely different level of threat.

Without enough people to help Zheng Fan find an opening, relying on his own strength alone meant he was simply being crushed by Mr. Chen.

Of course, Mr. Chen had also paid a hefty price for this: his left leg was gone.

But this man was truly like a block of wood, seemingly unfazed by the loss, not even angered.

Zheng Fan lay on the ground, the power of Mo Wan fading. He really couldn't win. If not for Mo Wan's power protecting him during the previous two exchanges, he would have been dismembered by now.

Actually, in Zheng Fan's opinion, Mo Wan's strength should have surpassed that of his key subordinates. But once Mo Wan possessed him, it could only control his body for physical combat, making it unable to achieve the kind of tactical successes that Xue Three and others like him could.

Mr. Chen, having lost a leg, was also being more cautious.

Mr. Chen walked up to Zheng Fan, his sword raised.

Panting, Zheng Fan asked, "May I ask you another question?"

"You've already asked your questions."

Clearly, Mr. Chen had no intention of answering any more of Zheng Fan's questions.

Zheng Fan laughed and said, "Before you kill me, I think you should tell me what crime I'm dying for. Only when the victims of my misdeeds understand why I am being punished can their souls truly find peace. And only then will I truly regret and repent my past atrocities. That is how you will achieve your revenge, isn't it?"

When dealing with an idiot, you have to follow his line of thought. Since I can't beat him, I have to play along with his temperament.

Mr. Chen's sword paused. He said slowly, "You are right."

"Then, please tell me, for whom have you come to seek revenge?"

"The souls of the more than eight hundred people from Chahe Village have come to claim your life."

Chahe Village? Over eight hundred people?

How could that be possible?

During his campaign in Qian State, Zheng Fan had captured a fort and breached Mianzhou City. However, most of those he killed were soldiers and officials of Qian State. Even after breaching Mianzhou City, he had merely stormed the prefectural government office and taken the heads of those officials as souvenirs.

Villagers? More than eight hundred villagers?

That would mean he had massacred an entire manor!

But he had never massacred a village.

Zheng Fan was certain of this. Even during his last two days in Qian State, while being pursued by Qian State cavalry, he had only robbed two merchant caravans to replenish supplies. And even then, he had only taken their horses and dry rations, without killing anyone.

So, if that's the case...

Zheng Fan's chest suddenly heaved. If he weren't so weak right now, bleeding from several holes in his body, he might have actually coughed up mouthfuls of blood in sheer frustration.

Damn it, had this guy gotten the wrong person?

A simple misunderstanding, a case of mistaken identity, usually wouldn't be a huge deal. But damn it, this guy was about to wipe all three of them out!

Zheng Fan didn't think Mr. Chen was lying. From start to finish, Mr. Chen had maintained the air of a true hero. Besides, at this stage, Zheng Fan was completely at his mercy; there was no need for Mr. Chen to deceive him.