Chapter 51 Huge Gap

Jia Yi was born into a minor Family in Zhongtian Prefecture. His ancestors once held official positions up to the third rank, but his Family declined during the new dynasty. From a young age, he displayed extraordinary martial arts talent and was given high hopes by his Family. He did not disappoint his Family; at sixteen, he passed the Heaven Protection Guard assessment, becoming a member of the Emperor’s personal guard.

The Heaven Protection Guard was divided into four ranks: A, B, C, and D. Jia Yi held the rank B, which, in the Jianghu, made him a first-rate master.

The Demon Capturing Skill was a unique martial art bestowed upon him by the Emperor. The Demon Capturing Skill had been renowned in the Martial Forest for over a hundred years. With this unique skill, he could already contend with masters at the lower end of rank a.

Ever since he learned the Demon Capturing Skill, every time he made a move, he could suppress his opponent. He had grown fond of seeing the terrified expressions of those he choked.

However, the Demon Capturing Skill, which had never failed, was blocked today!

His opponent was not Jiang Zhaoxia, who was known as the second strongest in Guzhou Prefecture’s Martial Forest, but a young Martial Artist who appeared timid.

Why?

After a brief moment of shock, Jia Yi became enraged and glared at Zhang Yuchun.

Zhang Yuchun, having been ambushed by Jia Yi, was not angry. He feigned confusion and asked, “Lord Jia, what is the meaning of this?”

Feng Dai and the Yamen Runners were astonished. In their eyes, the Heaven Protection Guard were all top-tier masters, and they could feel Jia Yi’s profound Internal Skill. However, they hadn’t expected the seemingly harmless Zhang Yuchun to also be a master.

Jia Yi saw that Zhang Yuchun still dared to question him, clearly mocking him. He immediately stepped forward, his body like a swimming Dragon, his right hand extended, palm forming a claw, aiming directly for Zhang Yuchun’s throat.

Although Zhang Yuchun didn’t want to completely offend him, he wouldn’t stand there and take a beating. He immediately retreated backward; the Gale Technique made his reaction faster than Jia Yi’s.

Jia Yi pursued relentlessly. The two chased each other in the courtyard. Zhang Yuchun retreated to the wall, unable to move back further, and had no choice but to strike with his palm.

Their palms met, Internal Skill against Origin Qi. The two currents of Qi formed two visible Qi shields that collided.

Jia Yi only held on for two breaths before being sent flying. After landing, he stumbled backward seven steps before steadying himself. He looked at Zhang Yuchun with fear.

Zhang Yuchun’s Aura dissipated, and he clearly looked much more fatigued.

His Origin Qi was stronger than Jia Yi’s Internal Skill, but his Origin Qi was not abundant. Such a prolonged struggle made him feel somewhat exhausted.

The Qingxiao Sect Disciples would not stand by and watch Zhang Yuchun get beaten. They all stepped forward and surrounded Jia Yi. Seeing this, the Yamen Runners all drew their swords.

“Zhang Yuchun, don’t mess around, he’s a Heaven Protection Guard!”

Feng Dai gritted his teeth, looking at Zhang Yuchun, hoping Yu Chun could stop the Qingxiao Sect Disciples.

His purpose in coming here was to prevent conflict, but he hadn’t expected that he, who intended to protect the Qingxiao Sect, would end up protecting Jia Yi.

Zhang Yuchun patted his robes and said, “Stop! Don’t be rude to the Heaven Protection Guard!”

“What Heaven Protection Guard? How can an official try to kill someone at the slightest disagreement?”

A Disciple said indignantly. The other Disciples also glared angrily at Jia Yi, like a pack of wolves eyeing a tiger.

Zhang Yuchun managed all matters of the Qingxiao Sect, never oppressing Disciples, and always treated every Disciple well. Therefore, he was very popular, and the Disciples genuinely wanted to protect him from the bottom of their hearts.

“Who dares to cause trouble in the Qingxiao Sect?”

A thunderous shout came, followed by Yang Jueding arriving with his Disciples.

