Sword might surged wildly, rampaging forth!
The black cross-sword seemed to traverse space, and in an instant, it arrived before Yan Liang!
Caught off guard, Yan Liang couldn't dodge in time, the grim sword Qi aimed straight at his neck, as he almost "saw" the scene of his own head dropping to the ground…
Clang!
The sound of metal striking metal was grating on the ears.
The cross-sword was blocked and repelled; a vigorous woman stood leaning on her sword.
Her eyes sharp, black hair tied into a high ponytail, she held a long-handled Stray Blade, double-edged, seven feet long, the blade taller than she was!
This was originally a cavalry sabre not meant for personal carry, but it didn't seem out of place in her hands.
"Enough..."
Her words had not yet faded when the cross-sword came whistling back.
Chen Mo was still unwilling to back down!
A flicker of anger flashed in the woman's eyes as she advanced to meet the sword with her own.
Clang!
Clang! Clang! Clang!
The sounds of their weapons clashing were as dense as drumbeats.
No fancy techniques involved, both used only the force of their Sword Qi, clashing head on!
The woman's expression turned to surprise, increasingly alarmed as they fought!
Her Stray Blade was cast from refined iron, weighing over a hundred pounds, and paired with an open and expansive sword technique, it excelled in overpowering the opponent with sheer force!
Yet after a few exchanges, she had not gained any advantage!
Chen Mo, with only a three-foot cross-sword, had her completely suppressed!
By the time Chen Mo slashed his fifth strike, she hadn't fully dissipated the force, and the sixth was already before her!
Her wrist numbed, and the Stray Blade was flicked into the air.
The cross-sword passed by her and aimed straight for Yan Liang behind!
"Bring it on!"
The woman had bought enough time; Yan Liang was now prepared.
With knuckle-dusters on his hands, a golden radiance flickered, and he thunderously swung a punch!
Roar!
The punch seemed to carry the roar of a tiger!
Tiger Roar Fist, an Earth Grade Lower fist technique, bursting with tremendous power within a small space!
"You've exhausted your old strength, yet new strength hasn't emerged, I await at ease, let's see how you handle this punch!"
"Everyone saw it; this is self-defense, no crime in killing, today I'll claim your dog life!"
A ferocious smile crept across Yan Liang's face.
Chen Mo might have a powerful background, but he was no pushover!
As long as he had the upper hand, he wouldn't fear even before the Eastern Palace Empress!
However, just as the sword met the fist, the blade light cut through the golden radiance like a hot knife through butter, the cross-sword slicing upward - Yan Liang felt a chill on his wrist, and his right hand with the knuckle-dusters soared high into the air!
Before the pain registered, the eighth strike was already speeding towards his neck!
"Enough..."
A mellow voice sounded.
Chen Mo's movements seemed to slow down countless times.
A middle-aged man in a Brocade Robe appeared between them, lightly flicking the blade with his finger.
Ting!
The cross-sword was knocked from the grip and embedded into a stone pillar, the handle quivering.
Only then did the severed hand fall to the ground!
The scene was deathly silent!
All around, people were dumbstruck, their eyes wide with disbelief at the spectacle.
The Ding Fire Department and Gui Water Bureau were on bad terms, often engaging in open and secret struggles, outwitting each other, but no one had dared to strike with deadly intent in public!
If it hadn't been for the intervention of the Hundred Household Officer from the Gui Water Bureau, Yan Liang's head would probably be on the ground!
What shocked them the most was that Chen Mo had the strength to overpower two Generals?
When had he become so powerful?!
"Chen Mo!!"
Yan Liang, clutching his bleeding wrist, with eyes filled with rage, seemed ready to tear someone apart!
"Attacking a colleague in public, attempting to murder an Imperial Official, this is an unforgivable crime!"
"Chen Mo, you're finished..."
Having regained his wits, Yan Xun shouted hysterically to the side.
Yet, just a single sideways glance from Chen Mo silenced him immediately, almost causing him to bite his own tongue.
This madman dared to strike a General, let alone him, a small flag officer?
Chen Mo looked disdainfully.
Yan Xun was nothing but a jumping clown, not worth a laugh, having jumped out to mock only at the instigation of Yan Liang.
To stoop to the level of such lowly individuals would only be demeaning to himself.
To strike a snake, strike the seven inches.
Since they wanted to play, then play big!
...
"What is all this noise about..."
"Huh?!"
A series of footsteps arose, and several figures entered the training ground.
Seeing the sight before them, they were all stunned.
Among them, an old man with white hair and frowning bushy eyebrows asked sternly, "Can someone tell me what's happened here?"
"Lord Chu..."
