Chapter Forty-Six: He Held Me in His Arms

Only the man in the black robe with the golden sword furrowed his brow slightly. What was going on? Why did it feel as if his sword was plunging into thin air, offering none of the resistance one would expect from piercing flesh?

“Hey—”

Seeing Lin Cheng winking at him, the man in the black robe with the golden sword was struck with terror. Only then did the rest of the onlookers begin to realize: even though Lin Cheng had seemingly been pierced through the chest, not a single drop of blood flowed, nor did he seem in any way injured—he was as lively as ever.

This scene left the two accomplices in the back, who had just recovered from their shock, utterly aghast. One of them hurried forward, his blood-red sword flashing as it drove straight through Lin Cheng’s body yet again.

Another thrust!

But before he could take pleasure in his attack, he too sensed that something was wrong. There was no feeling of having pierced a solid body. Lin Cheng before them seemed more like a phantom—their swords had done him no harm at all.

The two men’s eyes widened. They had never experienced anything like this. The swords in their hands, though of the lowest spiritual grade, could not harm the boy standing before them.

Desperate, they drew their swords and stabbed Lin Cheng repeatedly.

——

Lin Cheng stretched lazily and said impatiently, “Are you done yet?”

“Demon!” the man with the golden sword cried out, stumbling backward in panic.

Now they were truly terrified. In all their years of cultivation, they had never witnessed such a sight.

The surrounding bandits stared in disbelief as the three “immortal masters” they revered retreated in terror. For a moment, they exchanged uncertain glances, some already harboring thoughts of fleeing. Others simply dropped their weapons.

Li Chuang, having regained his composure, stared at Lin Cheng in a daze, supported by his companions.

“Is Brother Lin not human?”

“I never imagined this young hero was a demon...”

“Do you think he’ll kill us all too...?”

...

An An looked at Old Fu, her eyes full of confusion. “Old Fu, what’s happening?”

Of course, Old Fu understood what his young mistress meant. After thinking for a moment, he replied, “Perhaps young master Lin possesses a unique constitution, or he has cultivated some heaven-defying technique…”

Beyond that, he truly couldn’t fathom how Lin Cheng could ignore two spiritual swords.

Feeling the immense power of the Five Elements Sword Body, Lin Cheng was quite satisfied. As the text had described, having reached the first stage, he was indeed immune to all swords within the True Qi Realm.

He paid no further heed to the shocked crowd and walked slowly toward the three in black robes.

“Don’t come any closer…”

“Who are you?”

“You’re a demon…”

Hearing their words, Lin Cheng shrugged. “Have you ever seen a demon this handsome?”

“Actually, I am…” He paused deliberately, drawing out the word, “...a good man.”

He couldn’t resist teasing them.

The three men, coming to their senses, struggled to suppress their fear. Reminding themselves that they were true cultivators, why should they fear demons or monsters? Steeling themselves, they began forming hand seals, unleashing every secret technique they possessed, regardless of whether their foe was man or monster.

For a moment, the air was filled with dazzling colors as spells crisscrossed the sky. Having exhausted their repertoire, they fixed their eyes on Lin Cheng, a bit more at ease.

Lin Cheng, however, met the oncoming barrage with a calm expression. He opened his right hand, and with a flash of white light, the Skyward Sword appeared in his palm. With a single swing, all the spells charging toward him dissipated like clouds before the wind.

It was broken!

If they’d been uncertain before, now, with Lin Cheng’s display, they knew for sure—they had encountered a true master! Perhaps his cultivation was so advanced that their spiritual swords were powerless against him.

This thought brought them a strange sort of relief.

Seeing Lin Cheng raise his sword again, the central black-robed man cried out, “Immortal master, please wait!”

“We three juniors offended you without recognizing your greatness—please, spare us…”

“Yes, immortal master, we were blind, not knowing you guarded this place. We’ll leave at once…”

“We’ll never trouble Miss An again…”

“Please, immortal master, have mercy…”

...

Seeing the three men, decades his senior, scrambling to kneel and beg for mercy, Lin Cheng couldn’t help but mock them inwardly.

“Calling themselves juniors at their age—aren’t they ashamed? I’m embarrassed for them. Besides, do I really look that old?”

“Senior… Young hero, you’re absolutely right…”

Glancing at the three trembling before him, Lin Cheng flicked his finger, instantly sealing their dantians. Unable to draw on their spiritual energy, they were now no different from ordinary men.

With the three easily subdued, the surrounding bandits tossed aside their weapons, dropped to their knees, and pleaded for mercy.

Ignoring them, Lin Cheng strode quickly to An An’s side. Checking Old Fu’s wounds and finding them no longer serious, he relaxed.

“Hmph. So powerful, yet you stood by while Old Fu was hurt…” The girl pouted, shooting Lin Cheng a resentful look.

Lin Cheng sheepishly scratched his nose, thinking, “I just wanted to see how you’d handle yourselves. And besides… don’t all experts show up at the last moment?”

Of course, he dared not say that aloud.

“Um… are you hurt?”

An An turned away with a huff. “I don’t need you to care.”

Lin Cheng glanced awkwardly at Old Fu, who shook his head with a gentle smile. “Don’t be offended, young master. The young mistress is simply strong-willed.”

An An stamped her foot and scolded, “Old Fu…”

“Alright, alright, I won’t say another word…” Old Fu shook his head with a wry smile.

Glancing at the black-robed trio, Lin Cheng asked, “What do you plan to do with them?”

At this, An An’s brows arched fiercely. “Kill them all! How dare they injure Old Fu! If not for you today—hmph!” Still angry that Lin Cheng hadn’t acted sooner, she turned away again.

Sigh. Women really were impossible to understand.

Yet what surprised Lin Cheng was that, though this girl could never bear to harm even a small animal, she showed no mercy toward her enemies.

Struggling to his feet, Old Fu spoke seriously, “Miss, you mustn’t be willful. If not for young master Lin’s help today, we might all have died here. Such a debt of gratitude cannot go unacknowledged.”

An An, realizing her own capriciousness, replied, “I know, Old Fu… But he—he grabbed me just now…”

Her cheeks flushed red as she glanced at Lin Cheng, stamping her foot again.

Her words made Lin Cheng feel guilty, his face burning as he scratched his nose.

“Miss An, please don’t misunderstand—it was a moment of desperation…”

Before he could finish, the girl pouted, “Then why didn’t you catch Old Fu first?”

At this, Lin Cheng and Old Fu exchanged a helpless look, speechless.

Clearing his throat, Old Fu stepped toward the three black-robed men.

“Who are you, really? How did you know our whereabouts? And most importantly—how did you know about the cargo the An family was escorting for the City Lord of Autumnbright?”

Looking up at Old Fu, the three men knew that if they didn’t answer truthfully, they wouldn’t leave alive.

The central black-robed man was the first to tear off his cloak, revealing his true identity.

Old Fu’s eyes narrowed. “Mu Yi… To think it was you…”

“So,” he continued, “the other black-robed man must be someone I know as well?”

At these words, the second man also removed his cloak, revealing an older face.

“Mu Zhong.”

“So, you’re the two chief stewards of the City Lord’s manor. That means you must have come on the City Lord’s orders, correct?”

Mu Yi, in the center, cupped his hands and replied bitterly, “Without the City Lord’s command, how would we dare oppose the An family and Autumnbright City?”

So, the matter was clear. Old Fu turned his gaze on the young mistress.

An An considered for a moment before stepping forward.

“Take them away first.”