Chapter 62: Cleaning House

Zhu Jianshen tried to pull back his fist, but was surprised to find it casually held by Jiang Fan, despite him being a dignified Foundation Establishment realm martial artist.

"W-what's going on with you?" He panicked slightly. It was only then that he remembered he had another fist available, and he swung it towards Jiang Fan.

However, it was too late. Jiang Fan exerted force with his arm and pulled, causing Zhu Jianshen to stumble forward. Then, with a powerful knee strike, he hit him directly in the abdomen. In an instant, Zhu Jianshen bent over like a shrimp from the pain, dry heaving uncontrollably.

He was enraged. How could he, a disciple of the Azure Cloud Sect, be so easily beaten by a former good-for-nothing?

"Enough!" he roared, releasing a surge of Foundation Establishment spiritual energy: "Star Shattering Finger!" He had actually used a cultivation technique, and what's more, it was a Mid-rank Yellow Tier technique.

Jiang Fan remained calm, even having the leisure to write a note: "Powerless fury." After saying this, he casually unleashed his movement technique, closing in with unexpected speed. He slapped him across the face.

Zhu Jianshen couldn't believe it. He had used his movement technique and was in his strongest state, yet he was still slapped? The stinging pain assaulted his pride, making him fly into a rage as he roared, "I'll kill you!!!"

*Slap!* His response was yet another loud slap.

Zhu Jianshen was so furious he felt his lungs would burst. He raged, "You must die, you must die today!" *Slap!* It was still a slap.

No matter how Zhu Jianshen displayed his proud strength, the outcome was always a casual slap.

"Ah!!! Jiang Fan!" *Slap!*

"I'll fight you to the death!!!" *Slap!*

"I'll kill your whole..." *Slap!*

"I'll..." *Slap!*

Everyone in the Xu family was dumbfounded, staring wide-eyed at the incredibly bizarre scene unfolding before them. The attendants throughout the hall were also stunned as if they'd seen a ghost, not daring to continue apprehending the Xu family members.

Reflected in their eyes was the once-arrogant Zhu Jianshen, a disciple of the Azure Cloud Sect and a Foundation Establishment realm cultivator. He was being slapped by Jiang Fan with every step, from the main hall all the way out of it. No matter how Zhu Jianshen resisted, he was mercilessly slapped. Finally, both sides of his face were a bloody mess, his nose bleeding profusely, his entire face disfigured.

Zhu Jianshen finally realized that he was no match for Jiang Fan. Gritting his teeth, he ran off with a resentful look.

Before exiting the main gate, he stared venomously at Jiang Fan: "Fine! Jiang Fan, just you wait! One of us must die! Just wait for the thunderous wrath of my Zhu family!"

Jiang Fan's eyes gleamed with a cold light. With a slight movement of his foot, he leaped and chased after him.

After leaving the Xu family, he unleashed his movement technique at full power without any reservations. It wasn't long before he caught up to the seething and hateful Zhu Jianshen on a secluded street.

Zhu Jianshen kept muttering under his breath: "I'll kill this guy, I'll kill him!" He had never suffered such humiliation in his entire life!

But then, a perfectly clear reply came from behind him. "I'm afraid you won't get the chance," Jiang Fan said, having caught up, his expression indifferent.

Zhu Jianshen turned his head and saw it was Jiang Fan. He immediately realized something was wrong and exclaimed in shock, "You're not mute?"

Jiang Fan expressionlessly drew his wooden sword, pointing it at him from a distance. "Since one of us must die, then you shall die."

Seeing the wooden sword, Zhu Jianshen's face drastically changed. "Isn't that Shadow Guard One's sword? Why do you have it?" Suddenly, a terrifying thought appeared in his mind. He shivered, his lips trembling as he stammered, "You... you are Shadow Guard One?"

But how could this be possible? One was a well-known former good-for-nothing. The other was the unparalleled genius of Solitary Boat City, a prodigy capable of killing a second-level Foundation Establishment cultivator while only at the ninth level of Qi Condensation! The two were as different as heaven and earth. How could they be the same person?

Jiang Fan said indifferently, "Congratulations, you guessed correctly." He slowly took out a mask and put it on his face. The number "One," representing invincibility, made Zhu Jianshen gasp. Trembling with fear, he stammered, "You... you really are Shadow Guard One! Impossible, impossible, this is impossible!" He couldn't accept that the good-for-nothing he had always disdained was Shadow Guard One, someone he was far inferior to.