The common folk watching the commotion in the courtyard quickly made way. Zhang Yuchun’s skill surprised them; they hadn’t expected the seemingly gentle Zhang Yuchun to possess such martial arts. The Qingxiao Sect truly lived up to its reputation.

Yang Jueding rushed in like an enraged lion, exuding immense pressure. Behind him followed Qin Ye, the Seven Sons of Qingxiao, and other more outstanding Disciples, making the new courtyard crowded.

Xu Ning leaped onto the courtyard wall, staring at Jia Yi with a blank expression.

When Zhang Yuchun saw that even Xu Ning had come, he became even more nervous than Jia Yi. He quickly said, “Elder Yang, Lord Jia is just joking with me. Since the Heaven Protection Guard has personally arrived, how can we not prepare tea?”

He immediately assigned a Disciple to prepare tea, easing the atmosphere slightly.

Upon first seeing Yang Jueding, Jia Yi knew he was no match for him. Yang Jueding was the kind of master who displayed his prowess openly; he had seen such people among the rank a Heaven Protection Guard.

Calm down!

Jia Yi took a deep breath, snorted coldly, and no longer maintained an offensive stance.

Seeing this, Feng Dai quickly smiled and started chatting with Zhang Yuchun.

Yang Jueding learned Jia Yi’s identity from the Disciples, so he couldn’t remain angry.

Having traveled the Jianghu for so many years, he earned the title of Dragon-Subduing Hero not only by performing many acts of chivalry but also by frequently dealing with the government. He deeply understood that the Martial Forest was a joke to the imperial court.

Behind many Martial Forest Schools were powerful officials and nobles. Without a strong Foundation, they could easily be suppressed by the imperial court. No matter how strong their martial arts, they could not withstand an army of thousands.

He had no choice but to follow Zhang Yuchun and Feng Dai’s lead and retract his Aura.

“Alright, stop looking, everyone, disperse quickly!”

Feng Dai turned around and shouted, glaring at the common folk peering in from outside the courtyard, scaring them away.

Although the Qingxiao Sect Disciples were indignant, they still chose to obey Zhang Yuchun’s words.

A conflict was thus resolved.

Because the interaction was unpleasant, Jia Yi only drank one cup of tea before wanting to leave the mountain. Zhang Yuchun couldn’t force him to stay and could only see them off to the mountain road.

Watching Jia Yi and the others leave, Zhang Yuchun’s eyes flickered. He always felt that Jia Yi would retaliate against the Qingxiao Sect, but he had no way to deal with Jia Yi.

The name of the Heaven Protection Guard was indeed formidable. Whether he killed Jia Yi or imprisoned him, it would inevitably lead to endless trouble.

“If Third Junior Brother and Sixth Junior Brother were here, this fellow probably wouldn’t be able to leave the mountain.”

Zhang Yuchun thought of this and couldn’t help but laugh.

The Qingxiao Sect was no longer what it used to be. His Junior Brother and Junior Sister had both grown strong. If things truly escalated to an unmanageable point, they could always just flee the Qingxiao Sect.

In Zhang Yuchun’s heart, wherever he and his Senior Brother and Junior Brother were, that was the Qingxiao Sect… In the forest, far from the Qingxiao Sect, Jia Yi’s face became extremely grim. Feng Dai and the others followed behind, not daring to speak easily, fearing he would become enraged and unleash his anger upon them.

“It seems this matter won’t end here…”

Feng Dai’s eyes flickered, sighing inwardly.

He rested one hand on his scabbard and the other behind his waist, gesturing to the Yamen Runners.

The Yamen Runners’ expressions changed; they understood what he intended to do, but no one was afraid. They quickly adjusted their mindset, and their eyes became resolute.

“This matter is not over! In at most a year, no, within half a year, I want the Qingxiao Sect to be utterly destroyed!”

Jia Yi said through gritted teeth, like a low growl.

Suddenly!

He heard the sound of a blade being drawn. He instinctively turned around but was struck in the chest by Feng Dai’s saber, splattering blood.

Jia Yi’s face showed disbelief. He had never expected Feng Dai to dare attack him.

