Chapter 41, A Gentleman’s Fall

Translator: StarReader

 

“Bastards!”

 

Wang Fugui saw Li Jiao being treated with such disrespect, and his anger boiled over.

 

He had been pursuing Li Jiao for so long, and it was almost time for their betrothal. He couldn’t let these pirates get away with this kind of behavior.

 

If Li Jiao were to be violated, not only would the marriage fall through, but he’d embarrass himself in front of all his peers at the Medicine King Group. This would become an irredeemable humiliation in the martial world.

 

How could he continue to live and train within the Medicine King Group after such a disgrace?

 

Wang Fugui was filled with a ruthless determination. His gaze quickly scanned the deck.

 

Li Jiao and the other inner disciples from the Medicine King Group were fighting off more than ten fierce pirates alongside over twenty household retainers and sailors. Several of the guards and sailors had already been injured, and it looked like they couldn’t hold out for much longer—maybe not even a single incense stick’s worth of time.

 

Wang Fugui didn’t bother with the other pirates; instead, he set his sights directly on Ding Shisan, the leader of the pirates on the fast boat. This pirate chief was clearly the most formidable among them, likely possessing a late third-rate level of power. If Wang Fugui could defeat this strongest pirate chief, the remaining dozen or so pirates would flee.

 

Wang Fugui’s expression hardened as he pressed his foot against the rail of the cargo ship, leaping upward for several yards before soaring toward the fast boat. “Pirate chief,” he declared coldly, “since you refuse to accept my generous offer, I’ll teach you a lesson today. Behold—Azure Cloud Sword Art, first technique: Golden Flower Thrusts!”

 

With a roar, Wang executed his sword technique mid-air, appearing as if he were standing on a cloud. His weapon shimmered with cold light before transforming into three dazzling golden flowers that erupted toward the pirate chief on the fast boat.

 

Azure Cloud Sword Art was an advanced sword technique found only in the top tiers of the Medicine King Group’s library. It was extremely expensive, and one needed sufficient status to even view it. Ordinary disciples had no chance of encountering such a rare text.

 

Wang Fugui had spent an enormous sum—over a thousand silver taels—to acquire this exquisite sword manual. Even just its opening technique, Golden Flower Thrusts, was a breathtakingly beautiful special skill that he had dedicated months to mastering. The move was not only powerful but also incredibly showy and imposing in its execution.

 

Three Golden Flower Thrusts, with only one being genuine. The opponent, unable to discern authenticity, would block one of them, leaving them highly vulnerable to being pierced by the real one. This single move was sufficient to severely impair the enemy.

 

When Wang Fugui trained in the Medicine King Group with his peers, he frequently employed this special skill during sparring sessions. It caused his opponents to falter, overwhelmed by panic and unable to defend themselves, resulting in an instant defeat that earned him cheers from the audience.

 

Now, as Wang Fugui executed this same maneuver against the surrounded pirates, several inner disciples looked over while defending against the pirate attacks. “Awesome! Senior Brother Wang is about to unleash his signature skill!” one exclaimed.

 

“With this move, no one stands a chance—Senior Brother Wang’s victory is certain!”

 

Ding Shisan observed Wang Fugui’s execution of the Golden Flower Thrusts and was startled. He realized he had encountered a formidable inner disciple.

 

He had been navigating the martial world for over a decade, accumulating a wealth of experience. Such advanced and profound sword arts were seldom seen in the martial realm; they were only mastered by outstanding inner disciples from major groups. As a small pirate chief in the Whale Gang, although he was already a second-rate adept, he had merely cultivated an intermediate-level water art, the Water-splitting Blade, far from obtaining any advanced martial arts manuals.

 

Ding Shisan couldn’t discern the authenticity of Wang Fugui’s three golden flower sword techniques or break through their intricate patterns. However, his years of brutal and intense martial combat experience were nothing like Wang Fugui, a martial novice who was inexperienced in real battles.

 

“Come on, then! Today, I’ll give you a taste of my skills!” Ding Shisan sneered, letting the three authentic or feigned sword strikes from Wang Fugui all rush towards him at once.

