Chapter 467: 弹剑作歌奏苦声

Ding Run suddenly stared at Zu An. "I highly doubt you have that much money. You're about to die, so I can only accept cash. Don't even suggest sending me to find anything you've hidden; I don't want to walk into a trap."

Clearly, he had suffered similar losses before, which made him extremely cautious now.

"Of course I have the money, but I can only give it to you later. That way, I might live a bit longer," Zu An said with a smile.

Ding Run shook his head. "Believe me, sometimes living longer isn't better than a quick, painless death."

Zu An replied, "I'd still prefer to live."

"Fine, then I'll kill them first, and you'll be last." Ding Run said, turning to Sang Hong and the others. "Lord Sang, my apologies."

As he spoke, a flash of saber light appeared, and a surge of saber energy directly slashed towards the two men.

At that moment, Sang Hong suddenly moved, raising the iron chains in his hands to meet the long saber, creating a shower of sparks upon impact.

Despite this, the scattered saber energy still tore the carriage apart, sending a group of people tumbling out.

"Your restrictions are lifted?" Ding Run asked, his hand still resting on the long saber as if it had never been drawn.

Sang Hong looked at Huang Huihong, who lay fallen nearby, and sighed. "I have to thank Commander Huang for lifting my restrictions before he died."

Only then did Ding Run recall that Huang Huihong had seemed to reach towards the carriage just before his death. At the time, he thought Huang was trying to grab something, but now he understood it was to remove Sang Hong's restrictions.

"So, it seems you were deliberately stalling, talking so much to me just to buy time for him to fully recover?" He couldn't help but look at Zu An, his expression grim. He hadn't expected to be outsmarted today.

Sang Hong also looked at Zu An, a hint of admiration in his eyes. "I didn't expect you to guess that. Your quick thinking impresses even me."

It was known that Huang Huihong had only managed to remove the restrictions on one person before his death. Logically, no one else besides Sang Hong himself should have known.

"I just made a wild guess; it was pure luck," Zu An replied with a slight smile, then looked at Ding Run. "However, our agreement is still valid. If we still can't escape death, you must help me kill the mastermind."

Ding Run scoffed, "You're clever, always ensuring you don't lose out."

Sang Qian's face lit up with joy, and he urgently called out, "Father, quickly, remove my restrictions!"

However, Sang Hong didn't reply, simply staring intently at Ding Run.

Zu An, standing nearby, snorted, "Are you foolish? Getting involved in a fight at their level would be suicide. And your father is currently locked in by his opponent's aura; he clearly can't afford to be distracted, yet you're over there constantly yelling."

Sang Qian froze, then understood. But being reprimanded like that, he still harbored a secret rage: "Hmph, once my father deals with Ding Run, I'll flay you alive to vent my hatred."

Rage value from Sang Qian: 792!

Zu An paid him no mind, his attention entirely focused on the two figures in the arena.

After his initial anger, Ding Run had regained his composure. Looking at Sang Hong, he said, "I've long heard that Lord Sang is an Eighth-Rank master. Today, I shall witness your skills."

Sang Hong replied solemnly, "You are well-known in this profession. I hear Eighth-Rank cultivators have died by your hand before, so I suppose an Eighth-Rank means little to you."

"Still, an Eighth-Rank is much harder to kill than an average target. I'll have to tell the client to pay more when I get back." No sooner had Ding Run spoken than his long saber flashed from its sheath.

The speed was such that bystanders couldn't discern the blade's path, only feeling a chilling gleam sweep past.

Sang Hong was already fully alert, wielding the broken shackles in his hands as he met the attack. These shackles, used by the Embroidered Uniform Guards to imprison people, were forged from Profound Iron, making them quite effective weapons.

The two fighters crossed paths, exchanging positions. This time, Ding Run's saber did not return to its sheath, allowing Zu An and the others nearby to get a full view of it.

Compared to a normal saber, his blade was exceptionally long and narrow, resembling a Japanese katana from his past life, even longer than a typical katana.