Jiang Fan's voice grew colder: "You should have died the first time you harbored malicious intentions towards Xu Youran. But you didn't know when to stop, challenging my bottom line again and again. Now, no one can save you." After saying this, he flashed past, unleashing his sword technique without hesitation.

Zhu Jianshen was terrified. Having witnessed the terror of Shadow Guard One firsthand, he knew how powerful the opponent was, and fled for his life.

Unfortunately, it was useless. Instead, his back was exposed, full of openings. And this time, he wasn't lucky enough to find someone to take the fall for him.

Jiang Fan struck down with his sword! However, just then, a flying beast swooped down. A woman in purple stood upon it, her figure tall and graceful, her beauty peerless. Her delicate brows furrowed, she said, "Stay your sword!"

Seeing her, Zhu Jianshen was ecstatic, like a drowning person finding a lifeline. "Senior Sister Liu, save me! This person is rebelling!"

Jiang Fan's pupils also contracted slightly. Wasn't this Liu Qingxian, whom he had met at the City Lord's Mansion? She had even left a projection in the Soaring Dragon Path. Was she also a member of the Azure Cloud Sect? Did she intend to shield Zhu Jianshen? Thinking of this, he not only didn't stop but accelerated his thrust.

Liu Qingxian actually let out a low cry, "Presumptuous! Stop at once!" Jiang Fan's killing intent deepened, and without the slightest hesitation, he decisively unleashed "Seven Stars Point North." A piercing cold light shot down from above, piercing straight through Zhu Jianshen's chest, directly through his heart.

Zhu Jianshen stumbled forward a few steps due to inertia. As his heart was pierced, his body gradually lost strength, and he collapsed to the ground. He gasped for air, like a fish out of water, unwillingly murmuring, "Senior Sister Liu... quickly... save me..."

Liu Qingxian flew down and immediately went forward to check. Finding that the sword had precisely pierced his heart, she knew he was beyond saving. Her beautiful eyes turned cold as she looked at Jiang Fan. "How dare you! You presumed to kill a disciple of the Azure Cloud Sect!" Liu Qingxian exuded an overwhelming surge of spiritual energy.

Zhu Jianshen deserved to die, but he should have died under the sect rules of the Azure Cloud Sect, not been casually slaughtered by an outsider. The nature of the two was completely different.

Jiang Fan was unfazed, and said coldly: "He fully deserved his death. I merely cleansed the sect for the Azure Cloud Sect."

Liu Qingxian's beautiful eyes grew slightly colder: "You don't need to meddle; I would have dealt with him myself! You merely rely on your advanced age and a few decades more of accumulated skill to brazenly kill a member of the Azure Cloud Sect! Considering your merit in slaying the branch leader, I'll spare you this time. If there's a next time, I'll execute you on the spot!"

"Advanced age? Who? Me?" Jiang Fan rolled his eyes and retorted, "You're the one who's advanced in age! Old woman!"

Liu Qingxian was stunned. "You're a strange one," she said. "A person in their decades calling me an old woman when I'm just in my early twenties. Nonsensical."

Just then, Xu Yining ran over, panting. "Senior Sister Liu, Senior Sister Liu... Huh, Zhu Jianshen?" she asked. "Senior Sister, did you execute him?"

It turned out that Liu Qingxian was precisely the one Xu Yining had called. When Xu Yining recounted the Xu family's situation, Liu Qingxian immediately became enraged and decisively rushed over, prepared to eliminate Zhu Jianshen, that cancerous growth.

"It was him," Liu Qingxian mouthed. Xu Yining looked up and exclaimed in surprise, "Shadow Guard One?" She sprinted over, her eyes sparkling as she looked at him, and couldn't help but introduce herself: "It's me, Shadow Guard Two, my name is Xu Yining. And you, young master? Can you tell me your real name?"

Liu Qingxian's eyes showed surprise: "You call him 'young master'?" Xu Yining was momentarily stumped by the question: "We're both around the same age, is it wrong to call him 'young master'?"

"What? Same age?" Liu Qingxian looked at Jiang Fan in shock: "Isn't he an old man in his decades?"