Though shocked and furious, he quickly counterattacked. He raised his hand and unleashed a palm strike. The Demon Capturing Skill burst forth, and the surging Internal Skill directly sent Feng Dai flying. Along with him, the Yamen Runners were also knocked to the ground, scattered on both sides of the mountain road.

Feng Dai crashed to the ground in a sorry state, spitting out a large mouthful of blood. He felt dizzy, and his internal organs churned.

“The difference is so vast…”

Feng Dai thought despairingly. The reason he dared to strike was because he had witnessed Zhang Yuchun’s fight with Jia Yi, believing Jia Yi was not as strong as he had imagined, and also because Zhang Yuchun had depleted his Internal Skill.

The facts proved that he, who only practiced external martial arts, was no match for a master of Internal Skill.

Jia Yi gasped for air. That angry blow just now had consumed most of his Internal Skill. His eyes were red; being wounded by Feng Dai made him feel immense humiliation.

This was an insult to him, an insult to the Heaven Protection Guard!

“You bastards, watch me beat you to death!”

Jia Yi gritted his teeth and roared. He stepped forward, walking towards Feng Dai. The blood from his chest dripped onto the ground, making him look even more terrifying.

However, he stopped after three steps, because he saw someone walking down the mountain. Although the person’s robes were different from the Qingxiao Sect’s School robes, there were similarities between the two.

The newcomer was Li Qingqiu.

Li Qingqiu walked down the mountain, his gaze fixed on Jia Yi. The heavenly rainbow sword hung at his waist, making it impossible for Jia Yi to ignore him.

“Who are you?”

Jia Yi asked angrily. He immediately drew the long saber from his waist. The saber’s gleam flashed in the forest and illuminated Feng Dai’s face, making Feng Dai’s consciousness clear up slightly.

Feng Dai turned his head and saw Li Qingqiu’s figure.

“Sect Master Li…”

Feng Dai lowered his head in shame. He wished he could find a hole to crawl into.

Jia Yi was so powerful; he couldn’t imagine how strong Wu Baoyu was.

In the past, it wasn’t that he had let Wu Baoyu go; it was Wu Baoyu and the Qingxiao Sect who had let them go.

“Sect Leader? You are the Sect Leader of the Qingxiao Sect? These people attacked the Heaven Protection Guard. I have the right to kill them. Do you have any objections?” Jia Yi said coldly, his heart sinking.

Generally speaking, the most powerful person in a Martial Forest School was the Sect Leader. Even if not, the Sect Leader would not be weak, otherwise, how could he command respect?

Hot-blooded Martial Artists were all combative; a Martial Forest School could not be governed by mere words!

Li Qingqiu’s expression was calm. He said, “I have no objections, but I want to kill you. Do you have any objections?”

Jia Yi’s face changed dramatically. He hadn’t expected the other party to be so arrogant. He immediately lifted Feng Dai and held him in front of himself, placing his saber against Feng Dai’s throat.

“Then you try it. See if you’re faster, or if my saber is faster!”

Jia Yi was like a cornered fierce tiger, exuding a murderous Aura.

Whoosh!

A sound of something breaking through the air came. Jia Yi’s pupils instinctively widened. A steel needle appeared in his pupils, striking his glabella at a speed he couldn’t react to. His entire body froze, and the long saber in his hand fell, clanging as it hit the ground.

Feng Dai was stunned, staring blankly at Li Qingqiu, who maintained his posture of having just thrown the needle.

He hadn’t seen how Li Qingqiu had attacked, nor what Li Qingqiu had done.

He turned his head and saw a needle stuck in Jia Yi’s glabella, which scared him so much that he quickly dodged away.

The other injured Yamen Runners also widened their eyes, looking at Jia Yi in fear.

Jia Yi was not dead. He stood rooted to the spot, trembling all over, as if a body-fixing spell had been cast on him. This scene shocked the Yamen Runners even more.

What kind of martial art was this?

Acupuncture from a distance?

Li Qingqiu continued to walk down, all the way to Jia Yi. Feng Dai stood to the side, clutching his chest, looking at him, wanting to speak but hesitating.