Although it should have been pristine white, a faint dark red hue seemed subtly visible on its surface.

That dark red wasn't on the blade's surface; as a swordsman, he would undoubtedly keep his weapon clean.

Therefore, that dark red must have already permeated the blade, becoming one with it.

Considering his profession, the nature of that thick, unyielding dark red was self-evident.

Despite the distance, the murderous aura emanating from the blade sent shivers down everyone's spines, even causing a sensation of tiny needles pricking their skin.

Zu An's expression was grave. This man had materialized his killing intent. Such a dense aura of murder could only be cultivated after countless killings.

Sang Qian, standing by, also looked grim. As a master himself, he had noticed a one-to-two-inch cut on his father's chest. Although it hadn't caused a serious injury, that brief contact clearly indicated his father was at a disadvantage.

"Your saber is incredibly fast, sir," Sang Hong said, staring intently at Ding Run opposite him, a flicker of surprise in his eyes. He didn't need to look to know the condition of his clothes.

Ding Run grinned. "Those of us in this line of work live by the edge of a blade. How could we manage without a fast saber? On the other hand, Lord Sang, you're accustomed to a life of luxury and rarely engage in combat. I fear you may not be my match."

"That may not be true," Sang Hong snorted. In a fight to the death, he refused to let his momentum wane. He gripped both sides of the chains, and a surge of flames suddenly erupted, quickly turning the chains red-hot.

He then brandished the "fire whips" in his hands, lashing them towards his opponent. With his hair and beard bristling, his entire demeanor exuded an inexplicable power.

Sang Qian clenched his fists tightly, continuously cheering for his father.

This was Zu An's first time seeing Sang Hong fight with full power. Previously, in Linchuan Commandery, Sang Hong was the top authority and rarely needed to act personally. Often, a simple arrangement would lead countless pawns to achieve his goals.

Now, facing a life-or-death situation, everyone remembered that he was also an Eighth-Rank expert.

"So he's a fire-element cultivator," Zu An thought. This didn't quite fit Sang Hong's personality. He was known for being calm, quiet, and deliberate, a stark contrast to the volatile nature of most fire-element cultivators.

However, on second thought, Sang Qian was also fire-element. It was only natural for father and son to awaken the same element and practice similar cultivation methods.

The only puzzling thing was why, if they were both fire-element, they insisted on taking the water-element Zheng Dan as a daughter-in-law for the Sang family. Wasn't that clearly inviting conflict?

At that moment, Sang Hong's fiery whip shadows were everywhere in the field, almost striking Ding Run several times, but he narrowly avoided them each time.

Finally, unable to evade, he raised his saber to block. With a loud clang, he was sent flying several yards backward.

Sang Hong did not continue his assault. Such a fierce barrage of attacks had failed to subdue Ding Run, and continuing would only be a waste of vital energy.

"Your attack is over. Is it my turn now?" Ding Run smiled, raising his long saber in front of him, then lightly flicked the blade with his finger.

The sound was clear and melodious, clearly indicating a fine saber.

No one understood the purpose of him flicking his saber. Was he showing off his good blade?

Only Sang Hong's expression suddenly changed. He swiftly dodged to the side, but it was a fraction too late. A burst of blood mist erupted from his arm, revealing a long wound.

Had he not dodged in time, his entire arm would likely have been severed.

Invisible Saber Energy!

Everyone present was an expert, and they immediately understood.

Sang Hong stated grimly, "It is widely rumored that the 'Plus-Money Scholar' once 'plucked his sword and sang a sorrowful tune in his early years, trailing his robes at the king's gate, finding no favor.' The world believed your 'plucking the sword and singing' was mere self-amusement. I never imagined it was your killing move!"

Ding Run smiled faintly. "A mountain stream needs a true connoisseur to appreciate its sound. I didn't expect Lord Sang to be so familiar with my past. Since that is the case, then please, Lord Sang, kindly appraise my 'Plucking the Saber and Singing' performance."