Yan Xun, as if seeing a savior, stumbled over and briefly explained the situation.
The white-haired elder looked towards Chen Mo with burning anger in his eyes.
"Chen Mo, did you do this?"
Chen Mo stood with his hands behind his back, treating the old man as if he was thin air.
"Very well, very well, very well!"
The elder, infuriated to the point of laughter, said, "Absent without reason for several days, according to the law, you deserve fifty strokes of the cane, yet I haven't settled this account with you, and now you dare to publicly attack a colleague and cause serious injury!"
"Violating the Da Yuan Law, you are to be taken into custody immediately. Even if your father arrives today, he cannot save you!"
The elder waved his sleeve and reached out to grab Chen Mo!
At this moment, the man in brocade stepped forward, blocking the white-haired elder's way.
"Shen Shuqiu, do you also intend to openly defy the law and be his accomplice?"
The elder shouted angrily.
Shen Shuqiu spoke indifferently: "Chen Mo is a member of my Gui Water Bureau, not yours to discipline. Even if he is guilty, he should be judged jointly by the three departments, and furthermore..."
"Who do you think you are, to represent the Da Yuan Law?"
"You!"
The white-haired elder was infuriated to the extreme.
The two stood in a deadlock, the atmosphere tense as drawn swords.
Just then, Chen Mo cleared his throat and said, "Lord Chu has misunderstood me, when have I ever attacked a colleague?"
The white-haired elder sneered, "With everyone here as witness, do you still want to deny it?"
Chen Mo shrugged his shoulders, innocent-faced, and said, "Yan Zongqi is my dear friend, as close as brothers. Just now we were merely sparring and accidentally injured each other; that doesn't count as violating the Da Yuan Law, does it?"
"Bullshit!"
"Who the hell is your dear friend..."
Yan Liang was furious beyond suppression.
But the words Chen Mo said next sent a chill down his spine.
"Yan Zongqi truly has a short memory for a noble man. Weren't we just drinking and enjoying ourselves in the courtyard of Yicui Square a few days ago?"
"At the time, you even called over a little woman, wanting to 'kill two birds with one stone' and make me a fellow conspirator... However, I'm particular about cleanliness and don't enjoy such games, so I politely declined."
"I still remember, that little woman was quite..."
"Wait!"
Hearing this, Yan Liang hurriedly interrupted, breaking out in a cold sweat.
Chen Mo smiled and added, "She was quite attractive."
"What nonsense is this? What does this have to do with today's matter?"
The white-haired elder frowned and said.
Panting heavily, Yan Liang shot Chen Mo a glance and said in a low voice, "Lord, General Chen is right, we really were sparring earlier. I'm no match for his skills and can't blame him."
"What?!"
The white-haired elder's expression froze.
The whole place was suddenly abuzz.
It was obvious to anyone that Chen Mo had deliberately struck with malice!
The two had always been at odds, how could Yan Liang swallow such a grievance?
"Brother, are you confused..."
Yan Xun was puzzled.
"Shut up!"
Yan Liang gave him a glare, picked up a severed hand from the ground, and hurried to leave.
"Wait a moment."
Chen Mo spoke up.
"What more do you want?"
Yan Liang said through clenched fists.
Chen Mo, with hands behind his back, said leisurely, "Your brother speaks out of turn and I find his words most displeasing. Mr. Yan, what do you think should be done about this?"
After a moment of silence, with his left hand holding his right hand, Yan Liang slapped Yan Xun across the face!
"Brother, why are you hitting me?"
Yan Xun covered his face, both aggrieved and confused.
Seeing that Chen Mo made no reaction, Yan Liang gritted his teeth and began to ferociously thrash him!
Slap! Slap! Slap! Slap! Slap!
Yan Xun was spun around from the smacking, his cheeks swelling up like a pig's head, blood streaming from his mouth, all his yellow teeth falling out!
"Is that enough?"
Yan Liang's voice was hoarse.
"Tsk tsk."
Chen Mo's expression was one of faux pity, "I simply asked Mr. Yan to teach him a few words, but to hit so harshly, not even a spinning top would take that. "
Yan Xun: "..."
With his chest heaving, Yan Liang huffed coldly and quickly left the training ground.
Chen Mo raised his hand to call Liu Mang over and whispered something in his ear.
Liu Mang nodded, called a few brothers, and quickly followed after.
Chen Mo turned around, his gaze sweeping over the crowd like a knife scraping over their faces.
Their gaze shattered upon contact, no one daring to meet his eyes.
"Weren't all of you just laughing heartily a moment ago?"
"Why have you stopped laughing now?"
Chen Mo said, squinting his eyes.
The entire training ground fell silent, a pin drop heard clearly!