 

Just as it seemed he would be struck by the sword light, in this very moment…

 

Ding Shisan roared, like a clap of thunder in the clear sky. His eyes blazed with terrifying light as he swung his Water-splitting Blade, infusing it with True Qi. With one ruthless strike called Cleaving Water, he hacked savagely at Wang Fugui’s waist from mid-air. If he was pierced by Wang Fugui’s blade, it would only create a gash inches deep, leaving a deep scar. But if he landed this strike fully, it would cleave Wang Fugui in two at the waist.

 

This ruthless killing intent, honed over a decade, was unstoppable. The sheer roar shook Wang Fugui’s ears, causing them to buzz, and filled him with fear. Seeing the snow-white blade light heading straight for his waist, he was utterly startled. In his usual sparring with disciples, neither would go for mutual harm.

 

Considering his own precious life, Wang Fugui had no desire to risk injury against this pirate chief. Swiftly abandoning the Golden Flower Thrust technique, he brandished his sword to block the Water-splitting Blade.

 

The clash of blades produced a sharp ‘clang’ sound.

 

Wang Fugui felt his sword clash against something as hard as iron, jolted by a searing wave of True Qi that coursed through his arm, leaving it numb. His grip loosened, and the weapon soared through the air, struck away by Ding Shisan’s slash. The hilt radiated with True Qi, revealing Ding Shisan’s prowess—a second-rate martial artist whose unassuming appearance belied his skill.

 

Wang Fugui gazed in awe at Ding Shisan, realizing the gravity of their encounter. High above, he was spent and without purchase, spiraling towards the water between the two ships.

 

“Plop,” the water swallowed him whole, drenching his clothes and disheveled hair as he thrashed to shore. Desperate, he scrambled toward the Li family’s grain ship, abandoning all pretenses of his usual suave demeanor.

 

His heart heavy with regret, Wang Fugui berated himself for accompanying the Li family to the countryside. The encounter with the pirates had left him in this miserable situation, a hapless conclusion to what was meant to be a simple errand.

 

Both ships’ crews were rendered speechless. Ding Shisan couldn’t believe it—just one strike was enough to send this Medicine King Group’s inner disciple flying. He stood there stunned for a moment before realizing what had happened. This guy was nothing but a flashy pretender—all show and no substance.

 

He burst into laughter and cursed, spitting out, “Here I thought this young master of yours was some big shot from the Medicine King Group! Turns out you’re just a poser with all bark and no bite. With your pathetic skills, you dare to act in front of me? You think I’ll give you any face? Take a good look at yourself before getting cocky. Men, take them down!”

 

Ding Shisan’s arrogance was on full display as he basked in his victory. He no longer gave the stubborn inner disciples from the Li family’s ship a second glance. These were just greenhorns in the martial world, with Wang Fugui, their strongest member, barely scratching the surface of late third-rate cultivation. They were no match for even one strike from him.

 

“Leader,” one of his men spoke up hesitantly, “what if killing these Medicine King Group’s inner disciples brings trouble? What if they have powerful backers who send experts to exact revenge? That would be a major problem.”

 

Ding Shisan dismissed the concern with a wave. “Leave Master Li alive. His ten thousand silver is ours to keep. As for the rest, it’s time to clean house. No males are to survive—tie them up, throw them in the river, and let the big fish have their meal. These rookies just starting out in the martial world wouldn’t even know what hit them if they crossed paths with me. Maybe they’ll have better luck in the next life.”

 

Ding Shisan’s eyes flickered with a ruthless gleam as he grinned savagely. “In martial circles, you’re basically dancing with death every day. Either you go all in, or you get walked over. I’m not taking any prisoners today—not even if it’s the Gusu County magistrate himself. He’d better watch out if he crosses me, because I’ll slice him open before he can draw his sword!”

 

His gaze then slid over to the Li family cargo ship, landing on Mrs. Li with her voluptuous beauty and the adorably cute young Li Jiao. His eyes narrowed with lust, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial growl. “As for these two beauties on board, they’re coming straight back to the Whale Gang with us as my wives. Men, let’s pick up the pace! Once we’ve cleared this haul, we’ll head back to the stronghold and have ourselves a good time. Those maids and servants? You can claim them as your own once we’re done.”