Chapter 23: More Terrifying Than Terror Itself!

"Fine, fine, enough talk, enough talk!"

Bujie shifted his gaze and asked Ren Yi, "Ren, my boy, we haven't seen each other in years. Why have you been ignoring me, the old monk?"

Ren Yi continued drinking his wine. "Since when have you and I been so familiar, old monk?"

His expression was clearly displeased. Yilin, knowing her father's temperament, spoke up quickly, "Father, you... please don't make things difficult for Senior Brother Ren. He once saved your daughter."

Hearing this, a look of embarrassment crossed Bujie's large face. He whispered, "Lin'er, this lad is extremely dangerous. Even years ago, I couldn't beat him, and I'm surely no match for him now. How could I possibly make things difficult for him?"

His voice was naturally booming, so even though he was whispering, everyone heard him clearly.

Qu Feiyan covered her mouth to stifle a laugh. Upon hearing this, Yilin felt relieved. She did not care whose martial arts were superior; she only wanted her father not to act recklessly.

"Hey, Ren, you must have met that Linghu Chong, right?"

Ren Yi replied, "I have indeed met him."

Bujie asked, "What kind of person is that Linghu Chong?"

Ren Yi countered, "Why do you ask me?"

Bujie continued, "My Lin'er has taken a liking to that Linghu Chong, so I'm asking around!"

Yilin retorted, "Father, what are you saying? You speak without thinking, spouting nonsense. I... when did I ever... Linghu Senior Brother and I have nothing between us."

Seeing his beloved daughter say this, Bujie was delighted. "Really? You haven't taken a liking to that Linghu?"

Yilin was extremely bashful. "Linghu Senior Brother... he already has someone in his heart, and I truly have nothing of that sort."

Bujie laughed heartily. "That's good, that's good." It was unclear what he found good. He turned to Ren Yi and asked, "Ren, what do you think of Yilin?"

Yilin was stunned, suddenly feeling as though she had no face to show anyone.

Ren Yi, however, was unreserved. "Innocent, saintly, and beautiful."

Bujie’s smile deepened. "How about you become my son-in-law? I’ll betroth Yilin to you directly. Your abilities are greater than mine; with you around, Lin'er will surely never suffer or be bullied."

Ren Yi laughed in amusement. "Have you forgotten that I am afflicted with a grave illness? Whether I can live past thirty is unknown. Are you not afraid of making your own daughter a widow?"

As these words fell, everyone was shocked. Even Tian Boguan, who had been forgotten, looked over in disbelief.

Bujie scratched his head. "With your reputation as a divine doctor, you haven't been able to cure that... whatever illness it is?"

Ren Yi nodded calmly. "Correct."

Bujie scratched his bald head again, sighing, "With your immense talent, your future should be unimaginable. How could this be... What a pity, truly a pity!"

Yilin said softly, "Senior Brother Ren, your illness..."

Before she could finish, Bujie interrupted, "Good daughter, don't ask anymore. This lad's medical skills are three parts better than that so-called 'Murderous Miracle Doctor.' If he himself cannot solve it, no one in the world can help him."

Yilin's expression darkened, and she answered faintly, "Oh."

Qu Feiyan tugged at the corner of Ren Yi's robe, the young girl also showing concern.

Suddenly, the sound of hooves echoed—at least a dozen riders.

The few in the tavern didn't pay much attention at first, but as the thundering drew closer, the monk Bujie looked at Ren Yi suspiciously. "Could they be looking for you? The martial arts world has not been peaceful lately, and everyone is talking about you."

Yilin’s heart tightened; she took out her prayer beads and silently recited the Heart Sutra.

A moment later, the hoofbeats stopped outside the tavern. Someone shouted loudly, "Demon Ren Yi, come out and meet your death at once!"

The prayer beads fell to the floor. Yilin said urgently, "Senior Brother Ren, you must not go out. Let us remain silent; surely those outside don't know you are here."

Qu Feiyan laughed. "Dear sister, the people outside just called out Brother Ren's name, how could they not know?"

Yilin was secretly anxious, but the monk Bujie was unconcerned. "Don't worry, Lin'er. Ren is not so easily provoked."

As he finished speaking, Ren Yi finished the wine in his cup, set it down, stood up abruptly, and walked toward the stairs.

All the guests in the tavern, including the waiter and the proprietor, turned pale. Once he descended the stairs and stepped outside the tavern, he saw fifteen men lined up, with fifteen horses behind them.

These men were all dressed in tight black clothing, holding blades and swords, their faces masked with black cloth, revealing only their eyes.

The man in the center, clearly the leader, laughed aloud. "White-haired at such a young age, you are undoubtedly Ren Yi. Hahaha, we brothers have come today to claim your life."

The voice was aged; he was an old man.

Ren Yi said, "I know."

The old man continued, "You are quite calm. However, besides your life, my brothers also want the Lin family's Bixie Sword Manual."

Ren Yi said, "I know that too."

The old man sneered, "If you know, then you should hand it over obediently now. Perhaps we will let you die a bit more quickly."

Ren Yi shook his head with a smile. "You don't know..."

The black-clad old man barked, "What is it that we don't know?!"

Ren Yi looked at them with an expression of one viewing someone beyond medical help, hopeless and beyond salvation. He said softly, "I only kill three kinds of people: those who are eyesores, those who get in my way, and people like you who don't know what death is."

The black-clad old man laughed, and the other fourteen joined in. The laughter of the fifteen men rang out like a great bell.

They were not orthodox martial artists.

They had long heard how terrifying Ren Yi's sword was.

They were all formidable experts, so they believed that no matter how terrifying the sword, it could never be a match for the fifteen of them combined.

Ren Yi’s hand was already on his hilt. All laughter suddenly ceased. These men had not underestimated him, yet even so...

Someone had told them the sword was fast and terrifying; many in the martial world used the word "terrifying" when speaking of this iron sword.

But the moment the sword was drawn, and even though they were prepared, it surpassed their imagination.

It was not merely terrifying—it was far more terrifying than that.

Under the faint moonlight... at the very instant the sword light appeared, everyone was "dead."

One iron sword, one flash of light, one sweep—fifteen lives!

This battle was neither intense nor spectacular. There were no exchanges of blows, no clashing of steel, and no life-or-death tension amidst flying blades.

Ren Yi drew his sword, tapped his foot, and his figure soared, appearing instantly before the fifteen men.

Where the blade passed, he made a light sweep...

A flash of sword light, and fifteen heads were claimed.

Their heads were gone, yet their bodies remained standing, and the weapons in their hands had not yet fallen.

The event was as simple as that, and the battle ended just as quickly. No one could have expected such a thing to happen. Even the monk Bujie had not expected it, and how could Tang Ying'e, one of the "Thirteen Guardians of Mount Song" hiding on the roof, have expected it?

He dared not even think anymore. Seeing the fifteen standing corpses, he immediately braced himself and channeled his energy.

Tang Ying'e flew off, landed on another rooftop, and darted away with nimble maneuvers.

The wind whistled in his ears, and there was not a sound behind him. He couldn't help but look back, but he saw neither the man nor the sword light that was more terrifying than terrifying.

He turned his head back, and just as he exhaled a breath of relief, his pupils contracted violently...

The sword light appeared, his face changed color, and Tang Ying'e died.